Creative ideas for Donor Recognition events or themes?
Hi there - we would like to hold a donor recognition event for our fund advisors, and were wondering what others do that may be unique or creative. We have had charities speak before, and were thinking of a charity tour, but also wondering how others added some ooomph and value, for the donor and for us an organization?
Lorna Sandberg
Director of Philanthropy and Donor Stewardship
(306) 527-7630 (cell)
(306) 751-4751 (work)
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Answers
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We just held our TOAST! event for donors. We had 6 tasting stations of food paired with a wine tasting and a cocktail tasting. Our board and staff attended as well, mixing and mingling. About 250 people showed up. Our board chair offered a welcome, our outgoing CEO and incoming CEO thanked everyone for coming, our board treasurer offered a toast. No fundraising was done...no 'ask' of any kind...just everyone getting together to have a good time after the stress of the last couple of years. It was originally supposed to be for our 25th anniversary but COVID derailed that, then Hurricane Ian, so it celebrated donors and our 27 1/2 years! Hope this gives you some ideas for your event.
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This year our donor recognition event will be a 'Bird's Eye View' theme of the projects and community they support. We are holding it on a rooftop in our uptown area so that donors can look out at our city and see various projects from above. Right from that spot you can see projects like our trail system that runs through town, several riverside parks that have been funded, and a host of other projects. We may do some small, informational signs that detail some of these projects.
As Dorena said above, we are keeping it simple. We're bringing in local food for a 'cocktail hour' and are just connecting with everyone there. No asks! Just people connecting.
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