CASE Honors U.S. Institutions for Fundraising Excellence
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education has announced the names of more than 100 U.S. educational institutions that are being recognized with 2019 Educational Fundraising Awards.
The winners include 30 institutions being recognized for the first time—a record number since the awards were established in 1993.
The Educational Fundraising Awards annually recognize exemplary development programs based on a blind review of data submitted to the CASE AMAtlas Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) survey. CASE member institutions that have participated in the VSE for the past three years are automatically considered. A group of experienced educational fundraisers spends hours reviewing the data to determine the following awards:
- Overall Performance: For colleges and universities that show solid program growth, breadth in the base of support and other indications of a mature, well-maintained program.
- Overall Improvement: For colleges and universities that demonstrate significant program growth across the three years of data.
- Award of Excellence: For independent schools that demonstrate solid program growth, breadth in the base of support and other indicators of an exemplary fundraising program.
Five higher education institutions had the unique distinction of receiving awards for Overall Performance and Overall Improvement: Abilene Christian University, Kenyon College, Oglethorpe University, SUNY at New Paltz, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
In addition, 19 institutions received “Sustained Excellence Awards,” which recognize institutions that have demonstrated consistent fundraising success over a five-year period. Institutions that have been recognized with an overall performance, overall improvement or award for excellence in three out of the past five years also receive this award designation.
“These institutions have not only demonstrated the highest levels of professionalism and best practice in their fundraising efforts, they have contributed to the betterment of educational advancement worldwide by serving as a model to which others can aspire,” said Sue Cunningham, CASE President and CEO.
CASE members have access to all of the benchmarking data used to determine winners, as well as fundraising data for scores of other U.S. and Canadian institutions through the online Data Miner tool that is part of CASE's AMAtlas. Users have access to 10 years of survey data from more than 1,000 survey respondents.
“The beauty of this awards program is that we look at the data not knowing what institution is being represented. In showcasing these best-of-the-best programs, CASE helps its members identify institutions doing smart and innovative work from which everyone can learn,” said Sue Kubik, an accomplished educational fundraiser and long-time CASE volunteer who led the higher education judging panel this year. “We not only encourage–we highly recommend–that you spend some time in the CASE VSE Data Miner to dive into details about what makes these programs aspirational.”
About CASE
CASE—the Council for Advancement and Support of Education—is a global, not-for-profit membership association with a vision to advance education to transform lives and society.
CASE is the home for advancement professionals, inspiring, challenging, and equipping them to act effectively and with integrity to champion the success of their institutions. CASE defines the competencies and standards for the profession of advancement, leading, and championing their dissemination and application with more than 97,000 advancement professionals at 3,100 member institutions in 80 countries.
Broad and growing communities of professionals gather under the global CASE umbrella. Currently these include alumni relations, development services, communications, fundraising, government relations, and marketing. These professionals are at all stages of their careers and may be working in universities, schools, colleges, cultural institutions, or other not-for-profits. CASE uses the intellectual capital and professional talents of a community of international volunteers to advance its work, and its membership includes many educational partners who work closely with the educational sector.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., CASE works across all continents from its regional offices in London, Singapore, and Mexico City to achieve a seamless experience for all its stakeholders, particularly its members, volunteers, and staff.
Media Contact:
awards@case.org
