Sections of this topic
There are many different types of recognition programs, the most effective of which are often the face-to-face variety. Sometimes, the best form of recognition is a handshake offered by the appropriate person.
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Another form of recognition that can touch a donor is a personal note from someone who has been impacted by the donor’s gift.
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Recognition programs should be tailored to the needs of the programs being supported, the needs of the donors and the circumstances. The potential for these kinds of recognition programs is limited only by the limits of your creativity.
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Speaking of Creativity, your website could be a great place to provide donor recognition. I don’t mean a page with lists of names. I’m thinking of the same kind of articles that’d go in your newsletter … about how a donor’s gift made a difference; a photo of a donor being thanked/congratulated by a highly recognizable, highly regarded person; a photo of a donor being inducted into your “honor society.” Again, the potential is limited only by the limits of your creativity.
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Caution is urged for the creation of a permanent, wall-mounted, visual display. Use your wall space judiciously. It’s not infinite.
Typically, wall-mounted recognition is reserved for major gifts for capital campaigns, estate gifts, etc.
Many of the wall-mounted, permanent, recognition modules are impressive and well worth the money. But…. only under the right circumstances.
Using impressive wall-mounted displays for everything detracts from their significance.
When getting advice as to the type of recognition you might want to use for a program, don’t rely on vendors. Their advice must, by its very nature, be self-serving…. Not that they’d be dishonest — just that there’s a built-in bias.
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Many institutions divide their gifts along arbitrary lines for recognition purposes:
$1-$100=Friend; $101-$500=Good Friend; $501-$1,000=Very Good Friend;
$1,001-$5,000=Bosom Buddy; $5,001-$10,000=Blood Brother/Sister; etc.; etc.
The problem with that system is that it assumes every donor wants/needs to see his/her name on a list and/or wants/needs everyone else to see his/her name on a list. Some donors might even object to having their names listed.
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Any thoughts about recognition?? I’d be pleased to address your comments in a future posting.
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Have you seen The Fundraising Series of ebooks ??
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Have a comment or a question about starting, evaluating or expanding your fundraising program? Contact me at Hank@Major-Capital-Giving.com With over 30 years of counseling in major gifts, capital campaigns, bequest programs and the planning studies to precede these three, I’ll be pleased to answer your questions.
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