Home / Who It's For / Donor recognition
Donor recognition people walk through
A plaque gets walked past. A Luminary writes your donor's name, dedication, or chosen words on the ground every night, where everyone stands in it.
Imagine your donor's name in light
Donor walls do an important job, but they are easy to walk past. A Luminary turns recognition into a destination. The donor's name, a dedication, or the values the gift stands for are cut through stainless steel and cast across the ground at night, so the gift is seen and talked about every evening for decades.
It also gives your advancement team something rare: a naming opportunity people will photograph and share. The Ball State Luminary was commissioned by the Ball State Foundation and unveiled at a donor celebration.
- Lead gifts and naming opportunities
- Capital campaign milestones
- Named plazas, quads, and gardens
- Foundation anniversaries
- Legacy and memorial gifts
Recognition that gets noticed
Seen every night
The dedication is written on the ground after dark.
A naming moment
Unveil it at a gala, homecoming, or anniversary.
Easy to approve
Renderings and a lit, full-size mock-up for the board.
Unveiled in front of donors
The Ball State Luminary was switched on for the first time during the Foundation's alumni and donor celebration for the university's 100th Homecoming.
Good to know
Can the design honor a donor, a class, or a person?
Yes. Names, class years, dedications, values, mascots, and crests can all be cut into the steel and projected onto the ground, which makes a Luminary a lasting form of recognition that people see every night.
How are Luminaries usually funded?
Most are funded by a foundation, a lead donor, a class gift, a capital project budget, or a public-art allocation. The Ball State Luminary was commissioned by the Ball State Foundation. The renderings and mock-up give a board or donor what they need to say yes.
Can we see it before it is built?
Yes. After rounds of design meetings and 3D renderings, the studio builds a full-size mock-up and lights it outdoors. Within about 150 miles of Delaware County, Indiana, it can be set up and lit on your own site. Farther away, it is lit at the studio and you receive drone footage, photos, and measurements. Three or four rounds of changes are included.
How much does a Luminary cost?
Every Luminary is a custom commission, so the investment depends on size, design, finish, and site. The design process, renderings, full-size mock-up, fabrication, delivery, and installation are all part of one proposal. Request a proposal to start the conversation.
Will it rust or wear outdoors?
316 stainless steel does not rust like ordinary steel. Over the years it may take on a slight, even patina. It is built to stand outdoors permanently in rain, snow, and summer heat.
