The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) has created an annual award to inspire and recognize professional excellence and achievement in fundraising for student scholarships among member institutions. The AAVMC Award for Fundraising Excellence in Student Scholarships will consist of a $1,000 honorarium and a commemorative, and will be presented in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Association of Veterinary Advancement Professionals. “Creating this award is part of our strategic interest in helping advance the Veterinary Debt Initiative,” said Andrew T. Maccabe, DVM, MPH, JD, and AAVMC CEO, adding that the award is focused exclusively on scholarship resource development and is not intended to recognize comprehensive program excellence in fundraising. “Increasing the amount of scholarship resources available for students in our member institutions is a viable strategy for creating a more financially sustainable operating environment for our students and recent graduates.” All resources considered within the award program must be nonpublic sector resources (private, corporate, and foundation gifts) specifically earmarked for student scholarships. Planned versus actual gifts will be officially recognized based upon established standards in professional fundraising. Development programs within any AAVMC member institutions are welcome to participate in this recognition program; the performance window evaluated will conform with the calendar year prior to the year in which the honor is awarded. The nomination period for the inaugural award is Jan. 1-March 31. Further details relative to the award will be announced later in the year. The AAVMC said the new award will complement its Communications Excellence Award, established in 2013, and more fully express the association’s broader goal of encouraging excellence in institutional advancement among member colleges and schools.
