How to write an inspiring case for support
Rodrigo Alvarez
“To know and not to do, is still not knowing”
Lao-Tse
“To know and not being able to tell what you know is still not knowing”
Philanthropy in Asia
• Family centered – family, ancestral home, communities around the family, location of business;
• Religion – almost 70% of all philanthropy
• Last five years – from philanthropist to venture capitalist – more strategic, market base approach and results oriented.
• Wealthy asians are increasing - 12% of their money to philanthropy (8% in US)
If an organization asks you for money, what would you want to know about this organization?
The answer should be the basis for your case
The regular components of a case for support
• Who we are? (mission, history, staff, board)
• Why do we exist? (the problem we are solving / the needs we are meeting with)
• What do we do? (programs, projects, what characteristics make us unique?)
• What do we intend to do for the future? (future objectives/goals)
• How can a donor take part in this project? (how much do we need? How will we use the money? What are the ways to participate and what the difference I will make?
So, a case:
Is the structured expression of your cause
Aligns the organization: everybody can present the work in the same way
Provides organized information to develop your fundraising materials
A case can generate information to produce
• An institutional folder• Proposals to foundations and companies• Speaches to the press• Face to face conversations and presentations• ....
Make it inspiring
• Attention RELEVANCE
• Interest PROXIMITY• Confidence SENSE OF
FUTURE/ACCOUNTABILITY
• Desire EXCITEMENT/GOOD PLANS
• Action IMPORTANCE/URGENCE
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