Dance Marathon at UF Receives National Dance Marathon Donor Stewardship Award
Dance Marathon at the University of Florida was recently awarded the Donor Stewardship Award at the Miracle Network Dance Marathon Leadership Conference in July. The Donor Stewardship Award is presented to the Dance Marathon organization that has demonstrated outstanding donor recognition, re-engagement, and communication practices, or who has made the largest strides in this area, over the past year.
Each year, Dance Marathon at UF has thousands of valued donors and partners who play a significant role in the success of their organization. In early May 2017, they launched a campaign called the Thank You Project, which was designed to recognize and appreciate both their participants and donors from the previous year. They sent thank you emails to their donors, wrote cards and personally delivered hospital bands to 31 local community partners. In addition, they created three videos to promote their Thank You Project.
"A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles."Join us as we continue to stand proudly and fearlessly for those who can't… Because our fight isn't over yet. #ThankYouProject
Posted by Dance Marathon at UF on Monday, June 12, 2017
In order to help their donors and partners know the benefits that Dance Marathon at UF could offer them by partnering, their Sponsorship team made a comprehensive sponsorship packet outlining how working together would mutually benefit both their local hospital and the partners involved. They provided new opportunities to retain partners and keep them engaged, such as sponsoring their Theme Hours and the side stage at their main dance marathon event in March.
To thank sponsors, Dance Marathon at UF provided thank you plaques to all monetary and in-kind sponsors, high school programs, and large individual donors. In addition, they shared their gratitute to partners through social media shout-outs.
Dance Marathon at UF also has thousands of individual donors they were eager to steward. They emphasized the importance of thanking each and every donor to their student fundraisers and taught them how to send quick e-mails to thank their donors through their Donor Drive fundraising platform. Through the Thank You Project, they provided their fundraisers with tips and ideas on how to thank donors such as sending handwritten cards or pictures from the main event.
Miracle Network Dance Marathon is an international movement, involving over 400 colleges, universities and K-12 schools across North America that fundraise for their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Since its inception in 1991, Miracle Network Dance Marathon has raised more than $250 million–ensuring that no child or family fights pediatric illness or injury alone.
Learn more about Miracle Network Dance Marathon: