Use these links for the 2026 Give to the Max campaign

For everyone

Hello from the Extension development office!

Give to the Max season happens between Nov. 1 and Nov. 19 in Minnesota, culminating with Give to the Max Day on Thursday, Nov. 19. Minnesota 4-H is encouraging our supporters to find the local 4-H program they care about and support it with a gift! If you choose to run a Give to the Max campaign for your county this year, please ask donors to give through this link. They can use the drop-down menu on the right side to choose the 4-H county they want to support. You can also find sample posts, sample images, and the updated links you will need for other forms of giving in this Give to the Max Campaign guide.

If you have any questions or have any trouble accessing the resources, please reach out to us at mnextdev@umn.edu. Good luck with your campaigns!

 - The University of Minnesota Extension development team

Rebecca Froehlich

Communications specialist in donor relations

Submit a 4-H story to be considered for inclusion in the renovated building's 4-H history display

For everyone

4-H Building: 1940 Minnesota State Fair

Do you remember your "moment" in the 4-H Building?

Whether it was the pride of holding your ribbon or watching a child find their voice, that building has been the heart of the 4-H experience for nearly a century. Now, University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota 4-H, and the Minnesota State Fair are ready to write its next chapter – and we want you to be part of it. Share a story about your 4-H Building experience. You may share as much or as little as you'd like. We may reach out to you if you are interested in taking part in a longer story. Each submission will be considered to be featured in the renovated building's 4-H history display.

Submit your story.

Thank you for helping us build the future of 4-H!

Rebecca Froehlich

Communications specialist in donor relations

A word of thanks from the Extension Development team

For everyone

Earlier this summer, the Extension development team invited University of Minnesota employees to consider a gift to the 4-H Building through a payroll deduction and pledge. We are thrilled to announce that $25,618.00 has been pledged to the 4-H Building renovation in payroll gifts! Individuals who pledged more than $1,000 by July 31 will be recognized on the donor wall in the 4-H Building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Come see the temporary donor wall (with its list of more than 400 names!) to learn who has shown their support for the campaign so far.

If you missed the first deadline, it's not too late to be recognized at the 2027 Minnesota State Fair when the remodeled building opens. See instructions for setting up a payroll deduction gift.

Thank you for leading by example and all you have done to make the 4-H Building campaign successful so far! Please reach out to mnextdev@umn.edu if you have any questions concerning payroll gifts.

Rebecca Froehlich

Communications specialist in donor relations

Learn about supporting the 4-H Building through a payroll deduction gift

For everyone

Support the 4-H Building through a payroll deduction gift

You have spent your career helping young people find their spark, and now we’re creating a place that will hold that work for the next generation. The development team is reaching out to let you know there is an easy pathway to support the 4-H Building campaign and leave your mark.

As University of Minnesota employees, we can direct a small amount from every paycheck toward something we believe in. A payroll deduction gift can help us reach our $35 million campaign goal. If you pledge $1,000 or more to the 4-H Building campaign by July 31, your name will be added to the temporary donor wall inside the 4-H Building by the 2026 Minnesota State Fair, then engraved into the official donor wall at the renovation opening during the 2027 Minnesota State Fair. You can also choose to honor the name of someone important to you.

Options to pace your gift across a payroll deduction plan

Plan length:

• 1 year - 26 paychecks - $39 deducted from each paycheck
• 3 years - 78 paychecks - $13 deducted from each paycheck
• 5 years - 130 paychecks - $8 deducted from each paycheck

Every dollar raised through a payroll deduction gives momentum to this campaign. The process takes just a few minutes through the UMN Foundation’s payroll deduction enrollment:

• Step 1: Navigate to this page.
• Step 2: Click the maroon “make a gift” button.
• Step 3: Click on the basket icon in the upper right corner and click “make your donation”.
• Step 4: Under “gift frequency”, click “ongoing payroll deduction”. Enter the amount of your choice.
• Step 5: Under special instructions, write: “pledge over X years for donor wall.” (Optional: You may also check the box to make the gift in honor or memory of someone.)
• Step 6: Press the maroon “payroll deduction” button.
• Step 7: Done! You will receive a confirmation email.

Questions? Reach out to mnextdev@umn.edu and the development team will walk you through it personally. You don’t have to give $1,000 all at once to leave your mark on the 4-H Building. $8, $13, or $39 a paycheck will help us create a space for 4-H for generations to come. We’d be honored to see your name reflect your legacy of service to 4-H on the donor wall.

Rebecca Froehlich

Communications specialist in donor relations

Share your story to be featured in the 4-H Building campaign

For everyone

Do you have a moment in the 4-H Building that stays with you? Whether it was the pride of holding your own ribbon or watching a child find their voice, you know that building has been the heart of the 4-H experience for nearly a century.

Now, University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota 4-H, and the Minnesota State Fair are ready to write its next chapter – and we want you to be part of it. Share your story about your experience with the 4-H Building to be featured in the fundraising campaign! You may share as much or as little as you'd like. Your story may appear on social media or the 4-H Building campaign microsite.

Use this form to submit your story.

We may reach out to you if you are interested in taking part in a longer spotlight story. Thank you for helping us build the future of 4-H!

Learn more about the campaign.

Rebecca Froehlich

Communications specialist in donor relations

Follow the new Minnesota 4-H LinkedIn page

For everyone

Please follow the new Minnesota 4-H organizational LinkedIn page. While you can still find updates about Minnesota 4-H on the University of Minnesota Extension's LinkedIn page, this dedicated page will focus exclusively on matters related to Minnesota 4-H. You may also optionally choose to add this page to your employment or volunteer section, or tag it in posts and comments with @Minnesota 4-H.

Rebecca Froehlich

Communications specialist in donor relations

Explore the 4-H Building Campaign microsite

For everyone

Have you explored the 4-H Building campaign microsite? It's a place where you can find our campaign video and see our progress so far. If members of the public ask you how to get involved, direct them to this page. You can also see the renderings of some of the most exciting planned improvements for the 4-H Building.

We are grateful for all the interest in getting involved with the campaign so far. Please reach out to mnextdev@umn.edu if you have any additional questions!

Rebecca Froehlich

Communications specialist in donor relations

Learn more about the new campaign to renovate the 4-H Building

For everyone

The moment Minnesota 4-H’ers have been waiting for has finally arrived! We are thrilled to announce that the University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota 4-H, and the Minnesota State Fair have officially launched our $35 million campaign to renovate the iconic 4-H Building.

The renovated building will become Minnesota’s premier destination for youth development, a state-of-the-art space equipped to serve generations to come during the Minnesota State Fair and beyond. While honoring its historic character, the renovation will energize this beloved space, preserving beloved traditions and creating room for new ones. See renderings, watch the campaign trailer, and read more about how the renovated building will benefit programming on the campaign website. 

If you'd like to get involved, here's a resource we developed to give 4-H staff and campaign volunteers everything they need to spread the word like FAQs, flyers, and a 1-page campaign description. We'll continue to update and add resources throughout the campaign so you always have the most current information.

Thanks for helping us launch the 4-H Building campaign! Please reach out to mnextdev@umn.edu if you have any questions, and a member of 4-H's development staff will follow up.

Rebecca Froehlich

Communications specialist in donor relations

Help inform our 4-H Building Campaign county toolkit

For everyone

The communications and development teams have been working on a county toolkit to use locally as you tell the story of the 4-H Building Campaign and engage local stakeholders, both digitally and at county fairs. 

As we finalize this toolkit, we’d like to get your input to ensure we’re creating the tools you would use. We’d love to get your input with this brief survey, and will take it into consideration as we finalize and build out the tools. 

Anna Wagner Schliep, sr communications specialist, youth development

Rebecca Froehlich, communications specialist, donor relations

Lily Snow, 4-H Building campaign coordinator

Fundraise for your local 4-H programs on Give to the Max Day

For everyone

Give to the Max season takes place Nov. 1-20 in Minnesota, culminating with Give to the Max Day on Thursday, Nov. 20.

This year, Minnesota 4-H is not running a specific campaign or advancing an overall fundraising goal. Instead, we're encouraging our supporters to find a local 4-H program they care about and support it with a gift!

If you choose to run a Give to the Max campaign this year, please ask donors to give through this link. They can use the drop-down menu on the right side to choose the 4-H county they want to support. You can also find sample posts, sample images, and the updated links you will need for other forms of giving in the campaign toolkit.

If you have questions or need help accessing the resources, please reach out to us at mnextdev@umn.edu. Good luck with your campaigns!

Rebecca Froehlich

Communications specialist in donor relations