Innovative social enterprise Good Return and Public Relations agency Porter Novelli have been announced the winners of the 2011 Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) National Golden Target Award in the not-for-profit (NFP) category.

Good Return’s 100 Women campaign raised awareness of their online lending portal and celebrated the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. Good Return’s lending portal allowed Australian women to provide small loans to 100 poor women in the Asia Pacific to start or build a business to reduce poverty in a sustainable way.

At the end of the campaign the target of 100 loans was exceeded, achieving 145 loans, impacting 725 people’s lives.

PRIA Chief Executive Jon Bisset said “The award recipients have demonstrated excellence and best practice – setting a new benchmark for, and demonstrating the continued growth of, the industry. The awards also provide invaluable case studies for those seeking to improve their practice or learn more about the profession.”

Director of Marketing and Fundraising at Good Return said Di Bowles “It is great to receive recognition for our work.”

“This is also recognition of how important effectively using pro bono partners in the not-for-profit sector is in ensuring success for the organisation and the people we are working to help.”