Making the Case in One Page

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a university in possession of a piano storage room, must be in want of a piano.

Indeed, such has been the case at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) for an entire decade. The U.S.-based OIST Foundation called on me to help make the case to raise funds to buy a very special Steinway.

If you have been a regular reader of mine, you know that I advocate for cases for support that answer these 10 questions:

1. What is the problem?

2. Why now?

3. What is the solution?

4. How does the solution relate to our mission, vision, and values?

5. Why are we uniquely positioned to solve the problem?

6. How do we propose to bridge the gap between the problem and the envisioned solution?

7. What will it cost?

8. How will those funds be applied? 

9. If we are successful, how will it transform the institution, our constituents, our community, etc.?

10. How can a prospective donor be a partner in that transformation?

In the case of the OIST Foundation’s 88 Keys Campaign, I delivered one simple page, but all 10 questions were answered. See for yourself:

The story has a happy ending: the case helped the OIST Foundation secure a major gift to purchase the piano and donate it to OIST. Earlier this week, it arrived to much rejoicing. Thank you to OIST and the OIST Foundation for these photos!

The Steinway made its OIST debut with Yuko Oyabu at the keys and OIST Music Ambassador Eiko Kano on violin.

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma (center) got a peek at the Steinway with OIST President and CEO Peter Gruss (right) and OIST Music Ambassador and violinist Eiko Kano (left).