You have dedicated and supportive donors who have walked with your organization a long way. Honoring these donors is essential to make them feel special and appreciated. That can also motivate them to give more and encourage other members of society to support nonprofit organizations. Dedicating a building in your organization to one or more donors is a sign of gratitude. Building dedication is done in a ceremony and is represented through a memorial plaque or dedication plaque. Keep reading to learn dedication ceremony ideas and tips to make your event one of a kind.
Plan the Ceremony in Advance
Planning the dedication ceremony in advance, like months before, is a great idea. It ensures that you have the resources and plan for a colorful and successful event. It is also advisable to have a dedication committee to make major decisions on the type of dedication and other specifics like inviting guests and speakers. You can also have a team to budget for the ceremony, and they should collaborate with the dedication committee to ensure everything works as planned.
Choosing Venue and Setting It Up
Choosing the venue is not complicated as most dedication ceremonies are done at the building to be dedicated. You can set up a tent outside the building where guests and the community will interact and have fun. However, if there is limited space outside the said building, you can hold the event elsewhere and come to the building for dedication and commemoration. It is advisable to hire experts to set up the venue to make it colorful and organized.
Choose the Right Dedication Signage, and Design It Early
You can dedicate a building to an individual by naming it after them. You can also use different types of signage like portrait plaques and etched plaques with information about the donors or persons honored and why the organization has dedicated the building to them. Ensure that the plaque or mark of significance is designed well and in advance (see some ideas for memorial plaque wording for inspiration). Work with professionals to design a custom donor sign or plaque for building dedication to ensure the mark lasts a lifetime.
Spice It with Food, Drinks, and Entertainment
Building dedication ceremony should be a simple event characterized by short speeches. However, offering drinks, snacks, and food is one of the best dedication ceremony ideas to make guests happy. In addition, provide some entertainment like live entertainment and music to ensure people present have a good time.
Invite the Community
Your organization should have a strong relationship with donors and the community. Inviting people from the community is one way to cement your relationship with them. If the community feels valued by your organization, they will likely support you in your endeavors. Please invite the community members you can handle at the venue. Don’t invite the whole community if you have limited space and resources to keep them entertained.
Endnote
Holding unique dedication ceremonies is never easy. You and your team must work together to ensure that the ceremony goes as planned. Be sure to consider the above tips, and you will have a successful dedication ceremony to honor donors or accomplished individuals who have made significant achievements in life.
