Crème de la Crème
CURRENTS Article In 2011, 268 bronze, silver, gold, and grand gold Circle of Excellence awards went to 171 colleges, universities, independent schools, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. Eight of those grand gold and gold award winners are profiled here.

Rising Above
CURRENTS Article This article highlights eight of the 2010 Circle of Excellence Award winners. Each year the awards recognize the best programs and products in advancement services, alumni relations, communications, marketing, and fundraising.

Advance Work: By the Book
CURRENTS Article The William Penn Charter School took a new approach to publicizing its recent successful capital campaign.

Winners at Heart
CURRENTS Article Profiles of 12 winners of CASE’s 2004 Circle of Excellence awards. The winning alumni relations programs offered creative ways to generate revenue, use technology, or support a campus cause. In the development categories, campuses showed how to use flash e-mail annual giving solicitations and speech-writing students to attract donors. Communications winners relied on humor, creativity, and unconventional publications. And top advancement services shops highlighted the importance of identifying top campus prospects, working as a team, and maintaining accurate data.

AdvanceWork: Make Your Case
CURRENTS Article Writing facilities case statements that work.

Write-Minded: Is Anyone Reading Your Case Statement?
CURRENTS Article Campaign case statements can be powerful fund-raising tools, but most are centered on the institution. To write a prospect-oriented case, answer these questions: 1) What about our institution would make a prospect want to give? 2) How can we make this about giving to the institution, not to a campaign? 3) What facts about the institution will make a powerful financial case? The case should also account for the last campaign and show why the institution needs more money now. Test the messages you develop, one-on-one or with small groups of prospects.