13 Ways to Strengthen Your Case for Support
13 Ways to Strengthen Your Case for Support
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Sadly, many nonprofits do not have an active operational or strategic plan in place that informs, engages and stimulates prospects to give. Effective planning using these tools by an array of stakeholders — led by the CEO, chief development officer, board leadership, staff engagement, high-level donors and others — helps create a vibrant case for support. Your audience needs to know you and why your organization is worthy of time, talent and treasure.?
What Is a Case for Support?
A quality case for support provides a window to the mission of the organization, its purpose and case for deserving financial support. You want donors to respect the past, understand the present and be effective in the future through their philanthropy. The case points out community needs through external validation, as well as what makes your nonprofit relevant and worthy. Donors have thousands of philanthropic choices. Why is yours special??
In the book, “Developing Your Case for Support,” by Timothy Seiler, Ph.D. and CFRE, the author noted that a case statement resource file consists primarily of information about these organizational components:?
A case for support is “the backbone of a nonprofit’s outreach efforts, “that covers the mission, impact and vision of the organization, according to Instrumentl . A strong case for support has clear objectives, impact stories, financial transparency, strong visuals, supporting testimony and a call to action.
Related story: How to Write a Superb Case Statement
It is important to build a positive relationship with donors and let them know exactly what their gift will accomplish. Define the purpose of the case, target various audiences with information and solicitation approaches, and engage key stakeholders with requests for advice and guidance. Continually ask for suggestions from internal and external stakeholders.?
Many potential donors are excited about learning. They want to understand what your organization is providing and how their involvement makes a difference. This is not a transaction scenario, but a long-term relationship of transformation. Your case statement must compel and describe how the donor will create this transformational change . The case must incorporate a call to action that pushes donors through your organization’s engagement pipeline.?
Ways to Strengthen Your Case for Support?
The case for support is critical to the success of a nonprofit. Make sure you have a case with input from both internal and external teams that can help with finance, property, programs, operations and other vital internal keys. On the external side, the team needs to understand marketing, fundraising, advertising and other elements that will stimulate future operational success.?
Once the case statement is approved for a specific time period, do not make major changes. I have seen this happen with very negative and confusing results. If you adjust the focus of the case midstream, this will place additional stress on the staff, board and administration, as well as weaken your solicitation strategies.
Here are 13 tips for your next case for support.
I have been involved in creating a number of case statements through the years. I was always honored to participate in the development of new concepts. I love research and marketing, and these attributes can serve you well.?
With respect to cases for support, learn from your mistakes and always ask yourself, when reading a case for support, would you as a non,-donor, be compelled to give and why? The case for support is the most important tool in your toolbox. Be proud of it and share it differently with various market segments. It can become a wonderful advertising piece for your nonprofit. Never take the impact of your case statement for granted.?
The preceding post was provided by an individual unaffiliated with NonProfit PRO. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of NonProfit PRO.
Duke Haddad, Ed.D., CFRE, is currently associate director of development, director of capital campaigns and director of corporate development for The Salvation Army Indiana Division in Indianapolis. He also serves as president of Duke Haddad and Associates LLC and is a freelance instructor for Nonprofit Web Advisor .
He has been a contributing author to NonProfit PRO since 2008.
He received his doctorate degree from West Virginia University with an emphasis on education administration plus a dissertation on donor characteristics. He received a master’s degree from Marshall University with an emphasis on public administration plus a thesis on annual fund analysis. He secured a bachelor’s degree (cum laude) with an emphasis on marketing/management. He has done post graduate work at the University of Louisville. ??????
Duke has received the Fundraising Executive of the Year Award, from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Indiana Chapter . He also was given the Outstanding West Virginian Award, Kentucky Colonel Award and Sagamore of the Wabash Award from the governors of West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana, respectively, for his many career contributions in the field of philanthropy. He?has maintained a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation for three decades.
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Truly inspiring read! Plato once suggested that reality is created by the mind, enriching our understanding of topics like this. Let's keep the conversation going. ?? #GrowthMindset
Absolutely love your insights! ?? Remember, as Aristotle said, we are what we repeatedly do - excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. Let's all strive for that! ??