The Future of Donor & Customer Appreciation Gifts
Neill-Cochran House Museum client, Paul Cato, holding popup cards of the museum and Texas bluebonnets, which are featured in their gift shop.
People enjoy history. When we study it, we gain a better understanding of the world around us. Most of the stories we hear have a specific place attached to them. We visit these historic locations for school field trips, for higher education, for private events, or just for enjoyment on a weekend off. But it is particularly interesting when we find out significant history has happened right in our own backyard.
If you are managing a historic building today, you want to drive interest toward its cultural history. Even people who have grown up in the building’s native city may not fully know the connections that building has to the past. With 3D popup cards, you can get the community intrigued and involved in a new way.
Photo by Kristi Johnson of Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park in California on Unsplash
Encourage Participation in Historic Preservation
Historic buildings, monuments, and other infrastructure have intrinsic value. If they were constructed before a certain time period, their materials may no longer exist. They also could have been built by vastly different standards, particularly if they were before World War II. In Austin, Texas, there are several iconic sites from before that era that have been preserved for our viewing pleasure today. From parks to museums, generations of locals have enjoyed these spaces. And Texans are very proud of the state’s diverse heritage.
But the unfortunate fact of the matter is that nothing stays the same forever. There have been many creations through the years that have been torn down in favor of new construction. That being said, people are often attracted to older buildings. Carefully designed 3D popup cards can expertly capture the sense of awe that comes with architecture that tells a story to modern society that we’ve never been able to experience ourselves.
A Little More About Historic Building Maintenance and Preservation
Preservation is the key to keeping historic buildings there for future generations to appreciate. When beginning the maintenance process, there are three treatment methods that can be executed. These consist of:
Restoration: When you want to return a building to its original state after it has been updated with evidence of more modern times, you are restoring it. For history lovers, this type of project is especially appreciated because it returns the colors, styles, and finishes that were lost over time.
Rehabilitation: Homeowner rehabilitation assistance programs exist if your house is historic and in need of repairs that would maintain the safety of the living environment. It retains the property’s historic character while still acknowledging what isn’t healthy.
Reconstruction: Historic buildings can fall victim to weathering. In order to properly reconstruct any non-surviving structures, professional construction workers will step in to replicate the appearance of a specific point in time.
Accumulate Funds to Upkeep the Historic Building
Just because a historic building qualifies to receive a grant does not guarantee its funding. In order to get the revenue needed to upkeep the property, owners or foundation managers must be able to connect with prospective donors. Donors want to know that they are putting their money into a sound cause. So, the first step is getting the word out about the historic building that you want to preserve. One way to achieve this is by hosting a fundraising event where you bring together members of the community and show them just how necessary this project is. Sending custom 3D invitations from your organization is an effective way to secure RSVPs to the event.
As organizers set donation goals, it’s important to identify the audience and expectations. Did you know that 69% of all donations are made by individuals? Only 5% come from corporations. This means that fundraising targeting efforts are primarily going to be at the individual level. When collecting funds from donors, it’s important to be trustworthy and transparent. Each donor is going to be different, so you should consider how to best encourage them to help with the preservation of the historic building. And it’s vital to make a personal connection.
Building owners must ensure that they have effective marketing strategies for fundraising events in their back pocket. You could make special edition merchandise to give out, for instance. 3D popup cards designed with unique historic architecture are a great choice that prospective donors are sure to love, whether you give them out at the event or send them via direct mail. There are endless design possibilities so that these cards can perfectly tie in with what the historic location has to offer. Other adjacent marketing strategies to consider are promoting the cause on your social media, building a fundraising page on your website, and engaging with supporters at other local community events.
Make Cultural Heritage More Tangible with 3D Popup Cards
There are two major parts of cultural heritage. The first involves the physical objects, while the second is the knowledge and skills that are passed down between generations. Cultural heritage essentially expresses how much life has changed, to get to where we are now. Regardless of where you live in the world, your culture is deeply ingrained in you. And businesses are more than capable of using that sense of self and community to their advantage.
Businesses across the country have opted to create promotional branded merchandise. They put their company names across t-shirts, bags, and pens so that they can boost their name recognition. Such items can be given out as welcome gifts for new employees. Today, historic building owners are following the same idea in their gift shops. You are able to find memorabilia that is related to that location and the exhibits. Some might even put their souvenirs on a website so that you can still contribute to their cause, even from miles away.
An example of this is the Neill-Cochran House Museum, which Awesome 3D Cards has partnered with to design custom 3D popup cards. Located in the heart of Austin, it is one of the oldest historic residences in the city, having been around since 1856. This Texas Historical Commission landmark is a two-story Greek Revival home that actually lives amongst The University of Texas at Austin’s Greek life. It provides us with a glimpse of what the culture of the city once consisted of, before it became what we know today.
The Neill-Cochran House Museum offers visitors two different 3D popup cards. One is a detailed model of the museum itself, while the other is colorful bluebonnets to represent Texas. Both instances highlight important parts of what it’s like to live in Austin now and nearly 170 years ago.
Awesome 3D Cards has experience creating stunning architectural models. We can make a representation of your historic building that is certain to capture anyone’s attention. Send the card out to donors, display it in your gift shop, or use it as an announcement for an upcoming event. No matter how you use it, the recipient will be wowed by the details. Talk with us to design your very own 3D popup cards.