A technical guide for advancement teams
Plan the Right Display for Your Donors
Give every donor a place in your community’s story. Compare display options, review installation requirements, and plan upfront and ongoing costs before choosing a donor recognition display.
Book a Technical DemoEvaluate the display. Plan the installation. Understand the costs.
01 / Display evaluation
Compare Displays Against Your Recognition Plan
Start with your donor levels and the content you need to present. Use an evaluation checklist covering display size and readability, touchscreen interaction, donor names and stories, accessibility, and campus or web access. Show which requirements each verified option meets; flag details that need technical review.
| Requirement | Prepare with your team | Verify during the review |
|---|---|---|
| Size & readability | Bring the longest donor names, recognition levels, and sample stories. | Test type size, glare, and readability from your intended viewing positions. |
| Touchscreen interaction | List the actions visitors should take: browse, search, and open a story. | Try the complete journey on the proposed hardware; confirm touch compatibility. |
| Donor names & stories | Define naming conventions, giving levels, dedications, and approved media. | Review a representative profile and how recognition levels are organized. |
| Accessibility | Include facilities and accessibility reviewers in the evaluation. | Review reach, clear floor space, contrast, keyboard use, and the proposed interface. |
| Campus & web access | Decide where visitors should be able to browse recognition. | Confirm supported devices, public access, privacy, and any network restrictions. |
These are evaluation questions, not a claim that every display meets them. Record each option as confirmed, not offered, or needing technical review.
02 / Installation requirements
See How a Donor Display Fits Your Space
Review verified installation examples with documented screen dimensions, mounting approach, viewing distance, and power and network requirements. Use annotated photographs or diagrams to explain what your facilities and IT teams need to assess.
Display & viewing
Record screen and enclosure dimensions, orientation, glare, and viewing distance.
Advancement + facilitiesMounting & access
Confirm wall structure, mount compatibility, service access, reach, and clear floor space.
Facilities + installerPower & network
Document outlet locations, cable routes, network connection, and IT security requirements.
Facilities + ITProject handoff
Request a measured placement drawing, hardware specification sheet, and installation responsibilities.
Project lead + supplierAsk for verified examples with documented specifications for the proposed setup. A photograph alone cannot confirm mounting, dimensions, viewing distance, or electrical requirements.
03 / Cost planning
Budget for Launch and Ongoing Upkeep
Separate the planning checklist into upfront items, including hardware, mounting, installation, and content setup, and recurring items such as software, support, and staff time for updates. Show the actual content-editing workflow and who will maintain it.
| When | Cost item | Confirm in the quote |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront | Hardware & mounting | Display, player if needed, enclosure, mount, shipping, and warranty scope. |
| Upfront | Installation | Site survey, electrical/network work, installer labor, and any permits. |
| Upfront | Content setup | Donor data preparation, media permissions, layout setup, and team onboarding. |
| Recurring | Software & support | Subscription or license terms, renewal basis, support scope, and exclusions. |
| Recurring | Staff time & maintenance | Donor updates, review time, hardware upkeep, and responsibility for replacements. |
Make the assumptions visible
Ask the supplier to state what is included and excluded, who provides hardware and installation, and how software and support renew. Note taxes, shipping, site preparation, integration work, and replacement responsibilities separately. Do not treat an unconfirmed item as included.
04 / Content management & upkeep
A clear plan for keeping recognition current
Give an advancement team member ownership of donor names, recognition levels, and stories. Agree on a review process and a backup editor before launch.
The workflow below describes Rocket CMS editing. Ask to see it with your proposed donor content during the demo; confirm fields and layouts for your project.
Open your site and the profile
Sign in to the customer portal on a desktop, laptop, or tablet. Select your site, open the relevant folder, and click the profile you want to edit.
Edit text and media
Use the Text tab for the name and description and the Media tab for photos. Edits auto-save, with a live preview on the left.
Review the public display
Check names, approved wording, and images in the web view. Allow approximately 15 minutes for touchscreen changes to sync.
Have your requirements and budget questions ready?
Book a Technical Demo05 / Your technical demo
Review Your Display and Cost Requirements
Bring your donor recognition structure, proposed location, and budget questions. Walk through the display experience with a specialist and review the installation requirements, content workflow, and cost items that apply to your project.
Book a Technical DemoTechnical FAQ
Questions to resolve before launch
What installation requirements should we confirm?
Request the proposed hardware specification sheet and a measured site plan. Have facilities and IT confirm screen dimensions, mounting, viewing position, power, cabling, network access, and service access for your location.
How much does a donor display cost?
Costs depend on the selected hardware, installation work, software agreement, and content setup. Request an itemized quote separating upfront and recurring costs, with inclusions, exclusions, assumptions, and renewal terms. No fixed price is published here.
Who keeps donor content up to date?
Assign an advancement team member to maintain names and stories and a second person to review changes. Rocket CMS edits auto-save with a live preview; review the public web display after editing and allow approximately 15 minutes for touchscreen changes to sync.
Can our donor database or CRM sync with the display?
Treat integration as a project requirement to verify, not an included capability. Bring the source system, required fields, update frequency, privacy rules, and error-handling needs to the technical review. Confirm the supported approach and any setup or recurring costs in writing.
How do we evaluate accessibility?
Review both the physical placement and the display interface with your accessibility team. Test the proposed setup for reach, clear floor space, readability, contrast, and navigation. Confirm applicable requirements for your project rather than assuming that a screen or software alone establishes compliance.
Your next step
Make Your Next Display Decision With Confidence
Review the display requirements and costs with your advancement, facilities, and IT teams so you can choose an approach that fits your donor recognition program.
Book a Technical Demo