Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Foundation for the Carolinas (FFTC) has catalyzed philanthropic activity, civic efforts, and charitable innovation since its establishment in 1958. As one of the largest community foundations in the United States, FFTC inspires philanthropy and community building for individuals, families, nonprofits and businesses, providing a range of innovative funding, grantmaking and giving options for 13 counties in North and South Carolina.
The Challenge
FFTC’s multi-floor headquarters offers an inspiring setting for community engagement. It houses stunning art galleries, high-traffic conference rooms, event spaces, and communal hubs. The art-filled event spaces are ideal for celebrations, retreats, fundraisers, and receptions, while additional areas offer complimentary meeting spaces to regional nonprofits.
Hosting a diverse range of visitors each year, FFTC staff frequently answered repetitive inquiries regarding artwork, schedules, and the foundation’s history. With a range of communication needs across different areas within the facility, FFTC recognized an opportunity to enhance visitor experience and operational efficiency.
The foundation sought to integrate a dynamic digital communications solution throughout its headquarters. However, it needed a system that balanced technical and creative aspects while ensuring seamless administration. The solution required an intuitive interface that allowed staff to manage content efficiently. Additionally, it needed to function across multiple devices to maintain accessibility throughout the facility and ensure messaging consistency.
Solution
FFTC partnered with 22Miles for its industry-leading content management solution, known for its user-friendly design, extensive customization options, and scalability. 22Miles integrates effortlessly with existing infrastructure, minimizing IT overhead while delivering a highly responsive user experience.
To enhance visitor engagement, the foundation deployed a network of digital displays and interactive touchscreens across galleries, high-traffic areas, and near elevators. Equipped with the 22Miles content management system, screens on every floor offer interactive visual communications experiences. The signage encourages self-guided exploration, enabling visitors to learn about the foundation’s mission, artists, exhibits, and online resources without staff assistance. Whether interacting directly with the touchscreens or using their mobile devices via a QR code scan, visitors can access rich content and detailed information about the foundation’s offerings.
Administrators can easily manage and customize screen content using 22Miles’ intuitive drag-and-drop functionality, ensuring timely and relevant messaging reaches guests with little to no technical expertise required. The system also integrates with FFTC’s website and event scheduling software for real-time updates.
Built for scalability, the system also supports FFTC’s long-term vision. As the foundation continues serving the Carolinas, 22Miles can expand the network with additional features such as wayfinding, additional video walls, new integrations, and other digital engagement tools to maintain a cutting-edge visitor experience.
Results
The digital signage network transformed how visitors engage with FFTC. Interactive touchscreens throughout the facility empower guests to explore and dive into the foundation’s mission at their own pace, which enriches the visitor experience and frees up bandwidth. Staff can now focus on meaningful interactions instead of fielding routine inquiries, allowing them to dedicate more time to core initiatives and programming.
Beyond engagement, the system has made operations more efficient, with little time investment or expertise required to edit or update content. The user-friendly drag-and-drop system makes changes quick and easy, ensuring visitors always see the latest information.
With unified branding baked into the backend, the digital displays also bring FFTC’s identity to life, making its commitment to innovation, accessibility, and the arts tangible for every visitor. The system allows the foundation to foster deeper community connections with less strain while constantly elevating its mission of philanthropy and service across digital touchpoints.
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FFTC’s digital transformation illustrates how nonprofits and corporate foundations can leverage visual communication technology to elevate visitor engagement, streamline operations, and showcase their mission in an immersive, interactive and straightforward way. FFTC continues to set a standard for how technology can enrich community and corporate spaces, ensuring a lasting impact on all who visit.
