Child-focused Donor Recognition: Opportunities for Creative Design

Designing donor recognition for projects focused on children provides special challenges and special rewards. “Bright and colorful, playful, engaging, interactive…” are the first instructions we hear. If a brand manager or the architect is in the room, “integrated, coordinated, and tasteful” get added to the list. Facilities chimes in with “safe, durable, and easy to maintain.” The foundation reminds us, “we may need to add names later” and “it has to be cost-conscious.” Such was the case in Chattanooga, Tennessee but there is so much more to be said about the Kennedy Outpatient Center at the Children’s Hospital at Erlanger.

Challenges and Advantages for Digital Donor Recognition

There are benefits and compromises inherent in the decision to use a screen to present donor recognition. A traditional donor wall allows a passive viewer to understand a considerable amount of information about the relationship between an organization and its donors without reading a single name. One can glean an idea of the number of donors from the size of the list. If a hierarchy of plaque sizes or categories is part of the display, those details let the viewer know that people give different amounts. The location of the display, the environment surrounding it, and the materials used to build it all help indicate the value the organization places on its donor. The best donor walls motivate the viewer to consider giving and explain how to make a gift.

Learning at the International Storytelling Center

It was an eye-opening experience to experiment with ways of storytelling that create internal change in communities and institutions. This work seems important not only in the current political climate, but also in the work that nonprofits are doing internally and externally to make change and achieve ambitious goals. How do the stories that you use positively or negatively affect the outcome of your work?

StorytellingAnne Manner-McLartyOctober 1, 2018Storytelling, travel, international storytelling centerComment

Catawba Valley Medical Center: 50th Anniversary Celebration

October 2017 marked the 50th anniversary of the Catawba Valley Medical Center. Heurista has worked with CVMC for more than a decade designing project-specific displays; a central philanthropy center recognizing cumulative, planned and annual donors; digital donor recognition; and an art program showcasing local artists. It was an honor to be selected to help celebrate the anniversary by designing semi-permanent graphics that connect the hospital to the community it serves.

StorytellingAnne Manner-McLartyMarch 6, 2018anniversaryComment

New Methods of Engagement: Virtual Reality in Philanthropic Placemaking

We are curious about the emerging Virtual Reality communication platforms and innovations and specifically what opportunities they bring to Philanthropic Placemaking. We stalk the latest VR news. We use our team in NYC to participate in most opportunities to strap on the next brand of headset, leave the real world and experience a creative VR team’s virtual place. They are all worth the trip.

Naming Opportunity Strategy

Naming opportunities are a familiar tool for securing and recognizing major gifts. This practice is now used by all types fundraising organizations and can address both physical spaces, like a building or office, or a concept, like a center or a faculty position.

Recognition, StorytellingAnne Manner-McLartyNovember 16, 2016donor recognition, donor wall, donor relations, Greenville Health SystemComment

What motivates donors to give?

There are two key questions that we all want to ask and they both point to donor motivation. The first is why did you give to us? The second is what will motivate you to give to us again? One can be asked, the other should never be asked. If we are to demonstrate understanding of our donors, there are some things we have to figure out without asking.

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

A donor communication plan that will keep your donors engaged

How often should you communicate with your donors?

As you construct a communication plan, be mindful of the level of intimacy implied by different types of activity or communication channels. Always be respectful of the individual donor’s request for privacy, keeping in mind that there are degrees of anonymity.

Storytelling, EngagementAnne Manner-McLartyOctober 11, 2016Donor Communication, strategic planComment

Pre- and post-event communication strategies to improve the donor experience

As we all well know, the experience surrounding an event starts long before the attendee arrives at the physical location. Events should be designed with the pre- and post-event communication strategies in mind and the experience of those components should be managed and branded with care.

Storytelling, Engagement, StewardshipAnne Manner-McLartyOctober 5, 2016Communication, Events, donor relations, strategic planComment