tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410527928650560979.post4658973900392553233..comments2024-03-22T03:36:37.800-04:00Comments on Donor Relations Guru: The best donor gift money can buy...Donor Relations Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15768044971685878089noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410527928650560979.post-72559147749066519912013-02-14T07:36:18.425-05:002013-02-14T07:36:18.425-05:00That said, this issue circles back to http://idei... That said, this issue circles back to <a href="http://ideiadepresente.com" rel="nofollow">http://ideiadepresente.com</a> knowing your audience. With the book that I referenced above, we were working to recognize a donor and his children (whom he was honoring through a named space). Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01813150344575149922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410527928650560979.post-23988399823152071312013-02-06T18:07:20.252-05:002013-02-06T18:07:20.252-05:00University of the Pacific has also been very succe...University of the Pacific has also been very successful with the memory book gesture. We recently won a CASE VII award of excellence (silver) for a Special Event (dedication ceremony) that featured a memory book as one of the key donor relations components that ultimately "exceeded [the donor's] expectations." <br /><br />We use shutterfly at this point because we often find ourselves facing very quick turn-around times and shutterfly is extremely user-friendly. I agree that you have to be careful with all of the embellishment options as it can become too "mom-making-a-scrapbook," thus compromising the intended esteem. That said, this issue circles back to knowing your audience. With the book that I referenced above, we were working to recognize a donor and his children (whom he was honoring through a named space). The donor's children and grandchildren attended the dedication ceremony which was held in a garden. Our mascot (of whom one of the grandchildren is apparently fond) made a special appearance, and was photographed playing "hide-and-seek" with her. The playful and intimate nature of the event paired most importantly with the fact that this donor does not seem receptive to stuffy, predictable gestures made a more "artsy" book seem appropriate. <br /><br />Most other books produced by our office, though, have lived in the more conservative end of the spectrum.<br /><br />Thanks to everyone for the feedback/cautions. Best wishes in your future memory book endeavours!<br /> Amanda Elrodhttp://www.pacific.edunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410527928650560979.post-14405708946134394412013-02-06T13:44:34.656-05:002013-02-06T13:44:34.656-05:00Thanks Gretchen for the tips, we use clean black b...Thanks Gretchen for the tips, we use clean black backgrounds mostly. Donor Relations Guruhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15768044971685878089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410527928650560979.post-22813133937401892322013-02-06T11:52:18.075-05:002013-02-06T11:52:18.075-05:00UC San Diego started producing donor books back wh...UC San Diego started producing donor books back when you had to have a Mac computer to do them! The new websites (we're currently using Shutterfly.com) make them easy for anyone to do. <br /><br />Be careful with all the "embellishments" and fancy backgrounds they offer, though. We find that clean, uncluttered pages using high-resolution photos have more impact. Watch for our article in the ADRP March newsletter about impact reporting, including these books, and responses from other organizations to our mini-survey on reporting.Gretchen Pelletiernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410527928650560979.post-84004612224536334582013-02-06T10:38:18.390-05:002013-02-06T10:38:18.390-05:00We have just started doing this, and with great re...We have just started doing this, and with great results! Our donors really appreciate these far more than any other items we have given in the past. They're especially great to use with building dedications...Paula Whitaker Whisenanthttp://www.sewanee.edunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410527928650560979.post-52940958029197121172013-02-06T10:14:51.309-05:002013-02-06T10:14:51.309-05:00Looks like many of you are doing this with great r...Looks like many of you are doing this with great results! Thanks for your support and I agree... just a one of a kind item!Donor Relations Guruhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15768044971685878089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410527928650560979.post-49914433699521348482013-02-06T10:14:00.659-05:002013-02-06T10:14:00.659-05:00Awesome!! Thanks!
Awesome!! Thanks!<br />Donor Relations Guruhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15768044971685878089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410527928650560979.post-38693938290178783192013-02-06T09:56:46.200-05:002013-02-06T09:56:46.200-05:00Lynne -- We've been doing this for several yea...Lynne -- We've been doing this for several years now at Princeton, and we use blurb.com. It's a great tool, with lots of flexibility. We've done these books to celebrate dedications, dinners, luncheons, etc., and have even used them as reporting tools for programs that lend themselves particularly well to visuals, such as global seminars and travel courses. I highly recommend doing this ... it's a personal, one-of-a-kind gift that reflects a thoughtfulness you can't find in a lapel pin! RobertaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05343095629883801248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410527928650560979.post-30272405124754679662013-02-06T09:32:21.148-05:002013-02-06T09:32:21.148-05:00Lynne,
This is a great idea! We've been usin...Lynne,<br /><br />This is a great idea! We've been using them primarily to report on high-end student scholarships. We use photos of the students and electronically insert their letters. They've been a huge hit with donors. <br /><br />We've used Shutterfly and Picabo. <br /><br />Janet Goehren<br />Pacific Lutheran UnivesityJanethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09473016485503228338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410527928650560979.post-25405171515342056812013-02-06T09:29:33.040-05:002013-02-06T09:29:33.040-05:00Thanks for the great idea!Thanks for the great idea!Michalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07102148305005432139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410527928650560979.post-41616321331611471082013-02-06T09:29:08.207-05:002013-02-06T09:29:08.207-05:00Lynne,
We're a much smaller organization but ...Lynne,<br /><br />We're a much smaller organization but we had students write a letter of thanks to our two biggest donors and had the letters bound into hard cover volumes. We also hand delivered them. There were 6 books in all and we also include original artwork created by students throughout the books. I'll send you a photo of the books separately. There was really nothing better than their reactions when they opened the box, saw 6 beautiful books and started reading the letters. <br /><br />Thanks for pointing out this great idea.<br /><br />Vicki<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13217014474226040640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410527928650560979.post-46488859164233806882013-02-06T08:18:01.338-05:002013-02-06T08:18:01.338-05:00Lynne,
Thanks for pointing out this great tool. ...Lynne,<br /><br />Thanks for pointing out this great tool. We recently retrofitted an old science building into a new visual arts center. We took photos of the construction as it progressed, the dedication, and then students using the building. The students created a large mural that said thank you. They gathered around for a photo and this was our last page. These books are huge hits! <br /><br />We used mixbooks.com.<br /><br />Laura Yeager<br />Culver AcadmiesLaura Yeagerhttp://www.culver.orgnoreply@blogger.com