Case for Support Framework and Sample

A Case for Support is essential for nonprofit founders because:

• Unified Messaging: Ensures all team members—volunteers, board, and future staff—communicate a consistent story, reinforcing trust and professionalism.
• Relationship-Driven: Highlights your mission and impact to engage prospects emotionally, aligning with the relationship-building framework in Step 5.
• Versatility: Used across fundraising strategies (e.g., individual donors, grants, major gifts, corporates) and formats (e.g., documents, emails, pitches).
• Clarity for Startups: Helps resource-constrained nonprofits articulate their value clearly, even with limited staff, making it ideal for volunteer-driven efforts.
• Scalability: Serves as a foundation for professional materials (e.g., grant proposals, appeal letters) as your nonprofit grows.
• Donor Engagement: Builds the know, like, and trust factor by focusing on impact, not just financial asks, increasing donor retention (from 45% industry average to 60%+ with consistent engagement, per the Fundraising Effectiveness Project).

The Case for Support is a storytelling tool that invites donors to join your mission, making it easier for your team to initiate relationships, nurture prospects, and make confident asks.

Case for Support Framework
The Case for Support Framework provides a step-by-step process for creating a compelling document that resonates with your ideal funders (from Step 2). It should be 1-2 pages for general use (e.g., donor meetings, emails) or 3-5 pages for detailed applications (e.g., grants), balancing emotional storytelling with data-driven impact. Volunteers, such as content creators, can draft the document, with board input for credibility, and it should be tailored for specific audiences (e.g., individual donors, corporates) while maintaining core elements.

Components of a Case for Support
Introduction:

Who We Are

Purpose: Introduce your nonprofit’s mission and vision to establish identity and purpose.
Content: Briefly state your organization’s name, mission, and founding story. Highlight what makes you unique.
Example: “[Nonprofit Name] empowers youth through literacy programs, founded in 2023 to address educational inequities in our community.”
Tip: Keep it concise (2-3 sentences) and mission-focused to grab attention.

The Problem: Why We Exist

Purpose: Highlight the community need or challenge your nonprofit addresses to create urgency.
Content: Use a compelling statistic or story to illustrate the problem. Be specific to your community or cause.
Example: “1 in 5 children in our community reads below grade level, limiting their future opportunities.”
Tip: Use emotional language and data to connect with readers (e.g., a beneficiary’s story plus a statistic).

Our Solution: How We Make a Difference

Purpose: Explain how your nonprofit addresses the problem, emphasizing your unique approach.
Content: Describe your programs or services and their impact. Highlight what sets you apart (e.g., innovative methods, community focus).
Example: “Our after-school tutoring program provides personalized literacy support, helping 200 students improve reading by 30% annually.”
Tip: Focus on outcomes (e.g., “improved reading by 30%”) to show measurable impact.

Our Impact: Success Stories and Results

Purpose: Build credibility by showcasing tangible results and beneficiary stories.
Content: Share 1-2 success stories and key metrics (e.g., number of people served, outcomes achieved). Include visuals (e.g., photos, infographics) if possible.
Example: “Meet Sarah, a student who went from struggling to read to excelling in school, thanks to our tutors. Last year, we served 200 students, with 80% improving reading scores.”
Tip: Use authentic stories and data to make the impact relatable and credible.

The Opportunity: Why Now

Purpose: Create urgency by explaining why funding is needed now and how it will drive future impact.
Content: Describe current challenges or opportunities (e.g., growing demand, new program launch) and the specific need for support.
Example: “With demand for our programs doubling, we need $50,000 to train 10 more tutors and reach 500 additional students.”
Tip: Be specific about the funding need and its direct link to impact.

Call to Action: Join Our Mission

Purpose: Invite prospects to support your work, aligning with their values and interests.
Content: Make a clear, inspiring ask for support, offering multiple ways to give (e.g., donations, volunteering, partnerships). Include contact information or donation links.
Example: “Join us to empower 500 more students. Your $100 gift provides books for 5 children. Donate at [website] or contact us at [email].”
Tip: Frame the ask as an invitation to partnership, not a demand, to align with relationship-building.

Our Commitment: Transparency and Stewardship

Purpose: Build trust by showing accountability and donor appreciation.
Content: Highlight how funds are used (e.g., percentage to programs) and your commitment to donor stewardship (e.g., regular updates).
Example: “90% of every dollar goes directly to programs. We provide quarterly updates to show your impact.”
Tip: Emphasize transparency to reassure prospects their support is valued.

Steps to Create a Case for Support

1. Gather Input (1-2 Days):

• Convene your team (e.g., founder, board members, content creator) to collect mission details, program outcomes, and beneficiary stories.
• Use the Step 2 Relationship Mapping Matrix to identify ideal funders’ priorities (e.g., education, community impact) for tailoring.
• Review existing data (e.g., annual reports, program metrics) to ensure accuracy.

2. Draft the Document (3-5 Days):

• Assign a content creator to draft the Case for Support using the components above.
• Keep it concise (1-2 pages for general use, 3-5 pages for grants) and visually appealing (e.g., bullet points, headings, photos if available).
• Tailor versions for each audience (e.g., individual donors, corporates) by emphasizing relevant impact areas.

3. Incorporate Board Feedback (2-3 Days):

• Share the draft with board members for input on credibility and alignment with the Resource Development Plan (Step 3).
• Ensure the tone reflects relationship-building, not transactional asks.

4. Finalize and Design (2-3 Days):

• Finalize the document, ensuring consistent messaging across all versions.
• Use free design tools (e.g., Canva, free plan) to add visuals like logos or infographics for professionalism.
• Save as a PDF for easy sharing (e.g., via email, website).

5. Integrate into Fundraising Toolkit (1 Day):

• Add the Case for Support to the Comprehensive Fundraising Toolkit Inventory.
• Ensure it’s accessible to all team members (e.g., via Google Drive, CRM).

6. Train Team on Usage (1-2 Days):

• Train volunteers and board members (e.g., direct callers, appointment setters) to use the Case for Support in outreach, pitches, and follow-ups.
• Role-play scenarios using the Case for Support with fundraising scripts to build confidence.

7. Distribute and Update (Ongoing):

• Distribute to prospects via email (using Step 3 email templates), in-person meetings, or events.
• Update annually or after major program changes to reflect new impact data.

Consistency Tips

• Unified Messaging: Ensure all team members use the Case for Support as the primary source for messaging to maintain consistency across outreach (e.g., emails, calls, pitches).
• Tailored Adaptations: Create audience-specific versions (e.g., for corporates, emphasize CSR alignment) while keeping core elements consistent.
• Regular Updates: Review and update the Case for Support quarterly to include new stories and metrics, ensuring relevance.
• CRM Integration: Store the Case for Support in your CRM (e.g., Bloomerang, free for small nonprofits) and track its use in donor interactions to ensure consistent delivery.
• Volunteer Focus: Assign volunteers to draft and distribute the Case for Support (2-5 hours/week), with part-time staff (e.g., $25/hour for a content specialist) hired as funds grow (e.g., after raising $10,000-$20,000).

Action Steps

• Week 1: Gather input from your team and board, and assign a content creator to draft the Case for Support.
• Week 2: Finalize the document, incorporate board feedback, and design using Canva.
• Week 3: Add to the Comprehensive Fundraising Toolkit Inventory and train team members on its use.
• Ongoing: Distribute to prospects during outreach (e.g., with Step 3 emails) and update quarterly, tracking usage in your CRM.

Sample Case for Support

Below is a sample Case for Support for a hypothetical nonprofit, Bright Futures Literacy, to serve as a template for founders. It follows the framework above and is tailored for general use (e.g., individual donors, major gifts), with notes on adapting for specific audiences (e.g., corporates, grants).

 
Bright Futures Literacy: Case for Support
Who We Are

Bright Futures Literacy, founded in 2023 in [City, State], empowers children in underserved communities to achieve their potential through literacy. Our mission is to close the reading gap by providing personalized tutoring and books to every child in need, ensuring they thrive academically and beyond.

The Problem: Why We Exist
In [City], 1 in 5 children reads below grade level by third grade, a critical milestone that predicts high school graduation rates. Without strong reading skills, these children face limited opportunities, perpetuating cycles of poverty. For example, Maria, a third-grader, struggled to read basic sentences, hindering her confidence and academic progress.

Our Solution: How We Make a Difference
Bright Futures Literacy tackles this crisis with our after-school tutoring program, pairing trained volunteers with students for one-on-one support. Our unique approach combines personalized instruction with access to high-quality books, fostering a love for reading. Last year, we served 200 students across 5 schools, helping them build essential literacy skills.

Our Impact: Success Stories and Results
Our work transforms lives. Take Maria, who, after six months in our program, improved her reading by two grade levels and now dreams of becoming a teacher. In 2024, we:

Served 200 students, with 80% improving reading scores by at least 30%.
Distributed 1,000 books to children who had none at home.
Engaged 50 volunteers, contributing 2,000 hours to tutoring.
These results show that literacy unlocks doors to education and opportunity, and we’re just getting started.

The Opportunity: Why Now
Demand for our program has doubled as schools face budget cuts, leaving more children without support. To meet this need, we aim to expand to 10 schools and serve 500 additional students in 2025. We need $50,000 to train 10 more tutors, provide 2,000 books, and establish new tutoring sites. Your support will ensure every child in [City] has the chance to read and succeed.

Call to Action: Join Our Mission
Be a part of transforming lives through literacy. Your gift can make a direct impact:

• $100 provides books for 5 children.
• $500 trains one tutor to support 10 students.
• $1,000 funds a new tutoring site for 50 students.

Donate today at www.brightfuturesliteracy.org/donate, volunteer as a tutor, or contact us at [email protected] to discuss partnership opportunities. Together, we can empower [City]’s children to build brighter futures.

Our Commitment: Transparency and Stewardship
At Bright Futures Literacy, 90% of every dollar goes directly to our programs. We are committed to transparency, providing quarterly impact updates and personalized thank-yous to show how your support changes lives. Join us, and you’ll see the difference you make.

 
Notes for Adaptation:

• Individual Donors: Emphasize emotional stories (e.g., Maria’s journey) and smaller gift amounts (e.g., $25-$100) in a 1-page version.
• Major Gifts: Highlight high-impact opportunities (e.g., “$5,000 funds a tutoring site”) and include donor recognition (e.g., naming opportunities) in a 2-page version.
• Corporate Funders: Align with CSR goals (e.g., “Partner with us to boost employee engagement through volunteer tutoring”) and include ROI metrics (e.g., “Your $10,000 sponsorship reaches 100 students and enhances brand visibility”).
• Grants: Expand to 3-5 pages with detailed program descriptions, budgets (e.g., $50,000 for tutors, books), and evaluation metrics (e.g., “80% reading improvement”).

Usage Tips:

• Use in donor meetings, email outreach (with Step 3 email templates), or event handouts.
• Pair with the Perfect Pitch Framework for verbal pitches.
• Include in grant proposals for detailed applications.
• Update annually with new stories and metrics.

Putting It All Together
The Case for Support Framework and Sample Case for Support empower your fundraising team to communicate your mission with clarity and impact. By creating a compelling, consistent narrative, your team can engage prospects effectively, building trust and avoiding transactional asks. Volunteers can develop and use this tool initially, with part-time staff (e.g., content specialist at $25/hour) hired as funds grow (e.g., after raising $10,000-$20,000). Integrate the Case for Support into Step 4 to equip your team for success in Step 5’s relationship-driven campaigns.

Example:

Nonprofit Mission: Bright Futures Literacy provides tutoring for underserved children.
Team Action: A content creator drafts the Case for Support, board members review it, and direct callers use it in donor meetings.
Outcome: The Case for Support secures $5,000 from individual donors and a $10,000 corporate sponsorship by clearly articulating impact.

Your Next Steps:

• Draft Case for Support: Use the framework to draft a Case for Support within 2 weeks, involving content creators and board members.
• Integrate into Toolkit: Add to the Comprehensive Fundraising Toolkit Inventory within 3 weeks.
• Train Team: Train volunteers and board members on using the Case for Support in outreach within 3 weeks.
• Distribute: Share with prospects via email, meetings, or events, tracking usage in your CRM.
• Update Regularly: Review and update quarterly to reflect new impact data, ensuring consistent messaging.