New York Public Library

As FundRaising Success gears up for the ninth annual Gold Awards for Fundraising Excellence, take a look back at the 2011 On the Edge Campaign of the Year from New York Public Library.

Here is a mobile and social fundraising success checklist excerpted from "Mobile for Good: A How-To Fundraising Guide for Nonprofits" by Heather Mansfield, founder and principal blogger at Nonprofit Tech for Good. By reading the book and implementing the steps necessary to launch a comprehensive mobile and social fundraixsing plan — and checking off the must-do items as you go along — your nonprofit will have in place mobile and social fundraising plan flexible enough to adjust to rapid changes in fundraising and communication technology that will occur over the next decade.

An auction of the contents of philanthropist Brooke Astor's two homes brought in more than $18.8 million, Sotheby's said Tuesday. Sotheby's offered 901 objects in all, including European and Asian furnishings, Old Masters, Qing Dynasty paintings, tea sets, silverware, jewelry, a porcelain menagerie, more than 100 dog paintings and even the uniforms of her domestic staff at a two-day auction that began Monday.

Proceeds will go to institutions and charities, including the New York Public Library and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, under a settlement negotiated by the state attorney general's office.

As Forbes unveiled its Forbes 400 list of the richest people in America, it also released highlights from its Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy.

On June 26, 161 billionaires and near-billionaires gathered at the New York Public Library for The Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy, the greatest-ever meeting of its kind. Oprah Winfrey kicked off the day, and Warren Buffett and Bill Gates also gave keynote talks. Melinda Gates, Diane Von Furstenberg and Jacqueline Novogratz headlined a panel about giving to women and girls.

The new deadline is Friday, Sept. 7. But that's it! So get a move on and get those entries in!

The Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America is pleased to announce that the Stavros Niarchos Foundation will be the recipient of this year's Athenagoras Human Rights Award. Andreas Dracopoulos, director and co-president, will accept the award on behalf of the Niarchos Foundation.

The Athenagoras Human Rights Award is presented annually by the Order to a person or organization, which has consistently exemplified by action, purpose and dedication, concern for the basic rights and religious freedom of all people.

After nearly five years, a settlement in the battle over the estate of philanthropist Brooke Astor has been reached. As a result, some $100 million will be released to educational and cultural institutions in New York City, Crain's New York reports.

Among the recipients are the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Public Library, Brooklyn Museum, Carnegie Hall, Central and Prospect parks, the Morgan Library & Museum, New York University, and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

The recipients of the 2011 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, which recognizes philanthropists who, like Andrew Carnegie, believe in dedicating their private wealth to the public good, were announced  by Carnegie Corp. of New York. They are: the Crown Family; the Danforth Family; Fiona and Stanley Druckenmiller; Li Ka-shing; Fred Kavli; the Lauder Family: Evelyn and Leonard Lauder, Jo Carole and Ronald Lauder; Pamela and Pierre Omidyar; the Pew Family; and the Pritzker Family. 

FundRaising Success magazine, the country's leading publication focused on all things fundraising, is pleased to announce the winners of its 2011 Gold Awards for Fundraising Excellence. Top prize this year went to the World Vision Back to School Bounceback "Flight" package, which won Package of the Year and the Gold Award in the Direct Mail category.

Announcing the winners of the 2011 Gold Awards for Fundraising Excellence.