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As well, Tribute to Liberty’s website promises an on-site plaque to those who donate $100,000 or more. Those who donate between $1,001 and $99,999 will also be recognized by name at the memorial site.

Under a policy adopted in 2006, the NCC explicitly ruled out this sort of donor recognition. “Donor contributions to the commemoration, whether financial or other, shall not be acknowledged in any manner as part of the commemorative site,” the policy stated.

In its fall 2011 newsletter, Tribute to Liberty reported that many donors and potential donors were asking why there was no donor recognition at the memorial site. The charity had total assets of just $9,574 at the time.

Tribute to Liberty had recently participated in an evaluation of the NCC’s commemoration program, the newsletter said, and “raised the issue of on-site donor recognition. The NCC responded by saying they would look into the issue.”

In its winter 2012 newsletter, Tribute to Liberty advised that the NCC had promised an answer by March. “Tribute to Liberty is hopeful the NCC will change its policy regarding on-site recognition as it wants to be able to recognize donors at the memorial site.”

In an interview, Alide Forstmanis, who was chair of the charitable group from 2008 until October 2012, said she pushed for the policy review. It took about two years, she said, but “obviously, they caved in on that.”

Forstmanis, now the charity’s treasurer, said about 500 people have made the requisite $1,000 donations and will be named on the Wall of Remembrance.