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