Smith Campaign Prospectus Takes Top CASE Award

Smith College’s Women for the World campaign prospectus recently captured the top prize in the 2013 Circle of Excellence competition sponsored by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Placing first among 41 other entries, the prospectus was awarded a Grand Gold Award for “best print fundraising publication.”

Published in the fall of 2012, in concert with the launch of Women for the World: The Campaign for Smith, the 44-page prospectus makes the case for supporting the college by providing a vision for a more equitable world and offering donors the means to help make that vision a reality through their gifts to Smith.

“It knocked our socks off,” commented Circle of Excellence competition judges. “It tells a compelling story and presents it in a compelling way. It’s a work of art with an inspiring message. We believe that people who received this would read every word, would be touched emotionally, and would save it.”

The campaign prospectus, a collaboration among the departments of College Relations, Development and the President, was distributed broadly, to volunteers, prospective donors and attendees of the Women’s Global Leadership Celebration at Smith in October 2012. A condensed version was also mailed to alumnae, parents, faculty and others in spring 2013. The prospectus is the culmination of a comprehensive campaign branding program that began in 2011.

“They were able to reach alums of all decades,” commented the judges. “They wanted to make alums proud and they should be. A lot of thought clearly went into it. It’s more than just about Smith—it’s about women. It’s about their contribution to a bigger mission in society.”

Graphic design and photography for the award-winning prospectus were provided by Ologie, a creative agency based in Columbus, Ohio.

Based in Washington, D.C., CASE is an international association of professionals, administrators, and editors working in academic fundraising, communications and alumni relations. The Circle of Excellence awards recognize outstanding achievement in higher education, independent schools, and nonprofit organization communications.