Fundraisers Awarded for Excellence - FIA

Fundraisers from across the country have been recognised for their dedication to the sector and the community in the Fundraising Institute of Australia’s National Awards for Excellence over night.

As part of the FIA’s annual fundraising conference currently being held on the Gold Coast, the awards were judged in two divisions for each category: Division A for organisations with less than 5 million revenue (excluding bequest revenue) and Division B for organisations with more than 5 million revenue (excluding bequest revenue).

The Fundraising Campaign of the Year 2012 award went to Guide Dogs NSW/ACT for their ‘Tea for two (hundred thousand)’ campaign, while individual accolades were awarded to:

• Arthur Venn Fundraiser of the Year – Nigel Harris FFIA CFRE, Mater Foundation
• Young Fundraiser of the Year – Bianca Ousley MFIA, CareFlight Rescue
• Volunteer of the Year – Scott Stidston, Spinal Injuries Association

David Goldstone of the Rotary Club of Crawley, Anthony Steains of the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria and Valerie Steer of Australia for UNHCR were highly commended for their efforts within the sector.

The FIA says that its National Awards for Excellence in Fundraising recognise the outstanding initiatives and innovative efforts of fundraisers, volunteers and organisations.

It says that the awards encourage the highest standard of professional practice and promote the role of fundraisers in making our society a better place to work and live.

“The National Awards for Excellence in Fundraising are an excellent opportunity to highlight the fantastic work done by so many and remain a highlight of the fundraising industry calendar each year,” FIA chief executive Rob Edwards said.

Other winners include:

Donor Acquisition Campaign

• Division A category winner – Assistance Dogs Australia – '2011 Trial Acquisition Campaign'
• Division B category winner – Cerebral Palsy Alliance – 'Moving Moments Integrated Donor Acquisition Campaign'

Renewal Campaign

• Division A category winner – Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria – 'Epilepsy Foundation's Epilepsy Champions Club'
• Division B category winner – Guide Dogs NSW/ACT – 'Tea for two (hundred thousand)'
• Highly Commended – Division A category – Association for the Blind of WA – Guide Dogs WA – 'See the world through different eyes' and North Shore Heart Research Foundation – 'Winter Appeal 2011 – Small hearts, big challenges'
• Highly Commended – Division B category – Bush Heritage Australia – 'Ferals' – Bush Heritage Winter Appeal 2011'

Special Events

• Division A category winner – Sir David Martin Foundation (SDMF) – 'Abseil for Youth (Urban Descent)'
• Division B category winner – Multiple Sclerosis Society of Queensland – 'Enerflex MS Brissie to the Bay'
• Highly Commended – Division B category
• Australia for UNHCR – 'ABC East Africa Appeal 12-19 August 2011'

Fundraising Marketing Campaign

• Division B category winner – Australian Red Cross – 'PaidAid Workplace Giving Campaign'

Best use of Electronic Media

• Division A category winner – Bible League Inc. – 'Emergency Bibles for Japan'