How to enter

Entering the IOF INSIGHT SIG AWARDS is easy and free of charge.  Just follow these steps:

  1. Consider work that your organisation is proud of and has had a significant impact
  2. Review the categories (full descriptions follow) and choose the most appropriate one for your entry.  You may enter the same project in one or more category if the criteria fit.
  3. Download the relevant entry form at www.insightsig.org
  4. Pull together your project information and complete the entry form.  This must not exceed 3 pages A4 in length.  Font size should be no smaller than 10 point. TIP:  A good place to start is reviewing any documentation relating to the project proposal or brief plus the outcome achieved  in results presentations or findings.
  5. Visual supporting information is welcomed as an appendix.  What can you provide to dramatise the effectiveness of your approach and impact of the results achieved?  This must not exceed 10 pages A4 (and be legible) and 5MB in file size.
  6. Email your submission to liz@insightsig.org and ensure that you receive notification of receipt within 48 hours.
  7. Reserve your tickets for the awards dinner in June – contact information and venue details to be announced soon
  8. The short-list will be announced before the Spring bank holiday

 

AWARD CATEGORIES

For the inaugural IoF Insight SIG awards programme, we are inviting entries for the best use of insight and analysis in the following categories:

  1. Driving strategy (entry form)
  2. Supporter Acquisition (entry form)
  3. Supporter Development/Retention (entry form)
  4. Innovation (entry form)
  5. Team of the year (entry form)
  6. Supplier of the year (entry form)

Note that we are looking for best practice in the sector.  For some types of projects this may mean relentless optimisation through rigour in applying executional excellence time and time again.  For others, innovation in approach or out-of-the-box thinking that challenges the status quo may be recognised.

Further guidance on what each category covers follows:

 

  1. 1.       DRIVING STRATEGY

We will be looking for a project where insight or the intelligent use of data has made a significant difference to a charity’s strategic direction or fundraising approach.  The project’s findings will have been embraced by senior stakeholders in the organisation, challenged conventional thinking and inspired action.  We expect to see rigour in methodology, the discovery of fresh and genuine insights and a step-change in performance as a result of the project.

 

  1. 2.       SUPPORTER ACQUISITION

Entries in this category are invited for any aspect of using data and insight effectively in the support acquisition process – for example, from scoping and targeting new markets, establishing audience insight, blending data sources, segmentation and targeting strategy, executional elegance through to metrics and optimisation techniques employed.  It is essential that entrants provide evidence of results achieved and the impact on the organisation’s success.

 

  1. 3.       SUPPORTER DEVELOPMENT/RETENTION

This category covers the smart use of insight and data to any aspect of supporter development and retention post acquisition.  Examples include converting single donors to regular givers, upselling raffles players to lottery products, generating legacy pledges, increasing average gift value (e.g. via ask point analysis), cross-selling and initiatives that seek to reduce donor or supporter  attrition.   Even insights to help map and refine the supporter journey itself or data models that inform contact strategy or drive campaign targeting may feature in this category.  Please dramatise how data and insight has made a major difference to the strategy developed and subsequent execution.  Again, concrete results will be expected showing the impact in key areas such as supporter value, experience and ROI.

 

  1. 4.       INNOVATION

We will be looking for a project that has pioneered the use of data, analytics, market research or campaign management to deliver an extraordinary impact for a charity.  The innovation can feature in any aspect of the project, for example data sourcing and integration, analytical process and techniques applied, segmentation and targeting strategy for tailored messaging, multi-channel deployment or measurement and reporting.  The data strategy must show demonstrable value created for the organisation, supported by results achieved.

 

  1. 5.       TEAM OF THE YEAR

This award is for internal charity teams who, together, have increased the impact of insight and data within their organisation significantly in 2011.  The winning team will be a collection of highly motivated and professional individuals who have worked well in collaboration to improve fundraising performance.  Examples of leading attributes include strong leadership, a culture that invests in training and development, working practices that inspire the best in everyone, a high profile within their organisation, incredibly efficient use of (scarce) resources and a wide respect for the team’s contribution.  Please demonstrate how your team has achieved outstanding results by providing examples of projects and feedback from stakeholders.

 

  1. 6.       SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

We will be looking for a marketing service provider or agency that helps charities achieve exceptional results, time after time.  Known for adding value, the winning company will display a combination of consistently delivering on their service promise whilst pioneering solutions that are creative and cost-effective.  In addition to welcoming entries directly from suppliers we shall also be canvassing the SIG’s membership for recommendations.

 

WHO CAN ENTER

Entries may be submitted by the charity or their marketing agency.  All agencies entering must gain prior approval from their client and supply that individual’s email address for verification.  You do not have to be a member of the Institute of Fundraising or the Insight Special Interest Group (SIG) to enter the awards.

Please note that membership of the IOF INSIGHT SIG is currently free to join and individuals may sign up via www.insightsig.org/join and our  group at www.linkedin.com/groups/Institute-Fundraising-Insight-SIG-3101611

 

CONFIDENTIALITY

All material will remain confidential to the judges who all sign a confidentiality agreement.  We aim to publish winning case study material on the Insight SIG website at www.insightsig.org   Entrants have the right to mark financial information or sensitive parts of their entry as ‘not for publication’.  This will be respected in all cases by the organisers.  Please bear in mind that providing results in context e.g. indexes, % uplifts etc.  that can be published will improve the best practice material available to practitioners in the sector for inspiration.

 

ELIGIBLE DATES

The 2012 IOF INSIGHT SIG AWARDS are for projects or initiatives that have come to fruition within the year of 2011 i.e. between 1st January 2011 and 31st December  2011.

 

WHY ENTER?

You’ve done the hard work and achieved some excellent results.  So here are a few reasons why it is worth making a small amount of extra effort to package up your experience and learning into an award entry:

  • Industry recognition.  Not only will an award win look good on your own CV but your work will a credit to your organisation, too, underlining the value delivered from investments in fundraising and insight.  Now that will impress supporters in the Annual Report.
  • Bolster internal profile.  Being unassuming is a common trait of us analytical folk, but let’s seek credit where credit is due.  Even the process of crafting an award entry will help you reflect upon your team’s intelligent approach, helping you to articulate why you have been successful and how you have contributed significantly to fundraising performance.  Won’t the investment in better insight and data capabilities be so much easier to make?
  • Increase team morale and loyalty.  Winning an award will ensure your diligence and wisdom is celebrated.  Success breeds success and you will find it easier to retain key staff and attract talent into your team and the organisation.
  • Best practice case studies for the industry.  The fundraising community is crying out for more examples of what constitutes best practice.  Your work can help educate and inspire others, continuing to raise standards within the sector and our discipline.

. . . and don’t forget, by preparing your entry for the SIG awards you will have the material to adapt for other industry awards that you may also wish to enter such as the Data Strategy Awards, where there is a specific category for Charities, the prestigious DMAs and others.

 

FURTHER GUIDANCE ON ENTERING THE IOF INSIGHT SIG AWARDS

For further information please either email us at liz@insightsig.org or contact:

Janet Snedden Director, Metametrics 07740 285 101 Janet.snedden@metametrics.co.uk
Sabrina Droom Analysis Manager, UNICEF 0207 375 6072 sabrinad@unicef.org.uk

A community dedicated to providing resources and training for analysts, database marketers, researchers and online fundraisers to improve the opportunities for insight to make a difference in the charity sector.