It started on a trip to the stacks.
That’s where the couple’s names appeared on a modest-sized plaque at the aisle’s opening.
Questions flooded my mind – why were their names on an aisle in the stacks? When was the plaque installed? Do they know about this? Have they seen it? Where are other plaques? Then the doozie: were they ever thanked?
I don’t remember what book I was looking for. It was time to make good of this.
Upon my recommendation, a creative stewardship director and prospect researcher and her student worker took on the project. The goal? Answer those questions and create a plan to use the info.
Her plan came together in short order.
-list and map all library plaques and recognition
-photograph each plaque on stacks, chairs, study carrels, rooms, and so on
-research why they’re there
-log findings in the advancement database
-share with gift officers
What turned up? These were recognition plates from mini campaign over two decades ago. No one had institutional memory if donors ever knew what happened.
The stewardship director used the photos to create cards for each person. The photos, along with personal notes about recent library advancements, went to the honorees or next of kin. People were thanked and in some cases, reengaged. Gift officers had additional reasons for visits. New prospects emerged.
The director asked her student worker to photograph and map recognition in other campus buildings.
Remember the couple? They unexpectedly visited campus soon after that. The map created by the director and student showed where to take them to see the plaque, a recognition for a contribution two decades prior. The couple’s next trip was to deliver a $100,000 gift.
The takeaway: What opportunities do you have to say thank you – no matter how long in the past? How can you show supporters their request was honored? Who can you enlist on your staff to plan a strategy? How can this be an opportunity to recognize or reengage?
It’s never too late to say thank you. Think creatively. What will you do?