Time Sure Flies

Has it really been a year since I wrote a column announcing the First Annual Gold Awards for Direct-Mail Excellence? Must be, since it appeared in the March 2005 issue.

But I haven’t even filed all of the paperwork from that competition. And it feels as though the awards just got mailed last month. (OK, they did just get mailed. But we won’t have that delay next time — I promise.) Wow, time really does fly.

The deadline for this year’s awards is close of business on May 31. It’s a little earlier than last year because the competition already has grown, and judging might be a bit more complex. As a matter of fact, we’ve even had to change the name to acknowledge our expansion.

So it’s now officially time to start thinking about your entries into the 2006 Gold Awards for Fundraising Excellence. What’s new is that this year’s categories will include not only direct-mail campaigns but e-philanthropy and multi-channel as well. On the DM side, the categories will be Package of the Year (the high scorer from among the other DM categories); Acquisitions (50,000 mailed and up); Acquisitions (fewer than 50,000 mailed); Renewals (50,000 mailed and up); Renewals (fewer than 50,000 mailed); Special Appeals (50,000 mailed and up); Special Appeals (fewer than 50,000 mailed); and Grand Control of the Year (chosen from among our Who’s Mailing What! Archive).

The e-philanthropy category is fairly self-explanatory, encompassing predominantly Web- and/or e-mail-based campaigns. Campaigns that utilize an integrated strategy incorporating direct mail, e-mail, Web site, phone, etc. — or any combination thereof — will go into the multi-channel category.

Like last year, the results will be judged on a points system by a panel of experts culled from the nonprofit-fundraising sector. And unlike every other thing in the world, the entry fee has not gone up: $125 for the first entry and $75 each additional. Packages/campaigns had to have been mailed/conducted in 2005, and you will need to have results to accompany your entry form. Entries can be submitted by agencies, consultants, service and technology providers, vendors, and organizations. Winners will be announced in the September issue of the magazine.

You’ll find an entry form and more details in the April issue, or you can go back to www.fundraisingsuccessmag.com. Best of luck!