How To Write An Inspiring Case For Support Rodrigo Alvarez

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