UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN RECEIVES 2021 DONOR STEWARDSHIP AWARD

“We strived to creatively engage and interact with our donors so that they both felt appreciated for their contributions and clearly understood the specific impact they were having for Dell Children’s Medical Center.

One way we did this was through Texas THON Family Night, a brand new initiative for Texas THON. For this event, we invited families of our Texas THON members to join a Zoom call to learn about what their child/family member was doing through Texas THON and the cause they were supporting. The virtual nature of this event allowed family members to join from anywhere in the world, creating an accessible opportunity for donors and supporters to learn about our organization and why it’s so special. The event included a variety of speakers and was coordinated by our Stewardship Team. It included videos, a virtual hospital tour, a talk from our Hospital Advisor, and more. Additionally, they had the opportunity to hear directly from one of our Miracle Families to learn firsthand more about why their participation with Texas THON is so meaningful and important. This event allowed donors and supporters to clearly understand who our organization serves and where their contributions go specifically.

Another way we did this was through our Donor Thank You Video. This video featured members of our Texas THON Internal Team, thanking donors for their contributions and providing valuable information about our hospital and our cause. We thought that by creating a video, supporters would feel a more personal connection to us and would benefit from hearing our voices thank them sincerely, and to educate them about their impact. In the video, members of our Internal Team, including Management, Leadership, and Committee, expressed their genuine appreciation for donors and all that they do for patients and families here in Central Texas. They also explained in detail where funds are currently going so that donors could understand the importance of their donations and how they would be benefiting patients and families in a direct and tangible way. This video served to thank donors for their contributions and educate them about our cause in a creative, fun, and personal way.

In 2021, we wanted to improve the ways we steward our donors to make it feel more personal and impactful. We wanted to meaningfully educate them about our cause and why their support is vital for families and patients in Central Texas. Placing our cause at the center of our stewarding was beneficial because it allowed our supporters to see why what they were doing mattered.”