How to Build the Ultimate Nonprofit Case for Support
We’ve described the importance of a great nonprofit case for support. Now’s the time to build one. This comprehensive document – expertly written and designed – lays the foundation for ALL organizational communications. That includes all future grant writing pursuits, marketing campaigns and donor cultivation.
(Helpful hint: your case statement can even be sent in its entirety to big-money funders and published alongside your digital marketing efforts to rally community support.)
We’ve been using a great metaphor for your nonprofit journey: a superhero out to protect, serve and save the day for people in need. Ideally, the case for support labels your organization as uniquely positioned to solve the community issue at hand and to build a League of Allies to ensure long-term success.
How Does a Strong Case for Support Work?
Picture your nonprofit donning a cape, sharpening your professional message across four vital dimensions:
Gotham’s In Trouble
Every superhero has a nemesis, and so does your nonprofit. The population you serve is under attack. Whether it’s battling hunger or addressing community health issues, identify the villain your organization fights.
Craft a narrative that captures – in words, pictures, graphics and graphs – the essence of this epic challenge and places your charity superhero at the forefront of defending the defenseless.
Plotting Your Villain’s Demise
Your nemesis has a weakness that needs to be exploited. That weakness IS your nonprofit superhero and its capacities. Your case for support must envision a world in which the threat has been eliminated and the population is thriving.
Through hard work and a little help from superhero sidekicks like donors and volunteers, the enemy WILL be defeated.
Superpowers & Secret Weapons
Spell out the unique programs and skills your charity brings to a populace in distress. How does your organization swoop in to save the day?
Detail your prior success stories and ongoing plans of attack. Your programs and community initiatives are secret weapons and superpowers needed to achieve your nonprofit vision.
Invitation to Join Your Hero League
A case for support is a great, big call to action. Expressed well, it invites others to participate actively in your nonprofit mission: defeating the threatening villain. By positioning your nonprofit as the superhero society deserves, you naturally bring others – hopefully with deep pockets – into the fold as key devoted supporters.
Outline of Epic Proportions: Laying Out Your Nonprofit Case for Support
Now, let’s embark on your nonprofit’s epic journey with key elements to a stellar case for support. Your case for support is a comprehensive document that spells out all there is to know about your organization, its mission, its people, populations served and funding needs.
It brings readers alongside your nonprofit hero to see the problem with all its blemishes and how your organization could make a real difference – with a little help from friends. Of course, it’s quite versatile. Use it in its entirety or to inform messaging for grant proposals, public relations and nonprofit marketing and everything in between.
Introduction
Begin with an emotionally charged anecdote. Or, if possible, use a true story or an archetype to represent individuals or issues commonly seen at your nonprofit.
However you do it, paint a picture that introduces your nonprofit superhero’s mission. Tug at heartstrings. Set the stage for an inspiring call to action.
Organizational Mission, Vision & History
Explore your organization’s essence, purpose and historical footprint. This is your superhero’s North Star, guiding every endeavor. Showcase the “what,” “how,” and most importantly, the “why” behind your mission.
Fundraising Goal
Clearly state your fundraising goal and articulate the transformative power within each dollar raised. Spell out not just financial figures, but also the impact made possible through every contribution.
Articulate your organization’s current budget and philosophies guiding your spending plan. Reconcile those current realities by expressing HOW MUCH MORE can be done with financial contributions, volunteerism or other forms of support.
The Societal Issue
Detail the profound challenge your organization tackles. Expand upon your introduction with a compelling story (or stories) that capture(s) the essence of human struggle, societal gaps and inequities.
Engage prospective donors not as witnesses, but as participants in the epic saga of your heroic impact. Stir emotions and awaken a sense of collective responsibility.
Organizational Track Record
Highlight milestones, triumphs and transformative moments. Showcase your organization’s credibility by demonstrating a proven ability to convert vision into tangible outcomes. Every person and system served has a story and provides proof both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Current Programs & Mission Alignment
Discuss your ongoing initiatives, illustrating how each program contributes to your organization’s heroic masterpiece of real community change. Showcase the thoughtful alignment of actions with intentions.
Talent & Core Competencies
Introduce the passionate individuals steering the ship, accompanied by external validations like education, credentials and awards. Showcase your organization’s human capital and unique strengths.
Here’s a great chance, for example, to indicate your nonprofit’s Executive Director has successfully launched numerous capital campaigns (to demonstrate sustainability) or that your program staff are all certified CPR trainers (to demonstrate capacity).
Looking Forward
Outline overarching goals as a visionary compass guiding stakeholders toward the future. This is a promise of sustained growth, deeper community engagement and heightened effectiveness.
Yes, your case for support expresses current and immediate need, but a forward-looking focus shows your hero has eyes toward community impact for years to come.
Fundraising Playbook
Highlight a well-rounded and diversified approach to fundraising – including grant writing, donor cultivation, corporate philanthropy, events, major gifts and more. Supporters of your nonprofit hero’s journey will almost certainly want to know you’re not “putting all your eggs in one basket” in defeating the societal villain.
Conclusion
Reaffirm the urgency and significance of your nonprofit’s mission. Express gratitude, showcase progress and issue a clear call to action. This section is a launchpad for community engagement, fostering shared responsibility and collective empowerment.
Achieve Nonprofit Fundraising Excellence with a Great Case for Support
Ready to transform your nonprofit into a superhero force for good? (Just as importantly, are you ready to raise the money – the lifeblood of all charities – to achieve real and sustainable community impact?) A great case for support is arguably your most important piece of nonprofit storytelling, inviting funders to partner in your success.
We just laid out the key steps to putting one together. Now it’s on you, dear nonprofit hero, to put one together. Of course, if you need help, we’re always here to guide the process with a knowing and caring hand! Grand River Agency has a dedicated team of professional communicators with combined decades of nonprofit experience.
Craft the ultimate case for support with Grand River Agency and let your heroic journey take flight!
President and Founder, Grand River Agency
With over 19 years of diverse experience in print journalism, digital media marketing, and nonprofit administration, Kelsey Boudin founded Grand River Agency (formerly Southern Tier Communications Strategies) in 2020. The agency specializes in offering contract-based strategic communications, content marketing, grant proposals, website design, and public relations services to small businesses and nonprofits. Kelsey’s career spans roles as an editor, content creator, and grant writer, reflecting his expertise in leading successful digital marketing campaigns, securing funding, and executing various projects.
