When a school, library, or other institution wants to expand its facilities, it may call out for donations to help realize its plans.
New buildings or construction projects made possible by the generosity of private donors are a sign of a caring and invested community.
To say thank you for the support it is receiving, the institution accepting donations will usually invite contributors to leave their mark on the walls or floors of the new building by inscribing a message in a donation brick.
Knowing what to write on a donation brick can be tricky.
If you are donating to an institution that you care about and are wondering what message you’d like to leave to posterity, this article will provide you with a list of sample inscriptions that will hopefully help you craft the perfect message.
33 messages to write on a donation brick
- With sincere gratitude, George, Sarah, James, and Sally Rickert. April 20th, 2023.
- The Mulligan family conveys its heartfelt appreciation to the Thurlow Public Parks and Recreation Board for all it does to preserve our beautiful natural environment.
- This brick was donated by the Rahmani family on October 6th, 2022.
- The Brown family thanks River Elementary for its dedication to delivering the finest education possible.
- On behalf of the five generations of Von Clemm’s who have attended Shermount High School to date, thank you for all the inspiration and learning that is imparted in these halls.
- The Brynn family gifted this small token of our appreciation on June 10th, 2024.
- This brick was gifted by the Seller-Gormley family, which would like to thank the Hatfield Public Library for being a place of calm and contemplation in a busy world.
- Fatima and Mohammed Abbas give this brick on behalf of ourselves and our three wonderful children, Ali, Hamida, and Nour. Donated on the 3rd of January 2021.
- This bench was placed here in loving memory of George Harlow (1951–2022), who spent countless hours walking the banks of this river.
- In memory of Gerald Foster. Forever in our hearts. April 10, 1974–May 7, 2024.
- In honor of our Veterans. Rest in peace, fallen heroes.
- Sarah Powell, 12.10.1975–11.10.2021.
- In memory of our beloved dog Sadler O’Rourke, who made his closest friends in this park. Rest in peace, dear puppy.
- In loving memory of James Mark Mulhall (1967–2022), valedictorian of the Barrow High School class of 1985.
- Rest in peace, Harris Baker, 1955–2023.
- Hannah Nichols. 1949–2022. Loving mother, wife, sister, and friend. May God rest her soul.
- In loving memory of Stacey Ann Healy (1957–2020). “For your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds.” Psalm 57:10.
- This brick has been laid in honor of all those who passed away after struggling with the demons of addiction. May your souls finally find the rest they need.
- This brick is gifted in the memory of all the children who were residents of this home when it was a public workhouse. May we, the residents of this country, one day redeem ourselves for the pain you were made to suffer. Rest in peace.
- “No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank
- “Giving is not just about making a donation. It is about making a difference.” – Kathy Calvin. This brick was laid with the support of the Brooks family on January 10th, 2023.
- “Life isn’t about getting and having, it’s about giving and being.” – Kevin Krusc. Donated on behalf of the entire O’Malley clan, past, present, and future.
- “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” – Greek Proverb. Gifted with all our love to the shade-sitters of the future, George and Shirley Burke.
- “I have lived a thousand lives and I have loved a thousand loves; I’ve walked on distant worlds and seen the end of time. Because I read.” – George R.R. Martin. With our heartfelt thanks to the Jamesville Public Library for opening up distant worlds to our local community.
- “The world belongs to those who read.” – Rick Holland. With gratitude for the work of the Georgetown Library to promote reading in young people. Hans and Nick Basilone.
- “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think!” – Albert Einstein. Donated by Naomi and Paul Watkinson on April 8th, 2023.
- “Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.” – Oprah Winfrey
- “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” – John Miur. Given with heartfelt appreciation to the work of the Brownsfield Nature Reserve from Gavin and Stacey Shelley.
- “I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.” – Henry David Thoreau. Mark and Judy Dyer, May 22nd, 2021.
- Mick’s Appliances on Broad Street is proud to support the great work of Gainesville Elementary School.
- Nelson’s Dentistry Practice gifts this brick on behalf of our wonderful staff who regularly take walks in Burrow Park.
- Warehouse Plumbing congratulates the Sheridan Town Library on its 100-year anniversary.
- Breda’s Ice Cream Parlor is a proud sponsor of the Belchertown Football Stadium.
Messages to write on a memorial brick on behalf of a family
When a local institution or organization, such as a school, library, or public park calls out for donations, the people who are usually in the best financial position to respond to it are professionals with established careers.
Many of these working folks will have families and will choose to write a donation message on behalf of their whole family.
If you are interested in giving back to a local institution that you care about, you might be wondering what to inscribe on a donation brick.
As a family man or woman, why not write a simple message of support on behalf of your immediate or extended family? Your children and grandchildren will love to look at “their” brick and will enjoy going to find it once it is up.
Here are a few suggestions for how to word a family-centered donor brick text.
1. With sincere gratitude, George, Sarah, James, and Sally Rickert. April 20th, 2023.
When writing a text to be inscribed on a donation brick, you will have to consider the specific guidelines provided by the organization you are donating to.
Some bricks are bigger than others, which means some institutions allow for more text than others. Additionally, while many organizations that are running donation-brick schemes are happy to include printed logos or images, others are not.
Just make sure you check the exact requirements provided by the organization in question before submitting your text.
This sample text makes an ideal inscription if the bricks being used are relatively small. It is short, sweet, and to-the-point.
2. The Mulligan family conveys its heartfelt appreciation to the Thurlow Public Parks and Recreation Board for all it does to preserve our beautiful natural environment.
While some donors prefer to keep their messages generic, others like to say why they are grateful to the organization they are donating to.
If you are giving money to a public park, for example, why not mention what has inspired you to open your pocketbook?
Do you, for example, like the sense of community it gives you to respond when someone says, “Hi” on a loop around the park? If so, reference the importance role the park plays in bringing people together.
This sample brick inscription conveys the reason for the donation and thanks the Public Parks and Recreation Board on behalf of the whole donor family.
3. This brick was donated by the Rahmani family on October 6th, 2022.
Some institutions ask donor brick messages to be kept below a very strict character count. If you’re giving to one that has capped your message to the length of less than a tweet, this sample message offers a great template.
4. The Brown family thanks River Elementary for its dedication to delivering the finest education possible.
Donation bricks let people work together to literally build their community’s future, and it is an honor to be part of that legacy.
If you are giving to a school, it is nice to mention its dedication to providing an excellent education, which this family-centered message does.
5. On behalf of the five generations of Von Clemm’s who have attended Shermount High School to date, thank you for all the inspiration and learning that is imparted in these halls.
If your extended family has been attending a school for generations, you can inscribe your donation brick with a message that references your legacy at the institution.
First, say on whose behalf your donation was made. Then, thank the school for what it has done for your family.
6. The Brynn family gifted this small token of our appreciation on June 10th, 2024.
Referring to your family’s donation (and the brick that symbolizes it) as a small token of appreciation is a classy move.
It demonstrates that you are generous enough to give away your hard-won earnings, but that you do not think this is something worth being openly showy about.
7. This brick was gifted by the Seller-Gormley family, which would like to thank the Hatfield Public Library for being a place of calm and contemplation in a busy world.
If you are given a little bit more freedom with regards to the word count of your donation brick text, you can explicitly explain your family’s connection to the institution you are giving to.
If a library, park, stadium, or other place in need of donations occupies a particularly important place in your family’s history, reference this in your text. It adds a personal touch and will make a good read for anyone who is admiring and reading the bricks in the years to come.
8. Fatima and Mohammed Abbas give this brick on behalf of ourselves and our three wonderful children, Ali, Hamida, and Nour. Donated on the 3rd of January 2021.
When writing a memory on behalf of your immediate family, it is nice to keep your text short and sweet. Mentioning every person’s name and including an expression of affection is the perfect way to go.
You can also include the date of your donation so that any family members who come to look at the brick in years to come can fit its placement neatly into family history.
What to write on a memorial donation brick
One of the most common (and moving) ways of gifting to an organization is doing it in the name of someone who has passed away.
This means that when it comes time to choose the inscription for the donor brick, finding the right words can be an emotional experience for the deceased’s loved ones.
If you are mourning the passing of a close friend or relative you probably find yourself constantly surrounded by texts about death—from sympathy letters to funeral brochures—and may feel too overwhelmed to choose the right message for a memorial brick.
Whether it is the loss of a husband you are coping with, or whether you are trying to support a grieving teenager, being surrounded by reminders of death is not easy to deal with.
If that sounds like you, this article is here to help you out. Here are a few sample inscriptions for a donation brick that you could draw inspiration from.
9. This bench was placed here in loving memory of George Harlow (1951–2022), who spent countless hours walking the banks of this river.
Many public parks accept donations to put up benches, on which they adorn a little plaque with a memorial message.
While it isn’t strictly a brick, the concept is the same, and if your late loved one had a favorite park or riverside walk, this is a great way to honor their memory.
10. In memory of Gerald Foster. Forever in our hearts. April 10, 1974–May 7, 2024.
Whatever the setting of your memorial brick, a straightforward, classic message won’t go amiss.
This message is a beautiful and simple way to honor someone’s memory when making a donation in their name.
11. In honor of our Veterans. Rest in peace, fallen heroes.
If you want to donate to an institution but don’t want to write a donation brick text in your own name and don’t have a specific person whose memory you want to honor, you can also dedicate your donation to a deserving group of people.
This inscription will serve as a symbol of support to anyone who sees it and has lost a loved one in action.
12. Sarah Powell, 12.10.1975–11.10.2021.
This is a classic format for a donation brick text. Depending on the setting, less can really be more when it comes to memorial inscriptions.
13. In memory of our beloved dog Sadler O’Rourke, who made his closest friends in this park. Rest in peace, dear puppy.
If you had a pet who passed away, why not donate to a good cause in their name? If your dog loved a specific park, for example, you could inscribe a brick in their honor.
This is also a lovely way to help your children (if you have any) cope with the loss of a pet. It will give them a place they can go to grieve, and they will be proud to see their beloved pup’s name up on a wall.
14. In loving memory of James Mark Mulhall (1967–2022), valedictorian of the Barrow High School class of 1985.
School walls are often a mosaic of donation brick messages. The frequent repairs and renovations required by a building that gets as much use as a local school can lead to quite the impressive donation message wall.
If a loved one of yours really enjoyed their experience at a school—and particularly if they excelled in their studies—you could donate a brick in their memory and inscribe their achievements on it.
15. Rest in peace, Harris Baker, 1955–2023.
Again, when it comes to memorial bricks, simpler is often better.
Including the wish that your loved one rest in peace in a donation brick message is a beautiful way to honor their passing.
16. Hannah Nichols. 1949–2022. Loving mother, wife, sister, and friend. May God rest her soul.
In many ways, memorial bricks and plaques are like gravestones. This is particularly true if you are from a cultural or religious background that doesn’t bury the dead.
Adding a description of what the deceased meant to those around them, for example, “Loving mother, wife sister, and friend,” as above, or “Caring son and brother,” ensures that their relationships to the people they cared about most will be engraved in stone forever.
17. In loving memory of Stacey Ann Healy (1957–2020). “For your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds.” Psalm 57:10.
If you are choosing a text for a memorial brick for a person of faith, you might choose to include a quote from whichever holy book they used to worship.
Whether you inscribe words from the Old Testament, the New Testament, or the Koran, honoring a person’s relationship to God in stone is beautiful and generous thing to do.
18. This brick has been laid in honor of all those who passed away after struggling with the demons of addiction. May your souls finally find the rest they need.
Like the memorial brick inscription dedicated to veterans above, this message is one of deep compassion and care for members of your community who may not have loved ones that are able to honor them individually.
19. This brick is gifted in the memory of all the children who were residents of this home when it was a public workhouse. May we, the residents of this country, one day redeem ourselves for the pain you were made to suffer. Rest in peace.
If you are writing a memorial brick for a specific site where some wrongdoing has occurred, you can reference the specific group of people who were oppressed, unfairly punished, or discriminated against.
Ensuring that the wrongs inflicted upon a vulnerable group do not go unremembered is a great use of donation money.
Quotes to write on a donation brick
Given the wealth of beautiful literature and poetry out there, it would be a shame to limit brick inscriptions to our generic modern language.
Additionally, there is the fact that great writers can often express our emotions better than we can ourselves. Using a quote from one of your favorite authors is a wonderful way to feel connected to the site you are donating to, while also sharing beautiful language with your local community.
Here are a few quotes that would make perfect donation brick inscriptions, followed by a discussion of what situations each is best suited to.
20. “No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank
One possible theme for a donation brick quote is giving. This wonderful quote by Anne Frank highlights the fact that the donation bricks are a symbol of a community supporting itself.
You don’t have to include your name on your brick if you don’t want to and selecting a quote to share instead of simply having your brick say, “Anonymous” is a much better use of space.
21. “Giving is not just about making a donation. It is about making a difference.” – Kathy Calvin. This brick was laid with the support of the Brooks family on January 10th, 2023.
Why not pair a quote about giving with the details about who has helped fund the building or site that the brick has been laid in?
This quote perfectly captures the generosity of spirit that donation-brick schemes draw on and inspire.
22. “Life isn’t about getting and having, it’s about giving and being.” – Kevin Krusc. Donated on behalf of the entire O’Malley clan, past, present, and future.
Using your donation brick to encourage people to be less materialistic is a nice idea. Follow up your inspirational message with a short sentence about who the brick has been donated on behalf of.
23. “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” – Greek Proverb. Gifted with all our love to the shade-sitters of the future. George and Shirley Burke.
If you are an elderly person or couple who is considering donating to an institution and inscribing a brick, why not choose this beautiful Greek proverb about generosity and community?
24. “I have lived a thousand lives and I have loved a thousand loves; I’ve walked on distant worlds and seen the end of time. Because I read.” – George R.R. Martin. With our heartfelt thanks to the Jamesville Public Library for opening up distant worlds to our local community.
If you are donating to a library, you could inscribe your donor brick with a quote that relates to reading.
This will serve as an appropriate reminder to anyone passing the donor brick wall of the wonderful possibilities that books contain between their covers. It will encourage them to take full advantage of the resources provided by the library.
25. “The world belongs to those who read.” – Rick Holland. With gratitude for the work of the Georgetown Library to promote reading in young people. Hans and Nick Basilone.
You don’t have to choose between a quote and an explanation of your motives for donating. This message, which would be best suited to a donor brick in a library, does both!
26. “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think!” – Albert Einstein. Donated by Naomi and Paul Watkinson on April 8th, 2023.
Similarly, if you are choosing a text for a donation brick in a school, why not choose a quote that relates to the importance of education?
27. “Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.” – Oprah Winfrey
This beautiful quote from Oprah Winfrey will be sure to inspire students who walk down the halls of their school. Using your donation brick to spread a positive message about the value of education is a worthwhile thing to do.
28. “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” – John Miur. Given with heartfelt appreciation to the work of the Brownsfield Nature Reserve from Gavin and Stacey Shelley.
Spending time in nature gives us so much more than a pretty view or fresh air. The impact on our mental health and wellbeing that spending time in the great outdoors has cannot be overstated.
However, in order to keep the natural spaces available to us free to access and free of pollution, construction, and other unwanted things, someone has to take steps to protect our natural environment.
Very often, these are public organizations that aren’t that well-funded. If a local park or a national park is looking for donations to be able to keep doing their good work, inscribe your donation brick with a quote, like this one from John Miur, about the importance of nature.
29. “I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.” – Henry David Thoreau. Mark and Judy Dyer, May 22nd, 2021.
This is another option for a donation brick quote about the importance of nature.
You can always add your name to the end of the quote you’re sharing and include the date of your generous donation for posterity.
What to write on a donation brick on behalf of a business
If you are giving to a local institution on behalf of a small business, you will want to represent your venture in the best possible light.
A short message that begins with the name of your company is often the way to go.
30. Mick’s Appliances on Broad Street is proud to support the great work of the teachers and administrators of Gainesville Elementary School.
The phrase “proud to support” is key when you are inscribing a donation brick on behalf of a private business.
Showing that you are actively involved in your community will probably also inspire people to want to support your enterprise in return.
31. Nelson’s Dentistry Practice gifts this brick on behalf of our wonderful staff who regularly take walks in Burrow Park.
If your business has a particular connection to the place you are giving to, you can reference what that connection is in the text for the donor brick.
For example, if your employees regularly visit a park that is looking for support, include your personal connection to the place itself in your donation message.
32. Warehouse Plumbing congratulates the Sheridan Town Library on its 100-year anniversary.
Public institutions and non-profit organizations often use anniversaries as fundraising opportunities.
Referencing the specific anniversary that is the occasion for your donation will not only be appropriate under the circumstances, but it will also serve as an important local historical record.
33. Breda’s Ice Cream Parlor is a proud sponsor of the Belchertown Football Stadium.
Calling your business, a proud sponsor of something that is being built will surely go over well. In addition to being a donation, having your name splashed across a brick at a local institution will probably end up being a great advertising investment.