41 Technology or financial limitations. Action steps could include working with industry experts to adapt your existing content—like making videos with closed captions, creating audiobooks for critical publications, or offering scholarships for memberships and conference fees. Donors can specifically earmark their gift for these improvements, allowing them to champion inclusivity and ensure their contributions help everyone, regardless of circumstance. 3. Establish a Named Internship Program An internship program in a donor’s name helps connect aspiring professionals with real-world experience. This is a way for donors to share their passion and expertise with the next generation. Partner with industry leaders or businesses to provide meaningful placements where interns can gain hands-on experience and develop skills. The donor can outline criteria for the program, focusing on areas where they want to make an impact. To create longevity, work with financial advisors to set up a sustainable fund that supports multiple internship cohorts. Celebrate the interns’ achievements publicly, ensuring the donor’s name is tied to their career successes for years. 4. F und a Community Knowledge Sharing Platform A knowledge-sharing platform can be a game-changer in an industry built on collaboration. This gift could support the creation of an online hub where members share best practices, research, and ideas. Donors could fund the platform’s development or upkeep, ensuring it stays up-to-date and relevant. Begin by partnering with a tech vendor to build or optimize the platform, then set up guidelines for contributions and engagement. Encourage donor involvement by having them curate or sponsor specific sections related to their expertise. This creates a space for ongoing professional development and innovation, solidifying the donor’s legacy in industry-wide collaboration. 5. Establish an Annual Leadership Award Leadership is essential to any industry’s growth—an annual award named after a donor honors those who embody excellence and inspire others. To start, outline clear award criteria, ensuring alignment with the donor’s values and contributions to the industry. Set up a committee to manage the nomination and selection process, ensuring fairness and transparency. Host an award ceremony during your annual conference, where winners can be celebrated in front of their peers. Pair the award with a cash prize or a professional development grant to deepen the impact, amplifying the recipient’s potential while connecting them to the donor’s enduring legacy. Bonus tip: Work with an Accessibility Consultant Specializing in Associations Identifying an accessibility consultant is critical to implementing accessible technology. They have the expertise and tools to expedite and simplify your association’s inclusive technology journey. Unfortunately, not all accessibility consultants understand associations, membership, and other vital factors necessary to your mission. Having a consultant who understands your association’s needs will guide you on where to start creating accessibility and develop a plan over time as these foundational gifts are received to grow accessibility throughout the organization. By offering these legacy gifting options, associations receive non-dues revenue and create added benefits for donor members. Donors can have a profound and lasting impact on the people they’ve worked with and the industries they love. It’s not just about the present—it’s about leaving a lasting imprint on the future… plus, who doesn’t want an afterlife like Bruce Springsteen? Wallach is the CEO Emeritus of Engagement Mobile Strategies, a consulting agency committed to helping associations increase member engagement, retention, and non-dues revenue through inclusive, accessible technology strategy and implementation. For more information about member engagement and association technology, visit www.engagementmobile.com or email curious@ engagementmobile.com.
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