We believe that donors are partners and storytellers who propel our clients' missions forward.

So, finding ways for donors to participate in their own recognition is central to our approach. By actively involving them in their own recognition, we not only honor their generosity but also celebrate their values and the causes they hold dear.

Let’s look at some of the ways we implement what we call “active recognition”:

1. Donors Honoring Others

We provide donors with the opportunity to honor loved ones or significant figures through their contributions. Donors are actively involved in selecting content, curating stories, and choosing images that pay tribute to those they wish to honor.

2. Digital Donor Walls & Named Space Plaques

Our digital donor walls and named space plaques are more than just acknowledgments, they are a touchpoint of significance for the donor.

Donor Stories & Profiles: Digital donor recognition provides the opportunity for donors to customize their recognition by adding personalized quotes and impact stories in video format. When creating profiles for our digital donor walls, we invite donors to share their reasons for giving, personal stories, and messages of inspiration. This often involves interviews and collaborative content creation, making donors active participants in the process. Understanding donors' interests, values, and motivations allows organizations to create content that speaks directly to their hearts and inspires action. Creating overlap between the causes that are most important to a donor and your organization’s mission increases engagement and encourages ongoing support. Digital recognition also dramatically increases engagement with donors while they are on site. Seeing emotionally driven stories come to life on digital screens inspires others and reinforces why they give. Encourage potential donors to join your donor family by highlighting new funding priorities on digital screens that include a QR code that links directly to your fundraising page.

Plaques with Personal Touches: Some plaques feature quotes or messages from donors about why they give. For example, Berea College's plaque system includes personalized donor quotes, adding depth and meaning to the recognition.

3. Interactive Digital Touchscreen Displays

We utilize interactive digital displays that allow donors to share information about themselves and their support in real-time. Interactive recognition builds on the dynamic approach made possible through digital recognition by allowing the viewer to direct their own experience.

Incorporating digital and interactive recognition allows you to honor your donors in a visually captivating and personalized manner, ultimately inspiring continued support and fostering a culture of philanthropy.

Dynamic Content Sharing: At locations like Rotary International in Chicago, donor quotes and stories are projected onto walls, creating a living tapestry of donor engagement. This not only recognizes donors but also inspires others through shared experiences. Although we did not build this display, we admire its creativity.

4. Philanthropy History Walls

We collaborate with major donors and volunteers to curate content for our philanthropy history walls. History walls and timeline displays are visual representations that better connect donors to the transformational impact of their giving over decades. These walls engage, inspire, and lead others to follow in the footsteps of the donors who came before them.

Meaningful Collaboration: Donors are invited to participate in selecting stories, images, physical items to display, and milestones that highlight the organization's journey and impact. This collaborative effort results in a rich, engaging display that reflects the collective passion of supporters.

5. PDG's Augmented Reality Product

Embracing cutting-edge technology, we're developing an augmented reality (AR) iPhone app that offers an innovative way for donors to engage.

In-home Recognition: Donors receive a special token of appreciation from your organization, which becomes a portal for continuous engagement when scanned using our AR app. Upon scanning, messages of gratitude and inspiration, stories of impact, campaign updates, and relevant content about your organization are displayed on their cell phones.

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Active recognition transforms donors from passive recipients into engaged partners. By involving donors in their own recognition, organizations can create personalized experiences that deepen emotional connections, strengthen relationships, and inspire ongoing support.

We've combined our donor recognition expertise with the donor relations experts at BWF to create a list of top tips for using recognition as an engagement tool. We hope these inspire you to think differently about recognition.

Be sure to check out, Elevating Donor Walls: Using Recognition to Actively Engage Donors.

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