The National Catholic Development Conference Lumen Awards were created to acknowledge excellence in the ministry of fundraising and to enrich the Catholic development community through sharing this excellence. The Latin term lumen was chosen as the name of the award to represent the vision and clarity fundraisers must strive for while promoting their missions.

Award winning entries are not meant to be a "how-to," but rather illustrate a superior example of good fundraising practice. The Lumen Award, a candlestick, celebrates the visible efforts of those doing God's work in the world. Those holding the light set an example to follow and enlighten the Catholic fundraising community through their good works.

Eligibility
All active and associate members of NCDC are eligible for the Lumen Awards. Only the Active/Associate member may submit pieces for consideration. NCDC Corporate Partners can encourage their clients to enter the competition, but may not submit a piece on behalf of their clients. Corporate members may pay the entry fee for a client, but the entry form must be submitted by the nonprofit organization.

Entries are classified into two divisions based on Gross Philanthropic Income.

Judging Criteria
Lumen Awards are given based on a number of factors, including: creativity, copywriting, design, overall quality, overall concept, loyalty to the mission of the organization, ability to prompt the recipient to action and results of the campaign.

Awards
A panel of judges chooses winners from each division for each category if there is a suitable recipient. All first-place award winners are displayed in a gallery the NCDC Annual Conference and are eligible for the "Best in Show" award. This award is decided based on a popular vote by attendees and exhibitors on-site at the Annual NCDC Conference.

History of Lumen Award Winners

2011 | 2010 |2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

2011

Best Prospecting Campaign: Reviving Old Friends (Division A)

Winner: "Expires Holiday Label Package"
St. Labre Indian School
(Ashland, MT)

Best Prospecting Campaign: Finding New Friends (Division A)

Winner: "2010 Prospect Mailing - The Rosary and Angels of God"
Edmundite Missions (Selma, AL)
Agency: Fenske Media
(Rapid City, SD)

Best Donor Renewal Program Campaign (Division A)

Winner: "Home Renovation/Chapel Restoration Midlevel Mailing"
St. Joseph's Indian School
(Chamberlain, SD)
Agency: Amergent
(Peabody, MA)

Runner-Up: "2010 - 2011 BVM Retirement Appeal"
Sisters of Charity
(Dubuque, IA)
Agency: RKG FundRaising Services
(Cold Spring, NY)

Best Donor Renewal Program Campaign (Division B)

Winner: "Fall Elevator Appeal"
Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill
(Philadelphia, PA)
Agency: RKG FundRaising Services
(Cold Spring, NY)

Best Donor Renewal Program Campaign (Division B)

Runner-Up: "2010 Non-Event Tea Party"
Sisters of Mercy
(Buffalo, NY)
Agency: Innsbruck Printing and Mailing
(Buffalo, NY)

Best Major Donor Appeal (Division A)

Winner: "2010 Lumen Cordium Society"
Archdiocese of Chicago
(Chicago, IL)

Runner-Up: "Emergency Water Appeal"
St. Labre Indian School
(Ashland, MT)
Agency: Fundraising that Works!
(Concord, NH)

Best Publication With a Gift Envelope (Division A)

Winner: "2010 - 2011 Gift of Hope Gift Catalog"
Catholic Relief Services
(Baltimore, MD)

Runner-up: "Mission Magazine" Pontifical Mission Societies
(New York, NY)

Best Publication With a Gift Envelope (Division B)

Winner: "Interchange (Spring 2010) Transformation"
Sisters of St. Francis of Rochester, MN
(Rochester, MN)

Best Publication Without a Gift Envelope (Division A)

Winner: "Oblate World Magazine"
Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate
(Belleville, IL)

Best Publication Without a Gift Envelope (Division B)

Winner: "Pillars - Autumn 2010 Newsletter"
Priests of the Holy Cross, Indiana Province
(Notre Dame, IN)
Agency: Joe Erceg Graphic Design
(Portland, OR)

Best Accountability/Annual Report (Division A)

Winner: "Annual Report 2010" Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
(Maryknoll, NY)

Runner-Up: "Year in Review - Your Support at Work"
Edmundite Missions
(Selma, AL)
Agency: Fenske Media
(Rapid City, SD)

Best Integrated Campaign (Division A)

Winner: "St. Labre 2010 Shortfall Campaign"
St. Labre Indian School
(Ashland, MT)
Agency: L.W. Robbins
(Holliston, MA)

Runner-Up: "Chalice Appeal"
Association of Marian Helpers
(Stockbridge, MA)
Agency: Concord Litho
(Concord, NH)