At Robin E. Williams Incorporated all work is based on the Best Practices for Donor Recognition.
They have identified these measures for success through 25 years of experience consulting with fundraisers. Although they number the list of Best Practices for Donor Recognition below, most organizations approach them in an order that reflects attention to immediate needs first. The items highlighted are most used in
planning a campaign.
1. Cataloged Audit of Existing Donor Recognition
Develop a searchable database of all existing donor recognition to provide:
• A historical record of benefit to those interfacing with past and current donors
• A starting place for deciding what has worked well and should be incorporated in future
donor recognition planning.
2. Inventoried Recognition Opportunities Master Plan
Create a Master Plan, based on two documents:
• Naming Opportunity Inventory - a dynamic listing of all available and reserved naming opportunities including gift amount, reservation status, location and planned recognition content
• Donor Recognition Location Plans - architectural plans with numbered locations for all donor recognition components that are used for coordination and record-keeping
3. Recognizable Graphic Identity for Philanthropy
Establish a family of design components to present the “face of philanthropy” within your organization in a consistent way, following traditional branding practices.
4. Consistent Messaging & Content Hierarchy
Direct donor recognition messages by codifying stylistic decisions regarding content, grammar,
typography, etiquette and punctuation
5. Documented Standards & Guidelines
Record product design and program decisions as precedent-setting standards for future recognition and define parameters such as size, content, materials and placement of donor recognition components per gift level and type
6. Budgeted Product Solutions
Maintain appropriate budgeting for donor recognition product solutions to expedite design and
implementation processes and for better management expectations regarding product costs
7. Programmed Re-order & Maintenance Procedures
Require concise, convenient documentation from all product suppliers to ease and
expedite the re-order process.
©2009 Robin E. Williams, Incorporated
730 Peachtree Street NE • Suite 1080 • Atlanta • GA 30308
ph 404.872.7646 • fax 404.872.7884 • Robin E Williams Inc.
Join our online discussion at www.thethankstank.com.
For more information about donor recognition, contact RCB Awards at 800-929-9110.
For more information about donor recognition, contact RCB Awards at 800-929-9110.
