The last session of The Storytelling Non-Profit Virtual Conference was presented by Joe Garecht of The Fundraising Authority. Joe is one of the most knowledgable fundraisers that I know and I was greatly looking forward to his session – it did not disappoint!
Joe talked about how to use storytelling in your non-profit’s case for support.
Below are the slides from Joe’s presentation:
Highlights and Key Takeaways
> Your case for support is the basis of all donor communications and asks.
> EVERY non-profit needs a case for support.
> Usually 2 to 7 pages and the documents are written for 3 to 5 year periods.
> “A case for support casts a bold vision for the future and invites donors to get caught up in the vision.”
> The case for support is the big picture story that draws on many individual stories.
> Your non-profit should be the hero in your case for support.
> There are four types of stories that you should use in your case – clients, staff, donors and the community.
FAQs From The Session
What if we are a new organization and don’t have any stories to use in a case for support?
Joe suggested that newer organizations focus on the story of their founding. Talk about what problem you saw, what compelled you to tackle it and what the future looks like.
Should we customize our case for a specific audience?
Your case is always donor-facing. It should be written with your donors in mind. Take the time to think about common traits of your donors first.
How often should you change the individual stories in the case for support?
Joe recommends that you write your case for 3 to 5 year periods. Over that time, the stories within the case don’t have to change. He did note that throughout your other communications and solicitations, you may want to switch up your stories to keep it fresh.
Can the stories in the case be repurposed for your annual report or do you “save” them to keep them special?
Your case for support is not meant to be a museum piece! It is meant to be used and loved. You’ll put in a lot of time and effort creating it so don’t let that go to waste. Using those stories in different ways and telling them from different angles is a great way to keep donors connected to your core message.
Do you have a question about writing your case for support? Please leave a comment below and we’ll be glad to answer it for you!
