Achieving Consistent Donor Recognition Design Standards: A story of success at Asheville-Buncombe Technical College

Consistency in terms of donor recognition need include only one overarching idea: a hierarchy of content and plaque sizes that align with categories based on gift amount. To maintain consistency, one party, usually the fundraising entity, should lead the donor recognition effort providing vision and final responsibility for carrying out the plan. However, success depends on effective collaboration with other stakeholders, including leadership, marketing, facilities, and the donors to be recognized.

Branding, Recognition, StorytellingAnne Manner-McLartyApril 30, 2024naming opportunities, area naming

Philanthropic Placemaking: What it means for a mission-driven community

Placemaking is a tool that can be used by nonprofit organizations to build understanding and affinity for their missions. It entails integrating the values and character of a community and crafting architecture, landscape, signage, and experiences that are aligned with the culture of the community.

Wilbur and Ann Powers College of Business at Clemson

Clemson University engaged Heurista to assess the university’s donor recognition program, starting with naming opportunity policy, a consistent valuation system, and a tracking system coordinated through advancement services. With the endorsement of the president’s naming committee, campus planning, and the fundraisers, the entire strategy was revamped to clarify the design standards and greatly enhance the storytelling potential for all donor recognition. The new program was first applied at the Wibur and Ann Powers College of Business.

How to measure a website’s success…other than SEO

What are other success metrics than a strong SEO strategy? What if your website is not designed for the public to easily access? If you are looking for ways to measure the qualitative success of your website and understand why a strong SEO strategy may not be necessary for you, this article lays out four alternatives to measuring a website’s success other than SEO.

Branding, Technology, EngagementAnne Manner-McLartyJuly 7, 2022website success metrics, SEOComment

Designed to Scale: Donor Recognition Strategy for Health Care Systems

Phoebe Worth is a 25-bed critical-access hospital and a campus of Phoebe Health, the system providing health care for 41 counties in rural southwest Georgia. The system offers “the innovations of a progressive health care system with personalized care in a hometown setting.” In line with that approach, the Phoebe Foundation, which serves multiple campuses, encourages community-specific support and recognizes donors both at the main hospital and at the local campuses.

Engagement, Branding, RecognitionAnne Manner-McLartyJune 22, 2021Phoebe Foundation, hospital design, SignsComment

Philanthropic Placemaking at the Lowcountry Food Bank

As the reality of stay-at-home orders and business closures unfolded in the spring of 2020, Heurista made a decision: if one of our nonprofit clients asked us to complete a project, we’d do it even if it meant our team would need to travel. We completed many amazing projects over the course of the year, but none as large or as surprising as the work we did for the Lowcountry Food Bank.

Recognition, Storytelling, BrandingAnne Manner-McLartyJanuary 11, 2021donor recognition, environmental graphicsComment

Union of Concerned Scientists Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Recently, we had the good fortune to work with UCS on a history wall to be used at several events across the country this year as they celebrate their 50th Anniversary. Highlighting major milestones throughout their organization's history to give an overall view of their progress while making it larger than life, easy to set up, and light enough to ship cost effectively were the charges we were given.

Branding, StorytellingWendy Lou BillingsApril 15, 2019storytelling, history wall, 50th anniversaryComment

Philanthropy as brand identity

I commend Johnson & Johnson and their partners for their efforts to grow public awareness of philanthropy while making their own investments of time, talent and treasure, especially at the holidays. Sure, we all understand that showing a caring side is a wise part of any brand identity campaign, but you gotta admire those who put action behind the words.

BrandingAnne Manner-McLartyDecember 7, 2016Comment

#GivingTuesday from a different perspective

We explored NYC on #GivingTuesday with a question: What are major shopping malls that promote a sense of community doing to take advantage of the opportunities that #GivingTuesday presents? The potential role of these properties has been a recent focus as we consider how a culture of generosity can be fostered where people gather for meals, entertainment, and shopping.

BrandingAnne Manner-McLartyDecember 7, 2016Comment

Why is brand identity so important to donor relations teams?

Packaging information or the elements of an experience in a familiar “wrap” is often the most efficient and practical means for the donor relations team to brand the messages they prepare. This wrap can be as simple as adding a consistent look or brand to outgoing emails, a two-pocket folder or a regular template for your donor reports.

Storytelling, BrandingAnne Manner-McLartyOctober 18, 2016donor relations, brand, brand awarenessComment