The Third Sector Excellence Awards 2012
Communications, marketing and campaigning
A Annual report
For the annual report that best communicates the organisation’s mission, operations and achievements.
• How did you present your organisation’s achievements in the past year?
• What formats did you choose (eg CD, website, print) and why?
• What audiences were you targeting and how did you meet their needs?
• How much did you spend on the report?
• What is the evidence of the success of the report? This might include details of the number of copies requested by stakeholders, or feedback from users.
Entries may consist of annual reviews as well as full reports and accounts. Please enclose five copies of the document you are entering.
B Brand development
For the best new, changed or evolved branding.
• Why did you update your brand?
• How did you make the change? Include details of the process and consultation.
• How does the updated branding fit with the mission and operation of the organisation?
• What was the budget?
• What was the evidence that the results were effective?
Please enclose examples of the new branding and the version it replaced.
C Use of digital media
For the most innovative use of digital media, such as CDs, text messaging, podcasts, email and web 2.0, including social networking sites and wikis.
• Which media did you use and how?
• Why did you choose them and what were the benefits compared with traditional media?
• What was the budget?
• What was the evidence that the project worked?
Please enclose examples that can be presented aurally or visually, such as podcasts on CD, or attach links to social networking sites.
D Website
For the best new or relaunched website.
• What is the website address?
• Why did you launch or relaunch the site and who is your target audience?
• How did you develop the site (for example, by consulting users) and who was involved, including agencies?
• What level of accessibility did you choose and why?
• What special or innovative features does the site have?
• What was the budget?
• What is the evidence of the site’s success, such as hit rates and testimonials?
E Communications campaign
For an innovative campaign that reached the target audience and got its message across.
• What was the purpose of the campaign and who was your target audience?
• What media did you choose and why?
• What was the campaign message?
• How was the campaign structured? Give details of its stages, duration etc.
• What was the evidence that the campaign worked?
Give the amount of money raised, if relevant. Please enclose examples of the campaign that can be presented aurally or visually.
F Communications team
For a team that has worked together to achieve or exceed its targets.
• How big is the team and how is it structured?
• How are staff motivated and team spirit fostered?
• How do you go about a typical project? This might include weekly meetings, surveys, brainstorming etc.
• What were your targets?
• How were these achieved? This might include details of campaigns you worked on.
• What is the evidence of your success as a team?
Fundraising
G Direct marketing campaign
For the campaign that best combined innovation and fundraising success.
• What was the campaign?
• What was distinctive about the campaign and its approach?
• What was your target, and did you reach it?
• How much did the campaign cost?
• What was the evidence that the campaign worked?
Please enclose examples of campaign materials that
can be presented aurally or visually.
H Fundraising event
For an innovative event that achieved or exceeded its targets.
• What was the event and what was new or different about it?
• Where did the idea come from and why did you adopt it?
• How was the event organised – who was involved and why?
• What was the fundraising target and how much did the event cost?
• What was the evidence of the event’s success?
Please enclose supporting material, such as promotional literature and photos of the event.
I Fundraising team
For a team that has worked together to achieve or exceed its targets.
• How big is the team and how is it structured?
• How are staff motivated and team spirit fostered?
• How do you go about a typical project? Do you, for example, use weekly meetings, surveys, brainstorming etc?
• What were your targets?
• How were these achieved? This might include details of campaigns you worked on.
• What was the evidence of your success as a team?
J Donor care
NEW CATEGORY
For an organisation that has boosted its recruitment, retention and development of donors by improving the way it conducts its relationship with them.
• How has the organisation changed the way it relates to and communicates with donors?
• What practical steps has it taken to implement the new approach?
• What is the evidence that the changes have improved recruitment and retention of donors?
• What is the evidence that the changes have produced greater income?
Please submit relevant materials, including documents used to communicate with donors and evidence that donors like the changes.
Finance
K Finance team
For a team that has worked together to achieve or exceed its targets.
• How big is the team and how is it structured?
• How are staff motivated and team spirit fostered?
• How do you go about a typical project? For example, do you have weekly meetings, surveys, brainstorming sessions etc?
• What were your targets?
• What did you achieve? This might include innovative use of IT or integration of the finance operation into the policy and structure of the organisation.
• What is the evidence of your success?
L Innovation in grant making
For a grant-making organisation that has altered its distribution practices to make better use of its money and meet the changing needs of modern grant recipients.
• What steps have you taken to measure what the sector thinks of your grant-making practices?
• How have you altered your practices and why?
• How has this affected the pattern and number of applications?
• What evidence is there that the changed approach brings a more effective use of your money?
• What feedback have you had from grant recipients?
M Enterprise
For an organisation that has made effective use of its brand, knowledge or assets to increase its income.
• What was the income-generating project?
• How did it draw on your organisation’s brand, knowledge or assets?
• How much did you invest in it?
• How successful were you? Give details of impact, turnover, projected profit etc.
Partnerships
N Charity partnership
For an agreement between two or more voluntary organisations that enabled partners to more effectively deliver services, communicate messages, reach new groups or reduce costs.
• Which organisations are involved?
• Where did the idea come from and why did you decide to pursue it?
• What is the nature of the partnership and how is it managed?
• What are the costs of the partnership for the participants?
• How has each of the partners benefited?
• What is the evidence of the partnership’s success?
O Corporate partnership
For an agreement between a voluntary organisation and a business that has demonstrated strong mutual benefits.
• Which organisations are involved?
• How did the partnership begin?
• What are the aims of the partners?
• What is the nature of the agreement? This might include details of provision for equality between partners, use of branding, donations by staff etc.
• How is the partnership managed?
• How have each of the partners benefited
P Public sector partnership
NEW CATEGORY
For a successful and profitable relationship between a voluntary organisation and a public body, such as a government department or agency, or a local authority. The relationship must be governed by the Compact and may include contracting, funding or other forms of joint working.
• What is the purpose of the relationship?
• How did it come about?
• What was the role of the Compact – for example, in drawing up agreements or resolving disagreements?
• What is the evidence that the partnership has benefited the participants, the community or other beneficiaries?
At work
Q Best employer
For a voluntary organisation that makes best use of policies and practices to create a satisfied and productive workforce.
• What is the size, structure and distribution of the workforce?
• How have you ensured that employment law and best practice are implemented effectively?
• What policies have you adopted to improve staff relations, morale, motivation and work-life balance?
• What staff benefits do you offer – for example, a concierge service, travel subsidies, or gym membership?
• How have you ensured that your pay is fair? Benchmarking might be one method.
• What are your consultative arrangements? These might include an intranet, surveys, staff associations, or trade unions.
• What is the evidence of the success of your policies, including testimonials, staff turnover figures and staff survey results?
R Employee innovation
For a member of staff at any level of an organisation who has proposed and had adopted an innovative idea for advancing or improving the work of the organisation.
• Who is the employee and what is his or her role and experience?
• What was the idea and the question it addressed?
• How was the idea implemented?
• What has happened as the result of the idea being adopted? Include relevant evidence such as costs saved, messages communicated, funds raised etc.
S Volunteer of the year
For a volunteer who has, over time, shown the greatest commitment and achievement.
• What is the volunteer’s name and background?
• How long has he or she been involved?
• What kind of volunteering has been undertaken?
• What has been exceptional about the volunteer’s contribution?
• What benefits have others derived from the volunteer’s activities?
• What benefit has the volunteer derived from his or her experience?
Governance
T Most improved trustee board
For the organisation that has most improved the recruitment, selection, appraisal, tenure, diversity or training of the trustee or non-executive board to improve the governance of the organisation.
• What are the size, structure and working practices of the board?
• What aspects of the organisation’s governance were considered in need of improvement and why?
• What measures were taken, such as use of consultants, advisers, or a governance review, and how were these decided on?
• What changes resulted from these measures?
• How have the changes improved the working of the board and the governance and performance of the organisation?
U Accountability and transparency
For an organisation that has established the most effective channels of communication with and feedback from stakeholders to allow them to gain a clearer and more comprehensive account of what the organisation achieves.
• Who do you regard as your stakeholders and what steps have you taken to establish what information they need from you?
• How do you communicate with your stakeholders? This might include email updates, printed reports, leaflets, events etc.
• What information do you give them, such as details of your achievements, finances, investments, relationships with other organisations, salaries etc?
• How can they communicate with you? This might be, for example, by online feedback form, consultations etc.
• How have you promoted your communication and feedback channels?
• How have you integrated stakeholder engagement in the day to day operation of the organisation?
• How can you demonstrate that you have understood and acted on the concerns of stakeholders? Please include copies of any relevant communications with or from stakeholders.
Third Sector awards
V The Luke FitzHerbert lifetime achievement award
Entries and nominations are sought for an individual who has shown sustained commitment both to individual charities or voluntary organisations and to the sector in general during their career. Nominees or entrants should have
• worked in the sector for a considerable period;
• been involved in organisations or activities intended to advance the interests of the sector as a whole, such as representative bodies, umbrella groups, or sector or cross-sector campaigns;
• contributed by their work to measureable improvements in the processes, reputation or effectiveness of the voluntary sector.
W Small charity, big achiever
For a small organisation that has made a big impact with an innovative project or projects. Organisations with an income of up to £1m are eligible.
• What is the organisation and what does it do?
• What was the project or projects and who was involved?
• What was the budget and where did the funding come from?
• What was the impact? For example, who has benefited? Has the idea been taken up by a national charity or public sector body? Has there been wide press coverage?
X The Third Sector big impact award
NEW CATEGORY
For an organisation that has run a project that has had a substantial impact on national or international life.
• What was the project?
• Why did you decide to do it?
• How did you approach and manage it and who was involved?
• What was the budget?
• What effect did the project have? For example, did it bring an important problem to the attention of the nation, influence government policy or legislation, influence the practices of large institutions or corporations, or demonstrably change public attitudes?
