Gold Awards Flashback: New York Public Library (2011 On the Edge Winner)

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 (NYPL).

For its "Don't Close the Book on Libraries," NYPL asked Improv Everywhere to video a prank at the library's iconic Rose Main Reading Room, which was featured in the movie "Ghostbusters." Improv Everywhere's "Who You Gonna Call?" YouTube video featured the Ghostbusters returning to the library 26 years later.

The campaign was in response to a $37 million proposed city budget cut to the libraries, which would have crippled NYPL. The video went viral, and the results were astounding — bringing in money and encouraging activism, which helped lead to $27 million of the proposed $37 million cut being restored.

Read more about the 2011 On the Edge 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.