If you’ve never participated in a CASE institutional awards programme, 2022 will be the year you’ll want to start. (And if you have participated before, we think you’ll like what’s coming.)
Thanks to recommendations from a global Awards Task Force of CASE volunteers and staff, we have made dramatic changes to our awards--all designed to:
- Make it easier to enter.
- Save members money.
- Add regional recognition opportunities (Best of CASE Europe, Best of CASE Asia-Pacific, Best of CASE Latin America).
The Biggest Changes
We have merged the best aspects of several award programmes into a reimagined Circle of Excellence Awards. What does this mean?
- No more separate entry fees and deadlines for different programmes.
- Each entry you submit will be considered for global recognition in the Circle of Excellence Awards (Grand Gold, Gold, Silver, Bronze), PLUS it will be considered for regional recognition (Best of CASE Asia-Pacific, Best of CASE Europe, or Best of CASE Latin America).
- Staff size will be a variable for several of the major categories (Advancement Services Initiatives, Communications Initiatives, Fundraising Initiatives, and Marketing Initiatives).
- Judge panels have been expanded, and will include at least one judge from outside of US/Canada. Consider volunteering as a judge for 2022; let us know your area of interest.
New and Updated Categories
Again, thanks to dozens of volunteers who spent hours reviewing our categories, we have created several new ones, retired outdated ones, and updated all of the others. Highlights include:
- Two new award areas: Engagement and Leadership.
- More video and online events categories.
- New categories including Data and Analytics, Change Management, Storytelling, and Multi-year Fundraising Campaigns.
For your convenience, all nomination materials are submitted online using our user-friendly awards portal.
Check out the new and updated categories, and start planning your entries. Nominations open 12 January 2022, and close on 16 March 2022.
Busting Myths About the Circle of Excellence Awards
Myth #1: Schools with small staffs or small budgets can’t win
Not only can institutions with small staffs and limited budgets win…they do! When you enter a category, you are not competing against other institutions and their nominations. Your entry is evaluated against the stated judging criteria. In many cases, judges award more than one award at each level, so it is possible for a small institution to receive the same recognition as a larger institution with more resources. Creativity and innovation comes in all shapes and sizes.
Myth #2: It’s expensive to enter
Not anymore! Starting in 2022, entries submitted between 12 January and 2 February 2022 will cost as little as €45 / $70 AUD / £40 / $995 MXN / $70 SGD. The earlier you enter, the more you save.