Grace Hong, Duke Ellington School of the ArtsKatharina Steinkellner, SOS Children’s Villages International

Kathy Swayze, Impact Communications

CASE STATEMENT-A-PALOOZA

Kinds of Case Statements

1. A campaign case that articulates the goals and needs for a specific capital campaign or major initiative.

2. An institutional case that articulates the goals and needs for your organization overall.

Mission:To nurture and inspire passion for the arts and learning in talented students who might not otherwise have an opportunity to develop their artistic skills. We ensure that our students are prepared for post-secondary education and/or careers in the arts by offering an intensive arts-based program. We prepare our students to become productive citizens in our global society through our strong focus on community service.

Washington, DC 540 Students

We are the world‘s largest family.We are experts in caring for children in fragile family situations because of our decades of practical experience raising nearly 82.000 children. We understand their perspective, their fears, and their dreams for the future. We walk hand in hand with them every day.

We are also a USD1bn organization.

Six Steps to a Great Case Statement

STEP 1: Talk to People…lots of people

Best People to Interview

• Clients/Recipients of Services• Organizational Leaders• Donors• Program Staff• Volunteers

Questions to Ask Stakeholders

Tell me a bit about the

challenges you were facing

before you came to this

organization?

How did you become aware

of our organization’s

services?

Do you have friends or family

members impacted by our

mission?

Why us? There are many

organizations out there, why did you pick this

one?

Tell me about someone this organization

served that you’ll never forget

This is hard work. What

makes you get up ever day and keep doing it?

There are powerful phoenix stories at this school, and there’s a teacher attached to every single one of them. Ellington’s faculty taught me the art of self- encouragement. They taught me to be confident, hard working, diligent, detail- oriented... all the skills you really need to succeed. Those qualities also inspire respect—not just within the school, but on the streets as well. YAHZARAH

Award winning vocalistand Ellington Graduate

This School Saved My Life…

We Are All Truly Part of a Global Community

My handicapped mother and I approached SOS Children’s Villages, and they offered a scholarship to help me through high school and later through college. I became the first person from my family and village to attend at a United World College and study abroad.

STEP 2: Think

The Ellington FamilyBeyond arts and academics, there is something even more powerful that happens within our walls and contributes to our students’ success. It is a deep sense of community that wraps every one of our students in love and support. No matter what challenges our students may be facing at home, our school is a sanctuary. Within these walls, they are free to be themselves. Their talents and interests are accepted and celebrated. And their wounds and sorrows are honored and healed.

What is the SOS Children's Village of tomorrow? It is a living example of the SOS Children's Village programme approach and it refers to programme locations working in the spirit of the SOS Children's Village Programme Policy. SOS Children's Villages of tomorrow are responding to the situation of our target group in ways that are considered to be the most appropriate within the local context. Whether there is a need for a new programme, a need to renovate an existing programme (re-Innovation), or a need to strengthen efforts towards a “Sustainable Path to ONE million children”, all those opportunities are used and determine an SOS Children’s Village of tomorrow.

What Does It Take to Save a Generation? • It Takes Courage: The challenges facing

Africa’s young people today are numerous. • It Takes Vision: We envision a future in

which all children know the love and support of a family.

• It Takes a Plan: We have a solid plan to reach the most children in crisis.

• It Takes You: It will take a global village of caring people like you to achieve the long-term, systemic change that is needed.

STEP 3: Create an Outline and a Timeline

Outline Concepts

STEP 4: Define Your Marketing Concept/Theme

It is time for the people of this city to claim this school as their own—and offer their philanthropic support to create a powerful public-private partnership to keep the Duke Ellington School of the Arts strong for decades to come. It starts with you. It starts right now. Join us in this vision of the future.

Our goal is simple—respond to the crisis in Africa by rapidly scaling up solutions to reach twice as many children by 2020. You can help us transform systems of care for many generations of children.

STEP 5: Write

The world needs more creative thinkers.

The world needs more changemakers.

The world needs more Ellington students.

Rarely in life do you have a chance to take an action that will shape the future of the world—this is one of those moments.

STEP 6: Put it to Work

Your Return on Investment

Thank you!Please feel free to be in touch!

Grace Hong ghong@ellingtonarts.orgKatharina Steinkellner katharina.steinkellner@sos-kd.org

Kathy Swayze kswayze@impactdc.com