Donor Recognition Walls
A lasting thank you, with room for the names still to come.
Kolano Design designs donor recognition walls for hospitals, universities, schools, museums and community organizations. Recent work includes the Wall of Distinction in Carnegie Mellon University's Cohon University Center, the donor wall at the entrance to Family House on Liberty Avenue, the digital donor wall and two Walls of Honor at UPMC Passavant, and the donor signs at Steel City Squash.
A donor wall has to thank people properly today and still have room for names next year. Kolano plans the naming levels and layout so names can be added, chooses materials that suit the building, from glass and bronze to lightboxes and video monitors, and reviews prototypes and shop drawings through installation. At Rodef Shalom Congregation, Kolano has returned over two decades to update and expand the recognition.
- Gift levels, naming opportunities and donor lists
- Location, sightlines and a layout with room to grow
- Materials: glass, metal, stone, lightbox or digital
- Prototypes, samples and shop drawing review
- Installation and later name additions
Selected Projects
Full portfolio
Common Questions
What is a donor recognition wall?
A donor recognition wall is a permanent display that thanks the people and organizations who funded a building, program or campaign, usually grouped by gift level. It can be built from glass, metal, stone, lightboxes or video monitors, and is often paired with plaques for named rooms.
Can names be added to a donor wall later?
They should be. A good layout leaves space and uses panels or content that can be updated without rebuilding the wall. Kolano designed Carnegie Mellon's Wall of Distinction so names can be added each year, and has made later additions to the donor walls at Cooper-Siegel Community Library and Rodef Shalom Congregation.
Are digital donor walls a good option?
Digital walls make updates easy and can show stories, photos and video alongside names, while physical walls feel permanent. Many organizations use both. At UPMC Passavant, Kolano designed a digital donor wall, two Walls of Honor and a timeline built from 55-inch video monitors in the main lobby.
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