Here are the efforts our judges chose as the best of 2006 in the FS 2007 Gold Awards for Fundraising Excellence.

By Abny Santicola and Margaret Battistelli

As far as typical direct-mail letter hot spots: The Johnson box is Eloise’s father’s thought that his daughter having her wish granted would be his own wish; important copy is boldfaced and/or underlined (and it’s just a respectable amount); the close of the letter ties together Eloise’s and her father’s wish; and there’s a P.S. in handwritten typeface from Dad making one last pitch.