All the things (and friends) I didn’t get to see in San Francisco

December 31st, 2010

So, earlier this month, I had the great fortune to travel to San Francisco with my good friends Robin and Harv to present at my favorite annual conference, ADRP International.  Except for the hour of the presentation, I doubt you saw me there, and I regret that I was able to see so few of you!  Sadly, I spent the majority of my time on the floor in my hotel room, immobilized by a bad back!  Yet, this trip will remain one of the most memorable of my life, for so many reasons. Continue reading »

The Benefits of Donor Recognition Program Planning

November 22nd, 2010

At last week’s GEAC Conference (Georgia Education Advancement Council), we presented this information as a vital part of our case study of donor recognition standards and guidelines now in use at Columbus State University in Columbus GA. Continue reading »

And the Award Goes to . . . Dania Beck

November 5th, 2010

“This is a big deal!”  So said George Maynard, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center about the Best Practitioner in Donor Recognition Award bestowed on Dania Beck, Annual Giving Manager for the hospital system.

Dania has been a leader there in the development of a comprehensive donor relations program that integrates new media for donor cultivation, stewardship and recognition. Moving to the Office of Philanthropy and Partnership from the hospital’s marketing team, Dania’s first responsibilities were centered specifically on e-Philanthropy.  In that capacity she initiated the Virtual Toy Drive for their Children’s Hospital and other e-philanthropy programs that continue to raise awareness as well as funds for much needed patient support items.  Dania’s creativity and dedication to using new media to drive her program have been instrumental in building a rapidly expanding donor base for the hospital system. Continue reading »

Inaugural Event: TheThanksTank.com™ Roundtable Scheduled for Thursday, September 30th

September 27th, 2010

TheThanksTank.com is building momentum as a forum for celebrating the benefits of thoughtful donor recognition decision-making.  It is a ready-resource for the best of our “thinking about thanking” and an opportunity for response and comment from the non-profit community. Continue reading »

I Found a “Great” Online Experience!

August 27th, 2010

In searching for examples of high quality donor recognition media on line, I came across this absolute J-E-W-E-L from Texas A&M Commerce! It meets all the qualifications we recommend for an engaging online experience: it is dynamic (video), creative (what a great concept… the metaphorical “lift” a scholarship provides), it includes donors and scholarship recipients speaking directly to the audience, and it’s well worth forwarding (taking advantage of social media’s viral communication spread). Kudos to the producers of these videos. They get an A++ in my book! (click continue reading to see the videos) Continue reading »