Marketing: Advertising (Direct Mail)

Entries should describe a successful direct mail marketing initiative designed to inspire a measurable call to action. Judges will look at content and quality of the items produced, as well as overall strategy and effectiveness. The initiative may be part of a larger, multi-channel campaign, but should have a strategy and results that stand alone. Large, multi-channel campaigns should be entered in the Marketing: Marketing Initiatives category.  

Submit up to five items from the initiative. 

For example: 
Student recruitment campaign
Alumni reunion mail campaign
 

Judges will score nominations from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest) in these five areas: 

Overall concept and creativity 
Impact and results 
Strategy and methodology 
Understanding of target audience(s) 
Use of resources (budget, people, and time) and return on investment 

Judges also may consider: 
Quality and clarity of nomination and supporting materials 
Special circumstances/overcoming adversity 

 

Related categories:

Marketing: Advertising (Broadcast)
Marketing: Advertising (Online)

Details and instructions

 

  1. Make sure that you have a current CASE login that is connected to a member institution.
    Visit www.case.org/account to check the status of your login, create a new one, or change your password.

    To make sure you are connected to your institution's account, visit https://community.case.org/network/members and search by your institution’s name to make sure you see your name on the roster. 

    For assistance creating or updating your account or login, contact https://support.case.org/.

    Before starting your entry, watch a quick step-by-step submission tutorial video:



     
  2. Once you have a working account, start your entry here.
     
  3. Select your category.
    Categories are grouped into common award areas, such as Advancement Services, Fundraising, etc.

    Your entry likely can be entered into more than one category. You can enter the same item in as many categories as you like, but each entry requires a separate fee. 

    TIP: If your entry qualifies for more than one category, read the Judging Criteria to help decide which categories are best for you. For example: If you want a publication judged primarily on design, enter it into the appropriate design category. If you want it judged on criteria including content, impact, and results, enter it into one of the publication categories. 
     

  4. Update your CASE roster.
    Several categories now are broken down based on CASE roster size. The total number of people on your CASE roster ultimately determines which category you should enter. 

    We created these categories to identify and group initiatives based on the overall institutional advancement staffing, not to indicate how many people worked on your entry or are in your specific department. You should elaborate on your staffing situation in your answer to the Resources question, which judges will consider when evaluating your entry.

    Important: If you plan to enter one of these categories, plan ahead to allow time to make roster updates ahead of the nomination deadline.

    You can search a recent list of CASE member institutions to see which of the three categories you should enter. To see details about who is on your roster, go to https://community.case.org/network/members and search by your institution’s name. 

    The Membership Coordinator at your institution can make roster updates online. If you do not know who that person is, send roster updates, additions, and corrections to membership@case.org. 

    Your institutional roster can include anyone who works in educational advancement (marketing, communications, alumni relations, advocacy, advancement services, and fundraising/development), regardless of whether they work in different departments or locations.

    For example: If you work in an alumni relations office with 5 staff members, but there are 20 people who work elsewhere in fundraising—even if they are in a different department—you would enter the category with more than 25 total advancement staff.

    CASE will move nominations to the appropriate category if the selected category is not consistent with the total staff count on the CASE roster as of the close of the nomination period.

  5. Enter your nomination information online.
    All information and materials are submitted online. No items are mailed.

    The new award portal allows you to easily see questions, save information, and return later to finish your nomination. You also can grant others at your institution permission to add information to your nomination.
     
  6. Pay for your nomination.
    You will need a credit card in order to pay for your nomination. CASE does not accept purchase orders or checks for payment.

    If you are submitting multiple entries, you can submit and pay for them all at once.

    Note: If you start a nomination during one rate period, but pay for it during a subsequent rate period, you will be charged the higher of the two rates.

Unless otherwise noted, 2025 Circle of Excellence entries should be original work that was produced or completed between January 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024.

Jan. 8, 2025: Nominations open

Jan. 29, 2025: Super-saver rate deadline (11:59 p.m. eastern time zone)

Feb. 12, 2025: Early-bird rate deadline (11:59 p.m. eastern time zone)

March 5, 2025: Regular rate deadline (11:59 p.m. eastern time zone)

March 12, 2025: Last-chance rate deadline (at 11:59 p.m. eastern time zone)

March 12, 2025: Nominations close

Mid-June 2025: Global winners announced

Late 2025 through early 2026: Regional and district winners announced. (Check with your CASE region or district for details.)

  • All fees must be paid online via credit card. CASE does not accept purchase orders or payments via check.
  • If you start an entry during one rate period, but complete and pay for it during a subsequent rate period, you will pay the higher of the two rates.
  • Entries that have not been paid by the close the nomination period will not be judged.
  • Once an entry has been submitted and paid, no refunds will be issued.
     

Cost per entry:

Pricing for 2025: Submit early and often to save more!
Super-saver rate: For entries completed and paid before midnight Jan. 29, 2025
Early-bird rate: For entries completed and paid Jan. 30-Feb. 19, 2025
Regular rate: For entries completed and paid Feb. 20-March 5, 2025
Last-chance rate: For entries completed and paid March 6-12, 2025

USD    
Super-saver rate: $55
Early-bird rate: $110
Regular rate: $140
Last-chance rate: $160

AUD    
Super-saver rate: $85
Early-bird rate: $170
Regular rate: $215
Last-chance rate: $245

CAD
Super-saver rate: $75
Early-bird rate: $150
Regular rate: $190
Last-chance rate: $220

EUR   
Super-saver rate: €50
Early-bird rate: €105
Regular rate: €130
Last-chance rate: €150

GBP
Super-saver rate: £45
Early-bird rate: £90
Regular rate: £110
Last-chance rate: £130

MXN
Super-saver rate: $950
Early-bird rate: $1,900
Regular rate: $2,420
Last-chance rate:$ 2,770

SGD
Super-saver rate: $75
Early-bird rate: $150
Regular rate: $190
Last-chance rate: $215

Who can enter

  • Any CASE member institution is welcome to submit entries to the Circle of Excellence Awards.
  • Nominators must be employed at and on the CASE roster at a CASE member institution.
  • External vendors and third parties, including CASE Educational Partners, may not submit entries on behalf of institutions with which they have worked.

Entry criteria

  • Unless otherwise noted, for the 2025 Circle of Excellence Awards, entries should be original work that was produced or completed between January 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024. In the case of publications such as magazines, the date on the cover/masthead will be used to determine eligibility.
  • Although use of external vendors, consultants and freelancers is allowed, the work should primarily be designed/ conceptualized and overseen by staff at a CASE member institutions. 

Entry fees and payment

  • All fees must be paid online via credit card. CASE does not accept purchase orders or payment via check.
  • Entries that have not been paid by the close the nomination period will not be judged.
  • Once an entry has been submitted and paid, no refunds will be issued.

Permissions

By entering the Circle of Excellence, the nominator and affiliated institution give CASE permission to:

  • Share relevant contact information with volunteer judges.
  • Use any of the materials submitted with the nomination for promotional purposes, including the CASE website, print and promotional publications, and electronic communications.

Entry and category rules

  • Once an entry has been submitted and paid, it is considered final.
  • The same entry may be submitted to any categories for which it meets the criteria.
  • Institutions may submit more than one entry to the same category.
  • Entries and related materials become the property of CASE and will not be returned.
  • CASE and the lead judges reserve the right to disqualify entries that do not meet entry criteria.
  • CASE and the lead judges reserve the right to move an entry into a more appropriate category, without notice to the nominator.

 

CASE welcomes entries in other languages besides English in this category. While entry questions must be completed in English to facilitate judging, entry materials written in languages other than English are eligible for recognition as long as such materials are accompanied by brief explanations written in English.

You will be able to attach materials and include explanations in English during the online entry process.

You can reach the CASE Awards team at awards@case.org.

Please include in your correspondence the name of the award (such as Circle of Excellence), and category name, if applicable.