The Full Story
Faced with a pledge reminder process that was expensive, resource-intensive, and impersonal, USF’s Office of Donor Relations and Stewardship recognized the need for change. Carly Plate, Director of Donor Relations, and Dominika McLean, Assistant Director, spearheaded an innovative solution to modernize their approach, reduce overdue pledges, and enhance donor relationships.
By leveraging ThankView, USF introduced a two-part digital process: a monthly personalized pledge reminder, followed by a thank-you message featuring students who directly benefit from donor support. This not only simplified payments, allowing donors to complete transactions in just three clicks, but also significantly improved donor engagement by providing tangible evidence of their impact.
Implementation required thoughtful preparation, including obtaining buy-in from executive leadership through a well-supported pitch emphasizing efficiency, cost reduction, and improved donor experiences. Metrics-driven and practical, the approach quickly demonstrated clear results—within just months, the new digital pledge reminder process significantly outperformed traditional methods.
Donors embraced the new system enthusiastically, as evidenced by impressive engagement metrics and overwhelmingly positive direct feedback. This strategic shift aligned seamlessly with USF’s broader institutional goals of sustainability and digital transformation.
Beyond operational efficiencies and improved cash flow, this new process has become a platform for fostering stronger relationships with donors and students alike. Students actively participate in crafting thank-you videos, learning firsthand the importance of philanthropy, thereby cultivating a deeper culture of giving within the USF community.
Today, the digital pledge reminder initiative continues to grow, serving as a model of stewardship innovation and positioning USF as a forward-thinking leader in donor relations.
