From the Nominator

"The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Vet) has a long-standing tradition as a global leader in veterinary medicine with a legacy of compassionate clinical expertise, seeing more than 40,000 patient visits annually. To most of our donors, however, we are simply the veterinary hospital that saved their beloved pet’s life, creating a moment of profound gratitude that has inspired many grateful clients to become a donor.  

In 2021, we reenergized our biggest stewardship touchpoint of the year and provided a unique and memorable online experience for our donors as a solution to our virtual challenges. Knowing their strong emotional connection to Penn Vet, we set out to engage our donors with an interactive project that acknowledged their passionate love for animals, showing that Penn Vet recognizes the deeply profound human-animal bond we share. 

Penn Vet hosted an online photo contest that invited recent donors to submit heartwarming photos and stories of their pets. Fifteen winners were chosen. The centerpiece of the photo contest created a unique annual report that we send to every donor: a 12-month calendar featuring the photo contest winners and an honor roll listing every donor’s name. 

This illustrated calendar is a beloved annual tradition, so when our donors were invited to participate in the contest, they were already familiar with the piece and its context. By inviting donors to help create the printed piece that celebrates and honors their support, we created a higher level of connection and renewed pride in their philanthropy."

From the Judges

Great idea for a touchpoint. Very targeted, which makes it more engaging. Open rate was fantastic. AMAZING! BRILLIANT! CREATIVE! Love the numbers shared in terms of participation, strategic outreach, open rates, and yes, donations. Great job!