Presenting “Linkage” to AFP-Atlanta

Here in Atlanta, the local chapter of AFP has asked that presenters at their monthly breakfast meetings to speak to fundraising’s new normal, which Roger McNamee refers to as “great opportunities at a time of great risk”. We spoke to the group on May 18. Continue reading »

Filed under Donor Communications, Philanthropy, Robin E. Williams, Stewardship, Think Before You Thank | Tags: Donor Recognition, donor wall, Fundraising, Interactive Displays, Stewardship, Trends in Fundraising | Comments Off

Time to Rethink Your Approach to Social Media?

Last December, in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Internet, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency hosted the DARPA Network Challenge to explore the role of the Internet and social networking in contemporary communication.  Whether influenced by recent events, like political protest in Iran or Columbia, or not, the rules of the contest were simple.  DARPA moored ten eight foot red weather balloons in different locations across the continental United States, and teams tried to track them down as quickly as possible.  While most of us were putting the finishing touches on our holiday shopping, a team from MIT tracked down all ten balloons in just under nine hours. Continue reading »

Filed under Donor Communications, Philanthropy, Social Media, Stewardship, Think Before You Thank | Tags: Communications, Development, Facebook, Friend Raising, Fundraising, new media, online giving, Philanthropy, Social Media, Trends in Fundraising | Comments Off

Emerging Trends in Donor Relations

This new decade heralds significant changes for Donor Relations and its influence on fundraising success.  We see that these emerging trends share a common theme:  to build better relationships with donors as a means of fostering greater giving.  As is the case with all relationships in our current crowded, information-saturated world, the emphasis will be on the quality, not the quantity, of donor interactions.
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Filed under Best Practices for Donor Recognition, Donor Communications, Donor Recognition Programs, Stewardship, Think Before You Thank | Tags: ADRP, Best Practices for Donor Recognition, Donor Recognition, Donor Relations, Fundraising, Philanthropy, Social Media, Stewardship, Successes, Think Before You Thank, Trends in Fundraising | Comments Off

A Designer’s Opinion: Function Over Form

I often see donor recognition creatively achieved but lacking in function. Form should always follow function! I recently came across the SEGD, Society for Environmental Graphic Design, 2009 Merit Award. It commemorated a sculptural donor recognition piece for St. Michael’s Grammar School in Melbourne, Australia executed by two local design firms, Nexus Designs and Fallon Image Design.

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Filed under Donor Communications, Think Before You Thank | Tags: Best Practices for Donor Recognition, consultant, Donor Recognition, Fundraising, Stewardship | Comments Off

Non-Traditional Donor Recognition Outlets

Monday I had the good fortune to participate in a session at the Association of Donor Relations Professionals annual conference in Baltimore.  I sat on a panel discussing “tricks from the experts”.  My portion of the presentation focused on ways to recognize donors beyond traditional plaques and printed lists.  Specifically, we considered avenues available to those who either have no physical space for traditional donor recognition or are interested in exploring new methods for engaging donors and potential donors alike. Continue reading »

Filed under Donor Communications, Donor Recognition Programs, Philanthropy, Social Media, Stewardship | Tags: ADRP, Communications, consultant, Donor Recognition, Facebook, Fundraising, Interactive Displays, new media, online giving, Philanthropy, Social Media, Trends in Fundraising | Comments Off