Achieving Consistent Donor Recognition Design Standards: A story of success at Asheville-Buncombe Technical College

Consistency in terms of donor recognition need include only one overarching idea: a hierarchy of content and plaque sizes that align with categories based on gift amount. To maintain consistency, one party, usually the fundraising entity, should lead the donor recognition effort providing vision and final responsibility for carrying out the plan. However, success depends on effective collaboration with other stakeholders, including leadership, marketing, facilities, and the donors to be recognized.

Branding, Recognition, StorytellingAnne Manner-McLartyApril 30, 2024naming opportunities, area naming

The Bridge Garden at Sheltering Arms Institute

The exterior area naming program for the Bridge Garden uses a centralized map element to provide an overview of landscaping elements and gifts given in support of the Bridge Garden. The map also serves as a therapeutic tool used in patient care.

Four Key Characteristics of Donor Relations

Superior donor relations programs integrate four key characteristics so that systems thinking and creativity can co-exist. Doing so generates a better work product, improves collaboration and job satisfaction for your staff, and allows you to monitor and further improve your donor relations program over time.

ConsultingAnne Manner-McLartyNovember 16, 2023donor relations and stewardshipComment

Transformational Giving: Delbarton names the Peter L. O’Neill ‘59 Alumni Center in historic Old Main

Working with the donor, the School, and the Abbey, Heurista designed recognition displays that contribute to historical and philanthropic storytelling in the building and showcase the transformational gift made by Rebecca O’Neill in honor of her late husband, Peter L. O’Neill ‘59.

Experiential Design: enhancing the tie between mission, vision and values and the campus experience

Creating an authentic, memorable experience of a place is fundamental to building a sense of community that bridges generations. It is the place—and the experiences associated with it—that become the shared experience.

Philanthropic Placemaking: What it means for a mission-driven community

Placemaking is a tool that can be used by nonprofit organizations to build understanding and affinity for their missions. It entails integrating the values and character of a community and crafting architecture, landscape, signage, and experiences that are aligned with the culture of the community.

Outdoor Donor Recognition: Showcasing Community Where They Gather

This display uses the colors, shapes and fonts indicative of the Community First brand. Three clear panels are situated in the open exterior wall of the gathering space with translucent printed vinyl circles to recognize individual donors. The design allows natural light to come through and enhances color coming from the surrounding scenery.

Gift Acceptance Policy and Gift Agreements

Having a set of standard operating procedures and policies specific to philanthropy, ones that align with overall organization accounting and finance, will help ensure a successful giving program and enhance confidence among your donors, board members, and other stakeholders in and outside of the organization. In addition to outlining what can and cannot be accepted, a gift acceptance policy provides transparency and clarifies how each organization will handle the paperwork and next steps associated with philanthropic gifts.

Policy and GovernanceDana LackoreJuly 12, 2023Policy, ProcedureComment

Roper St. Francis Women's and Children's Center

Heurista was asked to design and implement donor recognition for the Roper St. Francis Women’s and Children’s Center with the goal of designing a beautiful piece of artwork to complement the renovations to the space. The display uses ceramic sculptural elements and facilitates additions to the display as new gifts are received.

Recognition, StewardshipAnne Manner-McLartyMay 31, 2023donor recognition, donor wall, collaboration, artComment

Wilbur and Ann Powers College of Business at Clemson

Clemson University engaged Heurista to assess the university’s donor recognition program, starting with naming opportunity policy, a consistent valuation system, and a tracking system coordinated through advancement services. With the endorsement of the president’s naming committee, campus planning, and the fundraisers, the entire strategy was revamped to clarify the design standards and greatly enhance the storytelling potential for all donor recognition. The new program was first applied at the Wibur and Ann Powers College of Business.