Fresh Start Women's Foundation Donor Wall

About Project

Fresh Start partnered with OmniAlly to create a digital donor recognition experience for its highest-level supporters — one that honors their commitment while strengthening the organization's presence in its own building.

As Fresh Start grew, so did the need for a more intentional way to recognize Visionary donors, those who have given $100,000 or more. The organization had no dedicated donor recognition presence in its lobby. Leadership wanted to change that with something visible and professional enough to match the environment guests already walk into, and meaningful enough to reflect what these gifts make possible.

The goal was never a list of names on a wall. Fresh Start wanted recognition that could show what these gifts make possible and who stands behind them — recognition that works as an extension of the organization's voice rather than a plaque beside it.

Recognition Challenges

As Fresh Start grew, gaps emerged between how the organization talked about its supporters and how that showed up in its space.

Key challenges included:

No dedicated donor recognition presence in the lobby
No way to tell donor stories beyond listing names
A need to distinguish and properly honor top-tier Visionary donors
Frequent events and daily visitors, with no visible signal of who stands behind the mission
A requirement that content stay current without adding staff workload

“The platform is visually striking, easy to update, and flexible enough to grow with us as new Visionary donors are added. Because we host numerous events in our building, the digital donor wall serves as a powerful storytelling tool, showing guests, partners, and prospective supporters who believes in our mission and why.”

Heidi Coupland

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Chief of Staff

Our Solution

OmniAlly designed and installed a digital donor wall built to turn recognition into a living storytelling experience. Positioned in the lobby, the wall features Visionary donors through names, photos, and personal quotes about why they give — a more human and more authentic form of recognition than a static list allows.

Each Visionary is invited to contribute a photo and a few words in their own voice. The result is a rotating portrait of the corporations, foundations, and community leaders behind the mission, with the reasoning left intact rather than reduced to a giving tier.

Because the platform is simple to update, staff refresh the wall a few times a year to add new Visionaries and recognize donors who reach higher giving levels. Recognition stays current without becoming a recurring administrative project for the development team.

More than a display, the wall earns its place daily — greeting visitors, giving events something to point to, and keeping the people behind the mission in plain view long after a gift is made.

How has the digital donor wall helped you tell your story beyond listing names?

“We invite each Visionary donor to share a photo and a personal quote explaining why they support Fresh Start. These stories add depth and authenticity to the donor wall, showcasing the diverse corporations, foundations, and community leaders who believe in our mission. The quotes reinforce the impact of our work and lend credibility to the organization for anyone walking through our doors. One donor shared: 'Fresh Start has been such a gift in our community to help empower women who are going through often drastic changes in their lives at a time when they need a helping hand and guidance most. It fills a need that is not provided anywhere else.' Messages like this resonate strongly with visitors and affirm the importance of our work for both donors and clients alike.”

Heidi Coupland

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Chief of Staff

Where the Value Shows Up

Fresh Start measures the wall against the relationships it helps hold onto, not against its place on a budget line.

"We view donor stewardship as a critical part of the philanthropic lifecycle. While budget considerations are always important, the return on investment for this system is clear in its contribution to donor retention, relationship-building, and brand elevation. It is far more effective to retain or re-engage an existing donor than to acquire a new one, and meaningful recognition plays a key role in that process."

The wall works alongside everything else the organization already does to stay close to its supporters.

"In addition to personal outreach throughout the year, we share our annual report, success stories, and regular updates with our donors. The digital donor wall complements these efforts by reinforcing transparency, impact, and gratitude in a highly visible way. Ultimately, we want every donor to feel like part of the Fresh Start family, to see the results of their investment and feel confident and proud of the role they play in supporting women in our community."

Advice For Peers

My advice would be to fully personalize the experience, include photos and quotes from each donor or organization whenever possible. This adds a human element and highlights the broad range of supporters behind your mission. It's also important to keep the content updated regularly. Donors truly appreciate being recognized, and they notice when they are included. You can never thank your supporters too often, and this platform provides a meaningful and visible way to do just that."