I was working for a charity that had received a $5,000,000 bequest from a generous donor. The executor called me and made it very clear that he expected to see this gift recognized in the media. While this was absolutely a special gift, an experienced fundraiser knows that $5,000,000 is not something to gain widespread media. What can a staff person do?

Community media

One great approach is community media. If the donor is a member of a particular community group, that media may be particularly interested in this news story. This might include a local geographic area, national background, or other area.

"Pitching In" - the The Globe & Mail Report on Business

The Globe is the only National Newspaper that has a regular feature on the charity section. "Pitching In" is an ongoing series which highlights charitable work - including large gifts and small volunteer efforts. This column is written by Paul Waldie and you can contact him directly with your donor story.

Honours and awards

Another way to recognize a donor could be to nominate them for an honour through their professional association. For example, if you have a donor who works in the area of public relations, you could nominate your person for one of the individual awards through the Canadian Public Relations Society. Some professional organizations even awards for retirees from their sector.

Many charities and nonprofits have have awards in the area of their mission. For example, the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA) has an award for individual leadership. Depending on the area of your charity, there may be a similar award at an organization that serves as a central nonprofit organization.

Whether through community media, an article in the Globe, or through honours and awards, you have more than one option to help give recognition  for your donor. While there are no guarantees, this will give you opportunities.

Ann Rosenfield is a working fundraiser and the editor of Hilborn Charity eNews.

Cover photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash