Gold Award of Excellence

Fundraising is the Gold Award of Excellence’s most popular category, highlighting creative and successful elements of fundraising projects.  Fundraising projects are considered especially successful when there is a high ratio of profit to expense (i.e., at least 60% profit to 40% expense ratio).

Communication/Technology projects highlight uses of communication and technology to promote and enhance volunteer activities. These projects should demonstrate effective use of contemporary technology to bring some aspect of the orchestra to a specific population.

Community Engagement projects increase knowledge of the orchestra within the community. They have greater value when there are external partnerships between symphony staff, volunteers, musicians, etc. and/or external partnerships with other organizations within the community.  Audience Development projects should have the potential to generate an increase in season or single ticket sales and/or attract non-concert going members of the community.

Education projects bring music educational opportunities to children, youth and/or adults by various means such as camps, classes, competitions, petting zoos, etc. These projects have greater value when there are collaborations with schools and other non-profits in the community.

Membership projects are designed to recruit, retain, recognize and train orchestra volunteers.  Membership projects should show an increase in membership numbers or an ability to retain current membership.

Important Entry Information

• Eligible programs/activities must have been completed by June 30, 2020.
• Entry forms are available from vcgoldaward@gmail.com or from this website. There is no fee to enter and no limit to the number an organization may submit.
• Completed forms must be emailed to vcgoldaward@gmail.com—Deadline for submissions is August 31, 2020.
• Winners may present at the 2021 League National Conference.
• Programs may be entered for any of the project categories listed above.
• Entering does not require lengthy answers; responses are designed to be concise with maximum word counts of 100 to 400 words.

ENTRY TIPS

• Print out the entry form so you can review the information requested and gather it before going online to fill out the entry form. This form can be saved and edited prior to sending it to vcgoldaward@gmail.com as a formal entry.
• If you aren’t sure your project merits a Gold Award, please consider entering. Judges may determine it worthy of a Spotlight or Classic Award.
• If you need inspiration, go online to www.goldbookonline.org for a searchable database of past winning entries.
• Please direct questions to vcgoldaward@gmail.com.

View the Gold Award of Excellence Online Database.

The Gold Award was created in 1976 by the Volunteer Council (formally known as the Woman’s Council) and by Ralph Black, executive director of the League of American Orchestras, who secured a grant for the first publication. The legendary name comes from the idea that the book is “worth its weight in gold.” In 1976 copies sold for $5.00. The book’s purpose was to highlight volunteer organizations’ activities and provide innovative examples for other volunteer organizations to adapt and follow. In the years since then, the Gold Book has proven itself a goldmine for volunteers across the country and Canada. And since transitioning to an online platform in 2005, accessing this resource is even easier (and free).

Education

Lewis Elementary Violin Residency Program Expansion Project

Houston Symphony League

Houston Symphony League helped their symphony develop its music education initiative, a three-year string instruction program for students at an underserved elementary school, and then answered the call in the second year to help purchase 40 additional violins and support additional instruction time. 

Flexibility/Adaptability

2020 Stay-at-Home May Wine Brunch

Women’s Association of Northwest Indiana Symphony Society (WANISS)

The Women’s Assoc. of Northwest Indiana Symphony Society (WANISS) turned their long-running fundraiser into Stay@ Home Wine Brunch and still had guests donning their hats – a signature of the in-person event.

Community Engagement

Celebrating 40th Year of Kinder Konzerts

FRIENDS of the Minnesota Orchestra

To celebrate the 40th anniversary season of Kinder Konzerts, FRIENDS of the Minnesota Orchestra marked the milestone with a special concert that included a brand-new commissioned story piece by Minnesota composer Daniel Nass, who selected the story, One Dog Canoe. The premier, geared to preschoolers and kindergartners, included a variety of engaging themed, pre-and post-concert activities.

Flexibility/Adaptability

The Show (House) Must Go On! Fundraising in a Time of Pandemic 2020

Oklahoma City Orchestra League

For the Oklahoma City Orchestra League, “The Show (House) Must Go On” was the rallying cry. An HGTV-style video, which could be purchased with an online ticket, included interviews with designers and a “reveal” of the house at the end to give viewers the sense they were special guests.

Fundraising & Flexibility/Adaptability

TABLE ART 2020–The Virtual Event

Omaha Symphony Guild

The Omaha Symphony Guild successfully re-imagined its 15th annual fundraising project – Table Art 2020 – as a virtual event featuring dining tables decorated with Waterford crystal and inspirational table displays from designers across the nation.

Flexibility/Adaptability

2020 Online All-Star Crescen-Dough Auction

Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild

When other community events were postponed indefinitely or canceled due to the pandemic, the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild decided to convert their Crescen-Dough auction, which was scheduled to take place in three weeks, into a fully online event. They did it without missing a beat or coming up short of their goal.