2012 New Zealand Fundraising Excellence Awards - SUbmit now

The call for entries for the 2012 New Zealand Fundraising Excellence Awards is now open. The awards recognise outstanding fundraising practice in New Zealand and FINZ's support of best practice in the sector.

FINZ understands that fundraisers have a tough job, particularly in the last two years. We also believe that because fundraising can be such a tough job, it's easy to forget it's also a rewarding job, which is why we take pride in publicly recognising fundraisers' achievements through the New Zealand Fundraising Excellence Awards.

The awards ceremony will be one of the key events of the May 2012 Conference in Auckland. So don't miss this opportunity to be recognised for the work you're doing and to show others in the sector your innovative campaigns.

Deadline: 24th March 2012

Important information:

Please read the awards criteria carefully, failure to comply could mean your entry is not accepted. Note that all work by the organisation should have been completed mostly or fully in the 2011 calendar year.

Download an application form with criteria

The following awards will be presented:

The Annual/Regular Giving Programmes Fundraising Award
The Major Gifts & Capital Campaigns Fundraising Award
The Special Events Charity Fundraising Award
The Corporate Supporters Charity Fundraising Award
The Planned Giving & Bequest Programmes Fundraising Award
The Donor Acquisition Charity Fundraising Award
The Online Campaigns Fundraising Award
 

Fundraising Awards Excellence winners 2011

New Zealand Post Annual/Regular Giving Programmes Fundraising Award.

Winner: Fay James, Cancer Society, Manawatu, for the 2010 Relay for Life

The winner of this award spent a lot of time planning – and it was lengthy, detailed and meticulously done as was the implementation of the programme.

The financial accounts of the programme showed an impressive result: costs were minimised and income maximised. As well, community participation was widespread and the programme attracted some very effective media coverage. An excellent result all round.

 

FundraiseOnline, Online Campaigns Fundraising Award

Winner: Lesley Mynett-Johnson, Auckland, for the Lifewise Big Sleepout Campaign.

When you embark on an online fundraising campaign that results in 99 percent of your donations coming online, then it’s fair to say you’ve succeeded, and succeeded very well.

All the usual social media were employed in this campaign – the web, twitter, facebook – but it was the management and techniques that were used as well as the presentation and timing that gave this campaign a real edge. Little wonder it spilled over into the hardcopy and electronic media and gave the cause great coverage.

The understanding of, and very canny use of social media was exceptional and the winner thoroughly deserves their award.

A superb effort and a benchmark for other contenders for fundraising success using social media.

 

Kiwibank Special Events Charity Fundraising Award for Excellence

The judges decided to give a Merit Certificate for this Award as well as awarding for the overall winner.

Merit Award: Jackie Edkins representing Rural Women for the ‘Let’s get Plastered for Breast Cancer’ Campaign.

In the category that attracted the most number of entries there was an entry that stood out not only for its success but also because it was done by a group not recognized as a regular fundraising organisation.

This group of innovative, self-starters saw a need in the community and wanted to do something practical and memorable about it, and they certainly did!

Respondents to their unique appeal became practically involved in the cause in an intimate way that not only raised money but they profiled the cause widely and extraordinarily.

 

Winner: Jo Jukes, Oxfam, for the Oxfam Trailwalker Event.

This winner showed very clear evidence that events can be very successful fundraising vehicles; it’s all down to detailed planning, smart and timely implementation and overall astute and careful management.

This was a big event and could have fallen short of the mark on many counts but it went almost without a hitch. The event was superbly executed according to a proven international blueprint but with its own New Zealand flavor and emphasis. The end result was that it raised close to $1 million. And the media seemed impressed too, as it gave wide coverage that enhanced the profile of the charity and its cause.

The Wyatt & Wilson Premier Fundraising Award for Excellence.

This Award is only given out if an entry into any of the award categories is of such exceptional quality, that the judges feel the Premier Award should be given out.

The plan and strategy of tonight’s Premier Award winner’s campaign were mightily impressive; clear objectives and how they intended to reach them – they planned their work and worked their plan.

And the result was success in every facet of their campaign which included extensive media coverage and participation as well as the outcomes mentioned earlier when they won a previous award tonight.

The winner of this award is an experienced fundraiser who is a credit to the profession and the campaign she managed makes her a most worthy winner of this year’s

The winner of the Wyatt & Wilson Premier Fundraising Award for Excellence is Lesley Mynett-Johnson, Auckland for the Lifewise Big Sleepout Campaign.