With the new year upon us, now is a great time to take a fresh look at your approach to donor recognition.
We combined our experience in donor relations and recognition to create our top tips for using recognition as an engagement tool. We hope these inspire you to think differently about recognition.
Using Recognition to Actively Engage Donors: Top 5 Tips
- Change your perspective. By viewing donors as the partners and storytellers in your organization’s mission, you will view recognition through new eyes.
- Find ways for donors to participate in their own recognition process. Move beyond simply having them approve text in advance. Consider inviting them to meet with your recognition consultant partner to engage in the design process.
- Consider encouraging them to honor others. Some organizations are moving away from naming tied to donors and instead developing a preferred list of names with historical relevance to the organization from which donors can select. A recent example we love is the approach taken by former President and First Lady Obama, who are asking donors to name spaces in the Presidential Library in honor of civil rights and social justice leaders rather than themselves.
- Create an interactive unveiling. Get creative with ways for donors to engage in the installation in real-time. Perhaps have a donor supply an item for a time capsule embedded behind the display. Or encourage donors to contribute items of historical significance to a timeline history wall.
- Embrace technology. Donor wall tech integration has come a long way in the past 10 years, with options becoming more affordable and reliable. Don’t be afraid to give digital walls another look to see how they can surpass your donors’ expectations. Digital displays and interactive touchscreens deepen the donor experience through the art of visual storytelling.
Benefits of Active Recognition: Why This Approach Matters
- Enhanced Engagement: Active recognition transforms donors into active storytellers and advocates. Their participation deepens their emotional connection to the cause and fosters a sense of ownership.
- Personalized Experience: By tailoring recognition to each donor’s preferences and values, you create meaningful experiences that resonate on a personal level.
- Strengthened Relationships: Interactive acknowledgment builds stronger bonds between donors and the organization, leading to sustained support and collaboration.
In the year ahead, we challenge you to look at your existing donor recognition and dare to dream big about how they could be used to elevate your donor experience going forward. How can you use them as a tool to actively engage your donors to create a sense of community? If you don’t know where to start, let’s connect and dream together.
Angela Altamore, Associate Vice President, Donor Relations and Experience, BWF
Angela focuses on her passions for donor relations, stewardship, and donor experience and how each intertwine to drive impactful fundraising. She enjoys collaborating with peers and clients to find new and improved ways to surprise and delight donors.
Dave Gaspar, Director, Donor Engagement Strategies, Presentation Design Group
Dave is a leading expert in donor engagement, donor recognition, and naming opportunity valuation. He and his team at PDG work with philanthropic organizations around the world to turn donor recognition into a powerful tool that deepens commitment, inspires peers, and ensures lasting support.
About PDG
At Presentation Design Group, your mission is our mission. We help you inspire generosity and strengthen your community by transforming your spaces into immersive, interactive experiences that deeply resonate with your donors. Our goal is to enhance your donor engagement, fostering lasting support that propels your mission forward.
We understand the importance of recognizing your donors in meaningful ways while efficiently managing your fundraising efforts. That’s why we’ve developed GiftMap, an innovative software tool that empowers you to track and promote naming opportunities at scale, maximizing your fundraising potential. Additionally, our proprietary content management system, Appellō, allows you to seamlessly manage and update your digital donor walls, ensuring your recognition displays are always current and impactful.
Our expertise lies in creating architectural, digital, and interactive donor walls, major donor recognition displays, and history exhibits that become the centerpiece of your development program. We offer comprehensive services tailored to your needs, including Master Planning, Budget Development, Conceptual Design, Project Management, Content Development, Fabrication, and Installation. We work closely with you at every step to bring your vision to life with precision and care.
