UNC's Fundraising, GAA Programs Win National Awards

Posted on July 25, 2008

For the ninth time in the past 16 years, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education has honored the University for its fundraising success. That total is a distinction shared by only one other university: Stanford.

The UNC General Alumni Association also was recognized by CASE with a Silver Medal in Alumni Relations Programming in the category of “Diversity Initiatives.” The GAA was recognized for programming related to the UNC Black Pioneers, a group dedicated to the UNC classes of 1952-70 that is part of the Black Alumni Reunion, an annual event that constitutes the largest affinity reunion sponsored by the GAA.

The University’s 2008 CASE-WealthEngine Award for Educational Fundraising was in the category of “Overall Performance.” It claimed this year’s Overall Performance distinction while still celebrating the success of the Carolina First Campaign. That effort, completed on Dec. 31, 2007, raised $2.38 billion for UNC, exceeding its goal of $2 billion.

In 2008, 973 higher education institutions were eligible to be considered for a CASE award. An independent data analyst narrowed the field to 427 institutions. Out of 427 colleges and universities considered, 67 higher education institutions won an award (37 in Overall Performance and 30 in Overall Improvement).

CASE and its predecessor organizations have recognized exceptional development programs each year since 1959. The awards are based on the analysis of a panel of peer institution judges who evaluate three years of fundraising data supplied by each school. Institutions do not apply for the fundraising awards. Judging is blind and completely data-driven.

Earlier this year, the GAA received seven awards for its programs and publications for 2007, including five awards sponsored by CASE for the Southeastern district of the U.S. and two awards for the GAA’s student membership program. One of those CASE district awards recognized the GAA’s BAR programming, which won this year’s national award.

The GAA’s programs have been recognized with national or district CASE awards for 11 years in a row, including 10 consecutive years in the district’s Overall Alumni Relations Programs category. The GAA’s publications have been recognized with national or district CASE awards each year since 1996.

CASE is the largest international association of educational institutions. It supports the work of alumni relations, communications and fundraising professionals at more than 3,200 schools, colleges, universities and related organizations in 55 countries.

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Related coverage is available online:

• GAA Programs, Publications Win Seven District Awards
  March 2008 news report
• CASE Awards Recognize Endeavors and GAA
  August 2007 news report

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