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.
Our hospital has undergone major renovations, resulting in re-location of a number of services. In some areas there are plaques dating back many years, recognizing gifts of donors to a specific service (eg. – pediatrics or endoscopy.) We call these “dedication plaques”. What is a good policy for removing donor plaques.
A Foundation’s foremost concern is the appropriate recognition of our donors’ generosity. From time to time, modifications, renovations, or changes to an area’s use may require adjustments in a naming opportunity.
1. If a space undergoes minor renovations and the purpose of the space remains substantially the same, then any original naming designation will remain in place.
2. When a space undergoes a significant renovation or change in purpose, or the designated program ceases to exist or experiences a dramatic change in its needs, the Foundation will discuss options with the naming and lead donors (or their survivors) to that structure or program. Options for the naming opportunity may include, but are not limited to, continuing the naming opportunity with modification, moving the naming opportunity to a new or comparable, existing space, or altering the size of the space assigned to the naming opportunity.
3. When the useful life of a facility ends or the function supported by a gift ends or moves out, the Foundation will discuss options with the naming and lead donors involved or their survivors. Among the options will be those outlined above and the opportunity for donors to fund new construction of a new area or major renovation to a fully reconfigured area in order to sustain the original naming opportunity. Whatever the donors’ decision, the Foundation may move recognition of original gifts to a permanent plaque or similar structure elsewhere in the hospital to continue honoring past gifts. A Living History wall or Legacy Display in the Hospital is currently under consideration as a way to perpetuate the recognition of donors whose named areas have been removed.
4. The naming of a building by a donor will extend for the life of the building. In the event the named building is demolished, the donor is entitled to recognition for a minimum of thirty (30) years. If the named building is razed in fewer than 30 years, the Foundation will arrange with the donor and/or the donor’s family to select a comparable area. If the named building is demolished after a period of 30 or more years, the Foundation will not be obligated to continue the naming recognition.
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.
5 Key Digital Donor Wall Requirements:
5 Key Digital Donor Wall Requirements: