Gold Awards Flashback: American Jewish World Service (2011 Special Events Campaign of the Year)

As FundRaising Success gears up for the ninth annual Gold Awards for Fundraising Excellence, take a look back at 2011's Special Events Campaign of the Year from American Jewish World Service (AJWS).

From the write-up:

There's no denying the benefit of having a super celeb smiling from the front of the invitation to your organization's gala. But it's not always about the star power. Sometimes focusing on the mission — even at an event where tickets go for $1,000 a pop — is what brings in the donors and other supporters.

That certainly was the case with this event hosted by American Jewish World Service. Rather than bring in a big-name headliner (like it had done with Bill Clinton a few years prior) to celebrate its 25th anniversary, the organization presented an elegant affair built around live performances, multi- media presentations and speeches that focused on the organization's mission to support human rights in the Global South. The event, hosted by ABC News' Christiane Amanpour, included a tribute to 14 grantees, musical performances, remarks by journalists and activists, and a 70th-birthday video tribute to AJWS President Ruth Messinger. But perhaps the biggest splash of the evening was the premiere of a star-studded comedy video produced by Judd Apatow. According to AJWS's Suzanne Offen, the video eventually generated more than a million hits on YouTube and raised more than $60,000 in subsequent online donations.

Read more about the 2011 Special Events Campaign of the Year here.

Then, get your submissions ready for the 2014 Gold Awards. The deadline is Aug. 22. For an entry to be eligible, the campaign must have taken place sometime between Jan. 1, 2013, and Dec. 31, 2013.

Download the entry form here. There is a $125 entry fee for the first entry from a company and/or nonprofit organization, and each additional entry costs $75 apiece.

Each entry must be submitted individually and be accompanied by its own entry form, tracking sheet and check. Please submit two copies of each entry.

Entries should be mailed to:

FundRaising Success Gold Awards
1500 Spring Garden St., 12th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Attn: Joe Boland

You can get an entry form, tracking sheet and additional information here, then get moving! We look forward to reviewing your entries and engrossing ourselves in these wonderful campaigns.