Is Digital the Best Solution for Your Donor Recognition Needs?
While digital is clearly the direction all industries are moving, it might not be the total solution to your donor recognition needs. Trends in donor engagement continue evolve, which is impacting the strategy behind donor centers. Over the years, many partners have inquired about all-digital donor centers. However, after meeting with our strategists they usually decide on a different, more tailored approach.
With over 40 years of experience working on donor engagement projects, we work with our partners to find the perfect blend of digital and architectural elements to fulfill their donor recognition needs.
Architectural and digital elements each play a particular role when it comes to donor engagement. Here are a few points to consider when creating your center and determining what approach best fits your philanthropic goals:
1. Determine Objectives and Goals
When creating a donor engagement center, clearly outline your goals and objectives. What you aim to achieve and your long-term vision will shape the center’s form and its offerings.
It is imperative to ensure that it is part of a larger strategic communications plan. This focus and attention will result in a thriving donor center, and it will support your mission, increase donations, improve donor retention, and enhance your culture of philanthropy. When deciding between an all-digital, or a hybrid approach, your decision must be backed by a larger strategy with specific goals and objectives.
2. What Do Your Donors Need?
The goal of recognition is to honor and inspire donors. When setting your center’s objectives, consider what was promised for their gifts. Also, think about what would make them feel truly recognized and inspired.
Many transformational donors want permanent recognition for their gifts. These contributions are part of their legacy, so they want to feel connected to your organization. An all-digital approach often falls short, as recognition isn’t always visible. A hybrid approach, blending permanent architectural elements with digital displays, could align with your strategy. This also effectively shows gratitude to your incredible donors.
3. Digital Elements Can Enhance a Center
Digital elements make updates easy and efficient. They let you recognize donors in real time, share their impact, and tell powerful stories. These elements offer a great way to include current information and various content. This further supports your organization’s goals and objectives.
Using digital content helps build an emotional connection through photos and videos. Sharing the story of a family or person impacted by a donor’s gift will resonate. This can inspire future contributions. Digital content also works across multiple platforms like social media, websites, and newsletters. You don’t need a new content strategy for the center; it can enhance your existing communications plan.
4. Set the Stage for Long-Term Success
A donor engagement center is a long-term commitment, and something that can evolve with an organization over time. In order to ensure you are set up for long-term success, you must have the resources and structures in place to fulfill your goals.
When creating your system, all elements must have a definitive purpose and cannot be included just for the sake of fitting in with what may be perceived as “state-of-the-art.” Digital centers require continuous updating and attention, while also requiring support from an IT team. There needs to be a support plan in place should the system stop working or require technical attention. Not only do you need a strategy around the content, you also need to prioritize keeping the screen up to date and functioning properly.
The BrookGlobal team is equipped to work with facility and IT teams to ensure the system is setup for success to work alongside IT systems and software already installed. Our experience and knowledge will allow for easy execution and implementation to support teams that are already running at full capacity.
5. Creating a Philanthropy Center
This is more than just a list of donors, it can become a center of philanthropy. This is an opportunity to not only recognize those that support and have an impact on your mission, but also an opportunity to inspire and share stories. It can be used as a fundraising tool, to share donor impact now and in the future.
Looking beyond the list will turn your investment into something larger, creating a communications opportunity to share your message and engage your audience.
6. Your Strategic Partner in Philanthropy
Our team can work with you to provide a donor engagement center that will be the right long-term fit for your organization’s philanthropic goals. Our team of experts will create a center that aligns with your needs, while supporting your objectives with the perfect blend of digital and architectural content opportunities.
Along with this approach, we understand that flexibility is key in recognizing donors. Our Brook Easy Change system allows you to update your donor center regularly, without compromising design, functionality or results. We are able to recognize donors with a permanent installation, while also having the flexibility to change and update the center as needed.
To meet with one of our strategists to discuss the perfect approach for your donor engagement center, book an online meeting today!
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