Rethinking Your Donor Wall

I always thought it’d be exciting to see my name on a donor wall. But when it actually happened, the excitement was fleeting.

In 2013, the Smithsonian crowdfunded the exhibit “Yoga: The Art of Transformation.” They promised to list the name of every donor, no matter the amount they gave, on a wall in the museum.

I made a small gift. When I went to see the exhibit in person, the first thing I did was look for my name and take a picture.

It made me feel good… in the moment.

But it didn’t do anything to build a relationship with me as a donor over the long term.

I recently chatted with a colleague about donor walls and how going digital allows for a much more dynamic and flexible presentation. 

When your wall becomes a screen, you’ve got a whole new set of opportunities to share images, quotes, and stories about how gifts are transforming your institution — in more than one location.

Now that’s inspiring.