Article from Webinar transcript, originally presented by Mandy McFarland, educate+ and Chanel Hughes, Global Philanthropic | 31 March 2026
Every member and every educational institution has a story worth sharing.
The educate+ Excellence Awards are designed to recognise impact across our community, whether your work is large or small, well-resourced or delivered with ingenuity. If you have contributed to meaningful change within your institution, this is your opportunity to reflect on that work, articulate its value and share it with the broader Advancement community.
As highlighted in a recent webinar led by Mandy McFarland, CEO of educate+, alongside recent Award winner Amanda Peake and Chanel Hughes from Global Philanthropic (Excellence Awards Sponsor), the purpose of the Excellence Awards extends beyond recognition. They provide a platform to elevate the Advancement profession, bringing visibility to the thoughtful, strategic work happening across institutions of all sizes. A submission is not just an entry; it is a way to contribute to the collective story of impact within our sector.
A Simple Approach to Getting Started
Submitting a nomination may feel daunting at first, but the process is more accessible than many expect. At its core, a strong submission answers four key questions:
- What was the context?
What challenge, opportunity, or environment shaped your work? - What was your intent?
What were you trying to achieve, and why was it important? - What did you do?
How did you deliver your approach? Focus on the most relevant elements. - What changed?
What outcomes or impact resulted from your work? Where possible, include measurable results.
By structuring your submission in this way, you create a clear and logical narrative that is easy for judges to follow.
What Judges are Looking For
Across all categories, judges are seeking submissions that demonstrate:
- Clear and purposeful thinking
- Evidence of innovation or creativity
- Alignment with best practice
- Effective planning and delivery
- Tangible outcomes and impact
Importantly, success is not determined by scale. Some of the strongest submissions come from small teams who have delivered focused, high-impact work with limited resources.
Tips to Strengthen Your Submission
- Focus on outcomes, not just activity
- Use data to support your claims
- Be selective—include only your most relevant evidence
- Keep your writing clear, concise, and structured
- Don’t underestimate the value of your work
It is also perfectly appropriate to acknowledge challenges or constraints. These elements can add depth to your submission and demonstrate thoughtful, reflective practice.
Why It’s Worth Doing
The process of preparing a submission offers benefits beyond the Awards themselves. It creates space to step back, evaluate your work, and clearly articulate its impact, which is something that is valuable for your team, your leadership and your own professional growth.
This reflection is a critical part of building capability across the Advancement profession. It helps translate day-to-day activity into meaningful outcomes that can be shared, celebrated and learned from.
Take the Next Step
If you have delivered work that made a difference, consider putting it forward.
Start small. Choose one project. Gather your data. Use the simple framework above to shape your story. From there, refine your submission so it is clear, compelling and easy to follow.
The Excellence Awards are an opportunity for all members (not just a few) to showcase their impact. Your work contributes to the strength of our profession and your story deserves to be shared.
Excellence Awards nominations close on Friday 10 July 2026.
The winners of the 2026 Excellence Awards will be announced at the Building Futures International Conference in Brisbane, on Wednesday 2 September 2026.
To nominate for an Award, click here
