How to Write a Nonprofit Case Statement

Case statements are crucial to your nonprofit's success in securing financial support. It literally makes a case to potential donors for giving to your organization rather than another. It's easy to present a dissertation on your organization and cause rather than create an emotional need for supporting you. It's a good idea to write a general case statement first and use it as a basis for program-specific statements. Read on to learn how to write a nonprofit case statement.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Collect all materials you have on your nonprofit's history, purpose and programs. This includes previous case statements, brochures, direct mail letters, old newsletters and both successful and unsuccessful grant proposals.

2. Begin with your mission statement. Though you've used the same one for years, you should reevaluate it before incorporating it into your case statement. This is how a prospective donor decides if your work matches his values.

3. Make the problems your nonprofit addresses real for the donor. A local organization should spell out how it fits into the community. A national organization should emphasize how its work affects all Americans. An international organization should show how supporting its work ensures a better world for everyone.

4. Let potential donors know how their support affects the future of the cause. Convince them to take a long-term interest in your work. Provide statistics on the success of past programs and show how you've made a situation better not just temporarily, but for years to come.

5. Impress a sense of urgency upon the donor. This can be challenging when your case statement is for general support of your organization. By emphasizing the long-term effects of your work, you make potential donors understand that keeping your doors open is as important as fixing immediate problems.

6. Create a sense of excitement about your nonprofit's work. Use short sentences and paragraphs. Highlight important information with bullets and in boxes. Make your dedication to your cause shine through every sentence of your case statement.

Tips & Warnings

• Case statements should be evaluated at least once a year and, if necessary, rewritten.

• Spend the time and money to make your nonprofit case statements attractive.

• You may also find the book "Making the Case" by Jerold Panas helpful.