William D. Jenkins Outstanding Foundation Professional

This award is designed for an outstanding fundraising professional of a fraternity or sorority foundation who practices his/her profession in an exemplary manner. Nominations should include:

• Description of career achievements in the Greek world (i.e. length and tenure of fundraising background, experience, results, and involvement in interfraternal activities
• Evidence of quality leadership that is effective, creative, stimulating, and evidence that the individual acts as team player
• Evidence that the individual acts in accordance with ethical fundraising practices for professionals
• Description of the individual’s commitment to continuing professional development, conference participation, publication, and professional education
• Evidence of commitment to the profession and to philanthropy through volunteer service and financial support to his/her foundation

Outstanding Philanthropist Award

This award is presented to an individual or family with a proven record of exceptional generosity who, through direct financial support, has demonstrated outstanding fraternal and charitable responsibility, and whose generosity encourages others to take philanthropic leadership roles within the Greek community on a national and/or international level.

• Describe the impact of the individuals giving to the foundation
• Describe how the individual has encouraged/motivated others to take leadership roles in supporting Greek organizations

Outstanding Foundation Volunteer Award

The individual eligible for this nomination must have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills in major fundraising projects for a fraternity or sorority. Nominations should include specific achievements over the course of the past year or several years and should also include:

• Evidence of quality leadership and organizational ability in fundraising campaigns
• Description of time, effort, and financial commitment
• Description of fundraising goals achieved by his/her effort
• Evidence of success in recruiting and motivating others

Best Development Effort in an Annual Campaign

Did your organization launch an initiative or appeal that you believe was particularly effective? How did your e-mail, direct mail, or non-direct mail effort perform above expectations? Are you particularly proud of a student or alumni development program?

Submissions will be judged according to the following: clear explanation of the annual campaign effort, how this effort is in alignment with your organization’s mission, how the effort performed against your organization’s fundraising strategy and/or goals, participation rate, cost per dollar raised, the growth/change resulting from the effort, and samples of anything referenced in submission (pictures, letters, publications, etc.).

Best Major Gifts Development Effort

Did your foundation conduct a program or event that succeeded beyond expectations? Did you successfully engage other donors to help in a major gift effort? Did you endow a new program or scholarship through a major gift effort? Has your cumulative giving society performed or grown significantly thanks to a successful initiative?

Submissions will be judged according to the following: clear explanation of the major gift effort, how this effort is in alignment with your organization’s mission, how the effort performed against your organization’s fundraising strategy and/or goals, total dollars raised, dollars pledged compared to dollars received, cost effectiveness, the growth/change resulting from the effort, and samples of anything referenced in submission (pictures, letters, publications, etc.).

Best Planned Giving Effort

Has your planned giving society performed or grown due to a successful initiative? Did you engage other donors to help in a planned giving effort? 

Submissions will be judged according to the following: clear explanation of the planned giving effort, how this effort is in alignment with your organization’s mission, how the effort performed against your organization’s fundraising strategy and/or goals, total dollars raised, dollars pledged compared to dollars received, cost effectiveness, the growth/change resulting from the effort, and samples of anything referenced in submission (pictures, letters, publications, etc.).

Best Communications Effort

Were efforts made by your foundation where the number one purpose was to inform rather than to raise money? Did you publish or compile an effective social-media strategy, brochure, e-newsletter, website, annual report, public relations initiative, or re-branding effort? 

Submissions will be judged according to the following: clear explanation of the communication effort, how this effort is in alignment with your organization’s mission, how the effort performed in relation to your organization’s strategy and/or goals, cost effectiveness, the growth/change resulting from the effort, and samples of anything referenced in submission (pictures, letters, publications, etc.).

Best Stewardship Effort

An effective stewardship program is one of the most important elements of fundraising. How is your organization recognizing donors, ensuring that their donation is having the desired effect, and showing appreciation? Have you put into place a new program? Do you believe your current stewardship efforts are particularly effective?

Submissions will be judged according to the following: clear explanation of the stewardship effort, how this effort is in alignment with your organization’s mission, how the effort performed in relation to your organization’s strategy and/or goals, cost effectiveness, the growth/change resulting from the effort, and samples of anything referenced in submission (pictures, letters, publications, etc.).

Best Use of a Foundation Grant

Submissions in this category should be examples of ways that the donor dollar is going to extraordinary purposes. Does your organization have a scholarship recipient who has taken advantage of foundation dollars to do something extraordinary? Does the fraternity or sorority utilize the grant money for a program that goes above and beyond expectations? Are there additional or unique programs that the foundation supports? 

Submissions will be judged according to the following: clear explanation of the foundation grant and program it supports, how this effort is in alignment with your organization’s mission, how the effort performed in relation to your organization’s strategy and/or goals, total grant amount, total people participating in use of grant money, cost effectiveness, the growth/change resulting from the effort, and samples of anything referenced in submission (pictures, letters, publications, etc.).

Best Campaign/Program in Support of an Outside Philanthropy

Is your foundation particularly proud of a partnership or program that occurred this last year? Has the foundation benefited from a relationship with an outside philanthropy? How has the relationship with an outside philanthropy supported the mission of the foundation? 

Submissions will be judged according to the following: clear explanation of the program in support of the outside philanthropy, how this effort is in alignment with your organization’s mission, how the effort performed in relation to your organization’s strategy and/or goals, cost effectiveness, the growth/change resulting from the effort, and samples of anything referenced in submission (pictures, letters, publications, etc.).

Best New Development Idea

What innovative/out-of-the-box idea has your organization developed that has led to new advancement opportunities? 

Submissions will be judged according to the following: clear explanation of the new development idea, how this effort is in alignment with your organization’s mission, how the effort performed in relation to your organization’s strategy and/or goals, why the idea is innovative and how it has brought pride to your team, cost effectiveness, the growth/change resulting from the effort, and samples of anything referenced in submission (pictures, letters, publications, etc.).

Best Operations Improvement Effort

What is your organization doing behind the scenes on a day-to-day basis that aids in successful campaigns, data collection, donor outreach and more?

Submissions will be judged according to the following: clear explanation of how your organization operates across departments/function areas, demonstration of how staff/volunteers collaborate on processes or systems that lead to effective comprehensive development efforts including identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and recognition.