Dear Kim Q&A Column ArchiveSeptember 2004
Visualizing Success—Literally
Dear Kim,
My organization is conducting a large fundraising event and is
looking for some visual way of keeping track of the money we have
raised
so that people can see how close we are to our goal. For example, I
have heard of novelty thermometers with the red center getting higher
as
the organization gets closer to its goals. Do you have any idea where I
could find something like this?
—Photo Finish
Dear Finish,
I am sure if you type "fundraising novelty items" or something
like
that into a search engine, you will find many different choices. But
consider creating your own visual using an image that is organic to the
organization. For example, a library I know used empty bookshelves as
their starting image, and then filled them with books of different
shapes and sizes. An environmental group used a picture of a forest
with
lots of different kinds of trees and animals. The picture was a simple
black and white line drawing in the beginning and got filled in with
color images as the campaign went along. Letting people know how close
you are to your goal is great, but it's even greater if the messenger
reminds people of your organization. Otherwise, you may experience
something I overheard a few days ago when two women saw a thermometer
advertising a School Foundation Annual Fund. "They look close to their
goal," said one. "What is a school foundation anyway?" asked the other.
"Not a clue," responded the first woman as they continued walking. How
much better to have an image that draws people in and helps promote
your
message and your mission. That will be an image that is easier to make
than to buy.
—Kim
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