Your Nonprofit’s Case for Support
Diana Turner, GPC
Principal, Smith Turner Consulting
smithturnerconsulting.com
Ron Waite
Principal, The Bridge Consulting Group, LLC
thebridge.pro
Part One: Why every nonprofit needs a great Case for Support
Whether for a capital campaign, the launch of a new program or your annual fund campaign, the Case for Support can ultimately help you meet organizational goals.
A great Case for Support serves as a catalyst for campaign success.
Your Case for Support is:
• A living document that clearly illustrates your organization’s mission
• A document that provides compelling reasons for support from a donor’s perspective
• One of the most important documents you will ever create.
A great Case for Support can help you:
• enlist friends and new leaders to your cause
• establish organizational credibility
• demonstrate sound program management & project planning
• satisfy a donor’s need for due diligence before making a commitment
• motivate staff and board to promote your organization with confidence
Your Case for Support will define:
• The community need(s) your organization or project addresses
• Program descriptions
• What others say about the impact you are making
• The key elements of cost:
o Administrative vs. Program
• How the program or project is cost effective
• Opportunities for the donor to help solve the problem in ways that are meaningful to them
Once completed, the Case for Support arms the staff and board involved in donor cultivation with the knowledge, background and selling points needed to make a compelling, consistent and effective campaign pitch. It reassures the donor that their investment will be stewarded responsibly, and it empowers others to endorse your vision.
Nothing happens until you describe your dream.
Coming soon in Part Two: How to create your Case for Support
