Development of a Tile Fundraising/ Donor Recognition Project
Every project is unique. It is a collaboration between Marion, the people who represent the organization and the community. Essentially a visual representation of the organization’s goals, history and mission, the tile mural encourages and acknowledges donors while creating a work of public art for all to enjoy.
How long does a project take?
A fundraising tile mural is a long term commitment. The rewards are tremendous, but the amount of work it entails needs to be considered before embarking on a project. The average time from the original design meeting with Marion to the installation of a wall is three years. Of course, this varies depending on the size and scope of the project. Since many fundraising walls are often planned at the same time as a major building campaign, the tiles will be designed, sold and produced while the building is under construction and installed when the building is completed.
A donor recognition wall where the donors have already made their contributions and the project is complete except for a means to recognize the contributors is different from a fundraiser in that the time needed to complete the project will be shorter.
How much can we raise?
The amount of money raised by a library wall averages about $1,750 per square foot. This is the profit after the cost of the tiles, average cost of a brochure and the tile installation is deducted. The figure will be adjusted according to the price charged per tile and the size of the mural. Potential profits from fundraising walls for schools, nature and community centers, and hospitals are harder to generalize since the economics and philosophy of pricing vary more.
What is the process?
After an initial meeting with Marion where she will present her work to the community, and the decision is made to proceed, a basic contract will need to be signed. Then a design fee is paid that covers the design of the wall plus samples of each size and type of tile. These will be used to introduce the project to the public and to produce a sales brochure. As the tiles are sold, orders will be submitted to Marion. The only up front costs before the tiles are available to the community to sponsor are the design fee and the cost of producing a brochure.
