Gold Awards: The Nature Conservancy (2011 Grand Control of the Year)

By Joe Boland

As FundRaising Success gears up for the ninth annual Gold Awards for Fundraising Excellence, take a look back at the 2011 Grand Control of the Year from The Nature Conservancy.

Here's what Gold Awards judge and Who's Mailing What! Director Paul Bobnak had to say about the Hummingbird Membership Package:

The latest mailing by the Nature Conservancy to reach Grand Control status (in the mail for three years or more) is a membership package, mailed in a No. 12 envelope, that has been in the mail since 2007. The front of the outer is dominated by a four-color photograph of a broad-tailed hummingbird, hovering as it sips nectar from a flower. But instead of a clever teaser, the photo is accompanied by a simple tag: "(Actual Size)." This instantly and effectively demonstrates to the prospect that the bird is tiny, even fragile. The two lines of copy below it are actually just a bit bigger than the bird itself.

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.