Perpetual Plaques: How They Work and How to Plan One

A perpetual plaque is the one award that gets more valuable every year, because every new name adds to the story. This guide explains how perpetual and roster plaques work, how to choose the right capacity, and how to keep one going for a decade or more.

What a perpetual plaque is

A perpetual plaque is a wall plaque with a header engraved once and a grid of small name plates that you fill in over time, one winner at a time. It hangs permanently in a lobby, hallway, or clubhouse and shows every past recipient of an award.

A roster plaque is its close cousin: the names are engraved all at once, either on one large plate or several smaller plates, for a group that is complete today, such as a team roster, a board of directors, or a list of founding donors.

The rule of thumb: if the list will grow, choose perpetual. If the list is final, choose roster.

Perpetual plates · Roster plates

How to plan capacity

Plan capacity by multiplying how many names you add per year by how many years you want the plaque to last. A monthly award adds 12 names a year, a quarterly award adds 4, and an annual award adds 1.

For a monthly program, a board with 12 plates covers one year and a board with 24 or more covers two or more years. For an annual award, even a modest board can last a decade or longer. Each perpetual product lists how many plates it holds, so do the math before you choose.

Leave headroom. It is better to have empty plates waiting for future winners than to fill the board in the second year and start over.

Designing the header and name plates

The header should name the award and the organization, and usually includes the logo: for example, the company name above "Employee of the Month", or the league name above "Champions". Keep it short so it reads from across the room. A formal header may close with "Dedicated on this ## day of [Month], 20XX", with ## and 20XX filled in with the date the board is unveiled. Here is a header with its first name plate on the last line (a slash marks a line break):

[Company Name]
Employee of the Month
In Grateful Recognition of Those
Whose Excellence Sets Our Standard
Dedicated on this ## day of [Month], 20XX
[Name], January 20XX

Pick one format for every name plate and stick to it. Common formats include the name above the month and year, the year above the name, the year above the team name, or the name, department, and year on three short lines. Consistent plates are what make the board look finished rather than patched together.

Most programs engrave the header and the first winner (or the winners so far) at the start, then add each new name as it is awarded.

Plaque wording ideas

Adding plates over the years

To add a name, send us the new winner and the plate format you already use, and we engrave a plate to match. Keep a copy of your approved proof so anyone who takes over the program later knows the exact format.

Order plates promptly after each winner is announced, or batch them quarterly, so the board stays current. A board that is three winners behind sends the opposite message from the one you intended.

Each new plate gets its own free digital proof, and your card is not charged until you approve it.

Common uses for perpetual plaques

Perpetual plaques work for any award that repeats. Common examples include employee of the month or year, sales leader of the quarter, safety awards, league and tournament champions, hall of fame inductees, scholarship recipients, teacher of the year, past presidents and board chairs, fire company or police department honors, and annual donor recognition.

Schools, fire companies, and nonprofits often keep several perpetual plaques side by side, one per award, which turns a bare hallway into a record of the organization's history.

Employee of the month plaques · Years of service pieces

When the plaque is full

When a perpetual plaque fills up, retire it with its date range and start a matching second board beside it. Adding a date range such as "[Year] to 20XX" to the old board's header area, or a small plate saying so, turns it into an archive rather than an outdated sign.

If you liked the original design, we can match the header and plate format on the new board so the two hang together as a set.

Ordering and timing

Design the header in the designer or send us your wording and logo and let a designer build it free. Larger perpetual and roster plaques can take longer than our usual two-business-day production after proof approval, so plan ahead for an unveiling date.

Schools, government agencies, and exempt nonprofits can order tax-exempt with a valid certificate on file.

Let our team build it · Tax-exempt orders

Frequently asked questions

What is a perpetual plaque?

A perpetual plaque has a header engraved once and a set of small name plates added over time as each new winner is named. It shows every past recipient of a recurring award.

What is the difference between a perpetual plaque and a roster plaque?

A perpetual plaque grows over time as names are added. A roster plaque lists a fixed group of names, engraved all at once.

How many name plates should my perpetual plaque have?

Multiply names per year by the years you want it to last. A monthly award needs 12 plates a year, a quarterly award 4, and an annual award 1.

How do I add a new name to a perpetual plaque?

Send us the winner's name and your plate format and we engrave a matching plate. You get a free proof before it is made.

What happens when a perpetual plaque is full?

Retire it with its date range and start a matching second board. Keeping the old one on display preserves the history.

How long does a perpetual plaque take?

You will receive a proof within one business day. Larger perpetual and roster plaques may take longer than the usual two business days after approval, so plan ahead.

Pieces that suit this wording

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