The information below was summarized from the following sources: BoardSource; Guidestar.org
A case statement is the principal “argument” in the rationale for fundraising. It addresses a specific project or issue that is being targeted for the fundraising effort and provides a plan of action. The case statement is used to educate potential donors and encourage them to partner with the nonprofit organization. It should evoke a sense of urgency and be a personal appeal. Written well, the case statement can be a document used to clearly illustrate a defined project or service of the organization to a variety of groups.
Case statements should include the following information:
- Current problem or need that is being addressed
- Whether there is an existing service addressing this problem and/or why a new service is needed
- The goals and objectives
- Possible collaborations with other organizations to develop the service
- Costs, revenues, net (remember that the net is what truly indicates the degree of a campaign’s success)
- Evaluation methods
- Potential role of donors and benefits to donors
- The difference the service will make in the community
Fundraising involves convincing prospective donors that there is a need and then that they need to give to support the services to meet that need. There is first an emotional connection and then the logic of the argument to support the need comes in. The most important steps are to listen, listen, listen to prospective or current donors – what is it they value, what do they want for their community, what is it about your organization that is important to them? When you hear and understand those things, it enables you to write a case statement that speaks to their concerns and interests.
