You have probably seen a donation box at museums or other nonprofit institutions and walked by it without a thought. To incentivize visitors to contribute to Rocky Mountain National Park, the rangers devised a creative system that spurs donations based on home state pride.
Instead of one generic giving spot, the park has an acrylic box with 60 slots, each labeled with a state or continent. People can see how their home compares to other areas and may be motivated to give to boost its standing. The targeted approach helps personalize giving and becomes a point of curiosity that is harder to pass by.
Can you adapt the idea to solicit contributions for your cause? Think about the identities your donors may have (neighborhoods, age, gender, sports team, fans of one of your offerings [a zoo could seek donations based on favorite animal], or other categories that fit your audience) and combine pride, competition, and giving to make your institution the ultimate winner.
