Is Your Case for Support Letting You Down?
A question we are often asked by prospective clients is: “Can you just edit our case for support?” The answer: “Sorry, no.”
When your campaign case isn’t resonating with donors, it’s usually not because the document needs wordsmithing. Something is wrong at a deeper level, such as:
A feasibility study case has too many priorities being tested due to a misguided decision to “let the donors decide” what is most important. Unfortunately, this never tests well and ultimately conveys a lack of strategy on the part of the institution.
Your leadership or quiet phase draft case focuses on problems and needs but doesn’t include anticipated outcomes. It may be obvious to you but it needs to be spelled out for prospective donors. It’s like not writing the final act of a play. How does it end? What is the transformation that will occur?
The public phase case makes no mention of your strategic plan. By the time your campaign goes public, the strategic plan being funded through the campaign probably feels like ancient history. It shouldn’t. Help donors understand that the campaign is rooted in careful planning over many years.
A simple edit won’t solve these problems. Avoiding them begins by answering essential questions before writing even begins.
Download 10 Questions to Answer in Your Case for Support and 10 Questions to Answer to Plan Your Campaign Communications to learn more.