Best in Class: Advancement Team Wins Top Honors

Advancement team members hold their framed winners' certificates at a recent SUNYCUAD conference.

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 16, 2019) — Following the successful launches of a new University brand and the “This is our Time” comprehensive fundraising campaign, UAlbany won international and state awards from two top professional organizations for its work in fundraising, marketing and communications.

University Advancement won two awards from the Council for Advancement in Support of Education (CASE) as part of this year’s CASE Circle of Excellence Awards. UAlbany won gold in the Marketing: Visual Identity System for its Unleash Greatness campaign, and silver in Fundraising: Challenge Grant/Matching Gift Programs for UAlbany Fund March Matchness — competing against submissions from 20 countries around the globe.

The CASE judges called Unleash Greatness impressive. “The identity system created by Albany evidences a strong design with its clean, clear graphics,” the judges wrote, adding, “The chevron is dynamic, conveying an active and engaged campus. The design guidelines themselves are clear, easy to use, and display a sense of humor. This was a job very well done.”

UAlbany Fund March Matchness also was named a finalist for the CASE Platinum Award for Best Practices in Fundraising — the most prestigious honor in the field. More than 2,856 entries from 611 member institutions in 20 countries were submitted for consideration.

“UAlbany's March Matchness program already has the judging panel contemplating how to adapt this program at our institutions,” the judges wrote. “The program, and its catchy name, motivated donors in an exciting way.”

These awards follow the regional CASE District II Awards programs, in which UAlbany received a Silver Award in the category of Fundraising for its March Matchness initiative, and a Bronze Award in the category of Stewardship Initiatives for Before the Impact: Recognition of Planned Gifts.

Also in June, UAlbany received 10 awards – eight top honors and two Judge’s Citations — as part of the SUNY Council for University Advancement (SUNYCUAD) Awards for Excellence program, which recognizes best practices in New York public higher education advancement. These awards ran the gamut of advancement disciplines, from alumni relations and fundraising to media relations and digital media.

“To be recognized for your work is always appreciated, but it is even more special to be honored by peers,” said Vice President for University Advancement Fardin Sanai. “I could not be more proud of my team.”

CASE is an international membership association serving educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas. The Circle of Excellence Awards recognize outstanding work in advancement services, alumni relations, communications, fundraising and marketing. The awards are open to professionals working at member colleges, universities, independent schools and their affiliated nonprofits around the world.

SUNYCUAD represents all professionals in a cross-section of institutional advancement areas, from publications and web page maintenance to alumni relations, marketing and development, at every SUNY campus.

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