Categories & Criteria

COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING & CAMPAIGNING

A Annual report
For the annual report or review that best communicates the organisation’s mission, operations and achievements

o How did you present your organisation’s achievements in the annual report?
o What format did you choose and why? For example print, CD or website.
o Who was the report aimed at and how did it meet their needs?
o How much did you spend on the report?
o What was the evidence of the report’s success? For example user feedback or number of copies requested

Please upload, post or provide a website link to the report

B Brand development
For the best new, changed or evolved brand

o Why did you change your brand?
o How did you make the change? Include details of the process and any consultations
o What was the budget?
o How does the new branding fit with the organisation’s mission?
o What was the evidence that the changes were beneficial?

Please upload or send examples of the new branding and what it replaced

C Communications campaign
For an innovative campaign that reached its target audience or got its message across

o What was the purpose of the campaign and who were the target audience?
o What media did you choose and why?
o What was the campaign message?
o How was the campaign structured? Please provide details of its stages, duration, etc.
o What was the evidence that the campaign was effective?

Please upload or send examples of the campaign materials

D Communications team
For a team that has worked together to achieve or exceed its targets

o How big was the team and how was it structured?
o How are staff motivated and team spirit fostered?
o How do you go about a typical project? For example weekly meetings, surveys or
o brainstorming.
o What were your targets and how were these achieved?
o What was the evidence of your success as a team?

E Use of digital media
For the most innovative use of digital media

o Which media did you use? For example text messages, podcasts, email or social networks
o Why did you choose these media and what were the benefits compared with non-digital media?
o What was the budget?
o What was the evidence that the project worked?
Please upload or send examples or provide links to relevant websites

F Website
For the best new or relaunched website

o What was the website address and what was the budget?
o Why did you launch or relaunch the site and who is your target audience?
o How did you decide how to develop the site and who was involved in its development, including agencies?
o What special or innovative features does the site have?
o What was the evidence of the site’s success?

FUNDRAISING

G Direct marketing campaign
Sponsored by the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association
Awarded to the direct marketing campaign that best combines innovation and fundraising success

o What was the campaign?
o What was distinctive about the campaign and its approach?
o What was your target and did you reach it?
o How much did the campaign cost?
o What was the evidence that the campaign worked?

Please upload or send examples of campaign materials

H Fundraising event
Awarded to an innovative fundraising event that has achieved or exceeded its targets

o What was the event and what was new or different about it?
o Where did the idea come from and why did you adopt it?
o How was the event organised? Who was involved and why?
o What was the fundraising target and how much did the event cost?
o What was the evidence of the event’s success?
Please upload or send supporting material, such as promotional literature or photos of the event

I Fundraising team
Awarded to a fundraising team that has worked together to achieve or exceed its target

o How big was the team and how is it structured?
o How were the staff motivated and team spirit fostered?
o How do you go about a typical project? For example weekly meetings, surveys or brainstorming
o What were your targets and how were these achieved?
o What was the evidence of your success as a team?

J Innovation in fundraising
For the fundraising initiative, excluding events and direct marketing, that has done the most to gain new donors, retain the support of existing donors or regained the support of lapsed donors

o What was the initiative?
o Why is this an innovative fundraising initiative?
o Where did the idea come from and how was it implemented?
o How much was spent on it and how much was raised?
o Were there any non-financial benefits for the charity from the work? For example improved communications

FINANCE & ENTERPRISE

K Charity trading
Awarded to a charity that has made effective use of its brand, knowledge or assets to increase income from its trading activities

o What was the income-generating project?
o How did it draw on your organisation’s brand, knowledge or assets?
o How much did you invest in the project and how substainable is the income?
o How successful were you? Give details of impact, turnover, projected profit, etc.

L Financial management
Awarded to the voluntary organisation that has done the most to improve its financial management

o How did the finance team improve financial management in the organisation?
o What processes and procedures were used to support these changes?
o What action was taken to manage financial risks and promote financial stability?
o How did the finance team’s work influence the organisation’s activities more widely?
o What was the evidence of your success?

M Social enterprise
Awarded to a social enterprise that has increased its income or ability to meet its social goals through innovations in its business model

o What are your business and social goals?
o How and why did the business model change?
o How did these changes increase income and how much investment was needed?
o How did the changes make you more able to support your social goals?
o What was the evidence of the approach’s success? Give details of social impact, turnover, projected profits, etc.

PARTNERSHIPS

N Charity partnership
Awarded to a partnership between two or more charities that has enabled the partners more effectively to deliver services, communicate, reach new groups or reduce costs

• Which organisations are involved and what were the costs of the partnership for the participants?
• Where did the idea come from and why did you decide to pursue it?
• What was the nature of the partnership and how was it managed?
• How has each of the partners benefited?
• What was the evidence of the partnership’s success?

O Corporate partnership
Sponsored by Odgers Berndtson
Awarded to a partnership between a voluntary organisation and a business that has demonstrated strong mutual benefits for both

o Which organisations are involved and what were the aims of the partners?
o How did the partnership begin?
o What was the nature of the agreement? For example use of branding or donations by staff
o How was the partnership managed?
o How have each of the partners benefited?

P Public sector partnership
Awarded to a partnership between a voluntary organisation and a government department or agency or local authority. The relationship must be governed by a Compact

o What organisations were involved in the partnership?
o What was the purpose of the relationship?
o How did the partnership come about?
o What was the role of the Compact in the partnership? For example was it used when drawing up agreements or resolving disagreements?
o What was the evidence that the partnership has benefited the participants, community or other beneficiaries?

AT WORK

Q Best employer
Awarded to the voluntary organisation that makes the best use of its human resources policies to create a satisfied and productive workforce

o What was the size, structure and distribution of the workforce?
o How have you ensured that good HR practices are implemented effectively?
o What policies have you adopted to improve staff relations, morale and work-life balance?
o What staff benefits do you offer? For example travel subsidies or gym membership
o How have you ensured your pay is fair? For example by benchmarking
o What are your consultative arrangements? For example staff surveys or consultations with unions
o What was the evidence of the success of your policies? For example employee testimonials, staff turnover rate or staff survey results

R Volunteer of the year
Sponsored by Markel
Awarded to the volunteer who has, over time, shown the greatest commitment and achievement

o What is the volunteer’s name and background?
o How long has he or she been volunteering for your organisation?
o What kind of work has the volunteer done?
o What has been exceptional about the volunteer’s contribution?
o What benefits have others derived from the volunteer’s activities?
o What has the volunteer gained from his or her experience?

GOVERNANCE & FOUNDATIONS

S Accountability and transparency
Sponsored by Ansvar
Awarded to a voluntary organisation that has improved its communications with stakeholders to help them gain a clearer understanding of the organisation’s activities

o Who are your stakeholders and what steps have you taken to establish what information they need from you?
o How do you communicate with your stakeholders and what information do you give them?
o How can they communicate with you and how have you promoted these channels to them?
o How have you integrated stakeholder engagement in the day-to-day operation of your organisation?
o What complaints mechanisms do you have in place for stakeholders?
o How can you demonstrate that you have understood and acted on the concerns of stakeholders?

Please upload or send copies of any relevant communications to or from stakeholders

T Innovation by trusts and foundations
Sponsored by Ansvar
Awarded to a grant-making trust or foundation that has reaped the benefits of a revised or innovative approach to its work

o What was the previous grant-making strategy?
o Why was it considered necessary to review and revise that strategy?
o How was the review conducted and what were its conclusions?
o How were the revisions decided on and implemented?
o What effect are the changes having and what is the evidence of that effect?

U Trustee board of the year
Sponsored by Ansvar
Awarded to a voluntary organisation that has, during the time period covered by the awards, reaped the benefits of improvements to its governance arrangements or practices

o What are the size, structure and working practices of the board?
o What aspects of the organisation’s governance needed improvement and why?
o What measures were taken to improve governance and how were these decided on? For example use of consultants or a governance review
o What changes resulted from these measures?
o What was the evidence that the changes improved the working of the board and the governance and performance of the organisation?

THIRD SECTOR AWARDS

V The Luke FitzHerbert lifetime achievement award
Awarded to an individual who has shown sustained commitment both to individual voluntary organisations and to the sector in general during their career

Please note no entries can be made for this award

W Small charity, big achiever
Awarded to a small charity that has made a big impact with an innovative project or projects. Only charities with an annual income of up to £1m are eligible for this award

o What is the organisation and what does it do?
o What was the project, or projects, and who was involved?
o What was the budget and where did the funding come from?
o What benefits did the project deliver? For example media coverage or having the idea taken up by national charity or public sector organisation

X The Third Sector big impact award
Awarded to a voluntary organisation that has run a project that has had a substantial impact on national or international life

• What was the project and why did you do it?
• How did you approach and manage it?
• Who was involved in the work and what was the budget?
• What positive impact did the project make? For example change to the law or government policy