It is always a question if you should list all donors on a donor wall. You consider the cost of updating the wall, is it worth listing all the donors? Some donors give millions others give five dollars, but you can recognize all your donors. The most cost effective way to manage large donor recognition lists is with interactive digital donor recognition. Digital signage is user friendly and engages contributors and visitors. Added content that includes donor stories, foundation information, videos, celebrations and events make people come back to the display again and again. Added features for instant online donations give value to the digital component of your donor wall.
Arreya Digital Signage Suite is the only digital signage software service specifically developed for interactive touchscreen donor recognition displays. Developed by Presentations, Inc with an understanding of the clients need to make their own updates easy and affordable. The cloud-based software service (Saas) allows the user to login in from anywhere into their online account and make changes. Through the clients personal subscription they can login to their ARREYA account from anywhere and push content instantly to all devices. Large donor lists can be uploaded using the exclusive ARREYA widget List-Eez. The special widget takes Excel data lists and automatically processes the list to populate directly into the ARREYA content. List-Eez also automatically separates the lists into pages and columns to fit the digital screen. No code writing required. It automatically replaces donor listings without reformatting content.
Have different donor campaigns? Interactive digital donor recognition with Arreya digital signage allows for multiple campaigns within the same content. Arreya allows digital content to be shared on unlimited devices without adding any costs, even tablets and phones. Donor recognition walls can be seen by donors anywhere, expanding the marketing for donor campaigns and potentially gaining more donors.
Want to spotlight on specific donors with donor stories? Digital donor recognition with Arreya digital signage allows clients to add and change donor stories instantly and remotely with the easy built-in editor and manager.
Digital donor recognition is the perfect addition to any donor recognition project. It combines so many of the needs of donor recognition while reducing the ongoing maintenance costs and engaging your audience and future donors.
Presentations added a sleek new donor recognition wall to Trinity Health Systems. 
Easy to update, the digital donor sign allows easy and remote interaction with the digital touchscreen to add new content through the cloud-based ARREYA digital signage software suite developed by Presentations. Custom designed and built to combine beautifully with Trinity Health Systems interior design, the new donor wall has clear panel prints that can be updated for annual giving campaigns. A great combination of static and digital make this the perfect donor wall.
Design, fabrication, electronics and installation are all done by Presentations, Inc. No subcontractors for Trinity Health to deal with later. Through their ARREYA digital signage software, the digital sign is viewable anywhere and at anytime on any smart device.
The three different hospital locations all boast the same donor display and play the same interactive content on touchscreens all through one ARREYA subscription.
You have heard it all, digital signage systems claiming to use the latest technology, touchscreen friendly and easy, simple, quick content editors that can handle anything.
Don’t be fooled by all the digital signage systems that are claiming they deliver the moon. With all the new technology hitting the arena, everyone is scrambling to be the first to incorporate it all and will tell you they can. How do you wade through the muck and find what really works and more importantly works for you?
Start at the beginning, write a digital content outline mapping out what you want on your digital signage and most importantly, who do you want it to reach. Is it a multi-page touchscreen or do you just want a simple revolving slideshow? Do you only want one monitor that hangs in your lobby or do you want your content to be viewable and interactive with all of your employees or anyone who wants to see it. Then after you have figured out your content and your audience, do some research for a company that fits your needs and is reliable. If you have seen a digital sign you like, talk to the marketing or facilities people that probably had the task of getting it done.
Ask questions about the company that sold the system:
• Did they use a third party vendor
• What was the initial expense
• Can they allow you to do the content editing or do they
• How much do they charge for content editing
• What is the yearly upgrade charge
• How do they handle service
• How reliable is the system
Digital signage is complicated to most of us, but by knowing what you want at the start and researching recommendations you will get what you want, avoid the companies that can’t give you what you want and spend only what you need too.
Jill Burgess, President ARREYAtm digital signage software www.arreya.com
Digital Donor Recognition Walls is the fastest growing segment of the donor wall market. If you are looking at a new donor wall or adding digital to existing, you are probably looking at digital along with static donor walls. Keep in mind that static costs a third less then a digital donor wall and once you install the static wall, other than maybe some name updates, it is complete and you don’t have to think about it for a while. Digital donor walls are a great addition and really engage donors to give, but they need to be updated on a regular schedule. You can showcase new donors, events, awards, video and anything else you can think of to engage visitors and perspective donors. It is not worth the money if you are not planning on any updates. The remote updates is what makes digital donor walls worth the money. Just like a website you can make it anything you want, add anything you want and combine it with marketing or informational kiosks that everyone will want to see.
1. Select your Team
Your team should include decision makers, designers, managers. By involving the team members who will make the daily updates, your digital donor wall will continue to engage visitors and encourage donations.
2. Budget
Budget beyond the initial cost of a monitor. Find out if the system you pick charges extra for data storage, updates or content design services. If you plan to expand in the near future, make sure your budget can handle the additions.
3. Growth
Make sure the system you select has the flexibility to grow without a complete new project scope. Your digital signage system should easily expand beyond one monitor. Your goal is to reach donors outside your usual list.
4. Hardware
Hardware is more than a monitor on a wall, for the most secure digital donor wall, Google Chrome offers commercial devices that can be locked into a one app kiosk mode. This ensures your digital signage will only show your donor wall and not be hijacked by someone wanting to access unwanted URL’s. Chrome devices also come with rolling updates and Chrome Enterprise Management for remote rebooting and health of your hardware.
5. Deployment
Involve a qualified IT person to verify you have the network connectivity and security for your donor wall location. Make sure they wire the connection so your install team doesn’t wait and cost more money.
What I’m saying is don’t go into digital thinking it is just like static walls or just because it is the latest thing. Be prepared to embrace it for the long term, it will be worth the money if done correctly and with a reliable company who does it all in-house. If you contract with a vendor who subcontracts the digital, you will not be able to find the subcontractor when something goes wrong. Do your research, ask for references and check them. There are a lot of companies claiming to do digital, but just like shopping for a tablet or phone, pick what works for you and a reliable company that will be there for the future. For more information about ARREYA Digital Signage Suite for Donor Walls.
In the case of gasoline prices the answer is yes, but when designing a display that honors your organization or donors do you want to go cheap? A cheap display with no visual indication of your story or corporate brand will deter donors from giving and project an unsure atmosphere within your organization.
Let’s say you are planning on spending $8000 on your donor recognition, but you find a company that will give you the design, and build it for $4000. Wow! What savings, but the design is a tile wall you have seen in 100 other organizations, is too big for the space you had planned and six months later someone destroys one of the naming tiles and you can’t get a hold of the company to replace it. You have just wasted $4000 and need to start over.
Shop for the four things that mean more than price, and in the end make you money:
- Customer service
- Quality design that speaks of your organization
- Quality, durable construction
- Credible company
Okay, you raised the money, the hard work is done, now put the names on a plaque and move on to the next fund raiser. Is this how you view donor recognition? If it is, your missing a great opportunity to make your job easier and to gain more donors without solicitation. Deep down everyone wants to see their name in lights and a thoughtfully designed donor recognition display will entice people to give, just to see their name on the display.
Recently, someone told me a donor wall we created is referred to as the Holy Spirit. It was great to hear that the donor display has taken on a new life and people are impassioned by the design.
If your donor recognition looks like a tombstone, you are probably missing the mark. Give the potential donor something that catches their attention and speaks to your vision and mission. A true extension of your marketing.
Once you ask the question the answer may seem obvious – Of course location matters! Celebrating donors and marketing to future donors is what donor walls are all about. In the past donor walls were looked at as memorials and they were built to look like headstones. It didn’t matter where you placed them, because no one ever looked at them.
Donor recognition walls are now a piece of art and through environmental design, they can add to the space. Just like a well placed painting or sculpture a donor wall invites closer inspection and should inspire people to give.
It is always a question if you should list all donors on a donor wall. You consider the cost of updating the wall, is it worth listing all the donors? Some donors give millions others give five dollars, but you can recognize all your donors. The most cost effective way to manage large donor recognition lists is with interactive digital donor recognition. Digital signage is user friendly and engages contributors and visitors. Added content that includes donor stories, foundation information, videos, celebrations and events make people come back to the display again and again. Added features for instant online donations give value to the digital component of your donor wall. 
5 Key Digital Donor Wall Requirements: