What's experiential design and why is it relevant for charities?
This fancy term boils down to a simple idea: creating a better donation experience. This is about how visuals, audio, video, typography, and colour can be put together to tell stories. In the case of charities, we mean digital stories that share the joy, and meaning in supporting a cause that changes a situation for the better.
These kinds of immersive experiences, can deliver change for charities. As technology improves and becomes more readily available, it can help organisations stand out as relevant to donors in a tough climate where people have less to give.
Digital giving provides an opportunity to optimise donor journeys where every interaction matters.
| Experiential Giving is becoming a key trend for charities: these game-like activities allow organisations to talk to supporters and show gratitude for donations through emotive storytelling. |
Read More Fundraising trends for 2023
Create a positive, memorable experience
Research shows, when people have a good experience with your organisation they will continue to support you and share their experience with others. You build loyalty.
Now consider creating, not only a good experience, but a memorable one.
Ask yourself, what experiences have resonated with you?
Then think about why – was it innovative? Emotive? Interactive? How did it make you feel?
These are the things worth considering when setting yourself apart throughout the giving experience.
The Donation Station is designed to support donor relationships, as well as collect contactless payments.
Every device uses features aimed at establishing a strong narrative, like the Attract Loop shown here, plus opportunities keep in touch with donors.
Read more: Five ways to make your supporters feel valued throughout the donor journey
Exceeding donor expectations
Experiential Giving makes a powerful first impression and goes beyond the immediate donor's experience.
This 'halo effect' makes use of visuals and animations to create a positive, public giving experience for both the device user and surrounding bystanders.
Think about making it visually satisfying, or provide supporters with a souvenir to take away or share with others. For example, providing a social post via shareable link or QR code, gives donors the opportunity to share their good deed with others.
What does Experiential Giving look like?
Charities using Experiential Giving
Donors want fundraising experiences that are active, and we've been lucky to help charities make their donation experiences more immersive, using our Donation Station, and sometimes with bespoke technology.
Sheffield Botanical Gardens
One of our local customers, Sheffield Botanical Gardens use triggered technology that literally lights up the giving journey for everyone to see. Messages of gratitude, 'Thank You' animations and key graphics appear on a large display screen, extending the storytelling opportunity to others.
Birds of Poole Harbour
This animal welfare charity highlighted their areas unique species of birds through interactive animations. The animated birds were linked to their contactless giving device and captured the attention of passers-by through audio and visual triggers. The birds would then thank donors by performing a backflip or flapping their wings.
In 2020, the annual Toy Appeal had to adapt with lockdown restrictions. This meant they needed to capture attention of passers-by, take contactless donations and show gratitude all without the usual face-to-face interactions from stewards.
Impactful design elements were integrated with large screens as well as our Donation Stations, resulting in a powerful campaign that has raised nearly £50,000 over three years.
Digital gives charitable organisations the opportunity to optimise their donor journey. In a competitive landscape like today's, every interaction matters. Making a memorable and emotive experience for your supporters increases recognition and donations.
How to stand out in a difficult climate
You need to effectively and consistently tell your charity's story in order to attract value-aligned donors. Rising costs, paired with a decline in regular giving and an incredibly competitive landscape, means charities are having to work harder to survive.
Talk to us about designing an immersive giving experience with Donation Station's that
- Create a unique and memorable experience
- Emotionally connect with donors
- Encourage further support from passers-by
Topics from this blog: Fundraising contactless donation Digital Fundraising Tech for Good Corporate Fundraising
