The ability to clean a donor wall is critical and often over looked. Oftentimes people focus solely on the design without planning for future upkeep, which is why so many donor walls and plaques sometimes look decades older than they actually are. Without forethought your donor wall might be aesthetically pleasing, but difficult and costly to maintain & update, which puts a huge strain on the budget. By simply spending some time putting together a regular cleaning plan, you can minimize donor wall maintenance costs and keep it looking brand new for years.
When planning a donor wall make sure you discuss maintenance issues such as cleaning and updating. This can reduce a lot of the stress and donor wall maintenance costs in the future, while also ensuring that your design is beautiful and efficient for years to come.
One of our clients inherited a donor wall that cost about $35,000 to clean. The structure is visible but unreachable and is coated with dust. This wall was also designed in a way that made it very costly to update. Because of this, the client hadn’t updated it in years, and it has to be cleaned before it can be updated. This wall, which cost $350,000 just a few years ago, has been completely abandoned, which makes it less likely that future donors will be honored. For simpler installations, take a look at our tips for keeping your donor plaque clean.
Before you agree to the final design of your new donor wall ask 2 simple questions:
1. How accessible is it for cleaning?
2. How easy is it to update for future donors?
Our designers, at Donor Signs, Inc., have years of experience specific to donor recognition who can help work with you through all the details that come along with a successful donor program. Contact one of our designers today.