Gargoyles and Recognition Policy

I was reminded of a recognition nightmare the other day and thought it a good time to revisit it, to examine again the lessons learned.  It’s a quick story, yet it is the kind of story that is so horrific that laughter, a really good belly laugh, is in order. And you’ve got to laugh to keep from crying for all the folks involved.

Does this picture remind you of the 2002 incident at Duke?

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Filed under Best Practices in Donor Recognition, Donor Recognition Programs, Recognition Environments, Stewardship, Think Before You Thank | Tags: Best Practices for Donor Recognition, Donor Recognition, Fundraising, Naming Opportunities, Stewardship, Think Before You Thank | Comment (0)

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 in 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 | Comment (0)

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

What Donors Look for on Your Website

Tuesday, 12/08/2009, I heard Penelope Burk speak at the Association of Donor Relations Professionals in Baltimore.  As always, she was charming AND informative, handing out jewels of information in a concise yet authoritative way.  Over the next few weeks I’ll surely be fanning ideas she sparked for me; for now, let me share this priceless insight on how donors use non-profits’ websites. Continue reading »

Filed under Anne Manner-McLarty, Donor Communications, Stewardship | Tags: ADRP, Communications, new media, online giving, Stewardship, Trends in Fundraising | Comments Off