The Scottish Fundraising Awards showcase and celebrate professional fundraisers who are making remarkable achievements within the charity sector. The awards highlight and applaud exceptional fundraisers and fundraising campaigns which exemplify best practice. 

Applications are invited in 12 categories, encompassing the whole range of charitable activity, individuals and teams. 

Best Individual Giving Campaign  

For the campaign that demonstrates the best use of Individual Giving. The application can be for affinity building, or for new or current donors, and should broadly show who the campaign was aimed at, what it intended to communicate, and how effectively it did so. The initiative should have taken place in the last 18 months. Please do try to explain how you demonstrated innovation (either for your charity or sector) and ongoing stewardship for your supporters (as relevant).  

Best Legacy Campaign  

For a legacy campaign or piece of stewardship which showcases innovation or best practice within legacy fundraising. This could involve inspiring more people to pledge a gift in their Will, an innovative legacy event, creating a new legacy marketing campaign or raising awareness internally or externally of the importance of gifts in Will to your charity. Please do try to explain how you demonstrated innovation (either for your charity or sector) and ongoing stewardship for your supporters (as relevant).  

Best Marketing and Communications Campaign  

For the best campaign or initiative aimed at existing or new supporters across the full spectrum of direct marketing channels (including digital media). The initiative should have taken place in the last 18 months and the winning charity will demonstrate best practice and evidence of the number of supporters engaged in the process, costs and funds raised targets vs actual metrics achieved. Please do try to explain how you demonstrated innovation (either for your charity or sector) and ongoing stewardship for your supporters (as relevant).  

Best Use of Event or Community Fundraising Initiative  

For the campaign which demonstrates the best use of an event or community fundraising initiative. The initiative should have taken place in the last 18 months and you should outline the aims for the initiative, targets and what was actually achieved by the event/initiative. Please do try to explain how you demonstrated innovation (either for your charity or sector) and ongoing stewardship for your supporters (as relevant).  

Best Partner Relationship: Corporate Fundraising  

For the best relationship between a charity and business that provides benefit to both the charity and corporate organisation. The partnership should have taken place in the last 18 months. Please do try to explain how you demonstrated innovation (either for your charity or sector) and ongoing stewardship for your supporters (as relevant).  

Best Partner Relationship: Trust and Foundations  

For the best relationship between a charity and trust or foundation that provides benefit to the charity and the community they support. The partnership should have taken place in the last 18 months. Please do try to explain how you demonstrated innovation (either for your charity or sector) and ongoing stewardship for your supporters (as relevant).  

Best Supporter Experience  

For the stewardship of donors that has had meaningful impact on the charity’s fundraising and supporter relationships. The application should show how you connected with supporters to increase engagement and improve their experience of supporting your work. The work should have taken place during the last 18 months. Please do try to explain how you demonstrated innovation (either for your charity or sector) and ongoing stewardship for your supporters (as relevant).  

Rising Star  

The rising star award will be presented to an individual who has shown exceptional potential, progress within the sector and can work in any area of fundraising. Nominations may be made by anyone except the nominee. They are most likely to be made by their manager, Head of Fundraising, Chief Executive, a Trustee or a person of equivalent status in the charity for whom the nominee works, or from one of the nominee’s peers in another charity. They will be relatively new to the sector (with up to three years' experience) and have made a significant impact during this time. They will have illustrated creativity, innovation and progress within the sector. Please do try to explain how you demonstrated innovation (either for your charity or sector) and ongoing stewardship for your supporters (as relevant).  

Fundraiser of the Year  

For any fundraiser who, in the view of their peers, has shown excellence and best practice in the last 18 months, achieving high quality fundraising through either their own efforts or their vision and strategy. Nominations may be made by anyone except the nominee. They are most likely to be made by their manager, Head of Fundraising, Chief Executive, a Trustee or a person of equivalent status in the charity for whom the nominee works, or from one of the nominee’s peers in another charity. Please do try to explain how you demonstrated innovation (either for your charity or sector) and ongoing stewardship for your supporters (as relevant).  

Fundraising Team of the Year (Under £3 million) 

This award is for charities with a gross fundraising income of less than £3m per year. It will be awarded to a team of highly motivated and professional individuals who have worked together to deliver outstanding results through collaboration and exceptional teamwork. The team will work across a variety of campaigns to support the ongoing work of their organisation to deliver outstanding results. The work should have taken place during the last 18 months. Please do try to explain how you demonstrated innovation (either for your charity or sector) and ongoing stewardship for your supporters (as relevant).  

Fundraising Team of the Year (Over £3 million) 

This award is for charities with a gross fundraising income of more than £3m per year. It will be awarded to a team of highly motivated and professional individuals who have worked together to deliver outstanding results through collaboration and exceptional teamwork. The team will work across a variety of campaigns to support the ongoing work of their organisation to deliver outstanding results. The work should have taken place during the last 18 months. Please do try to explain how you demonstrated innovation (either for your charity or sector) and ongoing stewardship for your supporters (as relevant).   

Fundraising Excellence Award  

For any individual who, in the view of their peers, has shown excellence and best practice, over a number of years. They will have achieved high quality fundraising through either their own efforts or their vision and strategy, and will also have contributed to the development of the sector. Please do try to explain how you demonstrated innovation (either for your charity or sector) and ongoing stewardship for your supporters (as relevant).  

MEET OUR 2025 WINNERS AND FINALISTS