Developing Your Case for Support or Majoring in the Rest of Your Life

Developing Your Case for Support, Vol. 1

Author: Timothy L Seiler

Learn step by step how to craft a winning case statement!

This tool in the Excellence in Fund Raising Workbook Series offers you a practical, hands-on guide to creating the cornerstone of any successful fund raising program--an effective case for support. Written by Tim Seiler--a leader in the field of fund raising and a disciple of master fund raiser Hank Rosso--Developing Your Case for Support provides you with a complete framework for bringing together all the reasons nonprofits know they are worthy of support, and shows you how to develop a case that makes those reasons concrete and real for donors. Filled with helpful worksheets and examples, the workbook features a step-by-step methodology for gathering, organizing, and using the information essential for developing a compelling case statement.

Table of Contents:

	Exercises and Worksheets	xiii
	Preface	xv
	The Author	xix
Part 1	Introducing the Case for Support	1
1.	Key Terms	3
	The Case and the Cause	3
	Case Statement	4
	Case Expression	4
	Case Resources	5
	External and Internal Cases	5
	Mission, Goals, and Objectives	5
2.	The Case and the Fund Raising Cycle	7
	The Fund Raising Cycle	7
	Examine the Case in Step 1	8
	Make the Case the Cycle Bedrock	9
	Determine Who Develops and Reviews the Case	10
Part 2	Case Components	17
3.	Mission Statement	21
	Examples of Mission Statements	21
	Identifying Organizational Values	24
	Reviewing Your Mission Statement	27
4.	Goals	31
	Examples of Goals	31
	Goals Compared to Mission	31
	Program-Related Goals	32
	Fund Raising Goals	32
	Writing and Reviewing Goals	33
5.	Objectives	37
	Examples of Objectives	37
	Objectives Compared to Goals	38
	Examples of Goals with Objectives	38
	Writing and Reviewing Objectives	39
6.	Programs and Services	43
	Using Stories	43
	Identifying Who Benefits	43
	Collecting Testimonials	44
	Enhancing and Reviewing Program Descriptions	45
7.	Finances	49
	Showing the Costs of Mission Fulfillment	49
	Presenting the Information	50
	Justifying the Need	50
	Examples of Financial Presentations	50
	Preparing and Reviewing Presentations	54
8.	Governance	59
	Selection of Board Members	59
	Board Representation	60
	Board Member Strengths	60
	Board Functioning and Structure	61
	Board Evaluation	62
	Information About Members and Advisers	63
	Reviewing Governance Information	64
9.	Staffing	67
	Credentials and Qualifications	67
	The Organization Chart	68
	Identifying and Reviewing Staffing Information	68
10.	Service Delivery	71
	Providing Basic Access	71
	Offering Superior Service	72
	Describing and Reviewing Service Delivery	72
11.	Planning and Evaluation	75
	Short-Term Fund Raising Plans	75
	Long-Term Fund Raising Plans	76
	Evaluation	76
	Reviewing Fund Raising Plans and Evaluation Processes	77
12.	History	81
	The Place of History in the Case	81
	A Focus on People	81
	Writing and Reviewing a History	82
13.	Component Checklist	85
Part 3	Putting the Case to Work	89
14.	Testing the Completed Case	91
	From Internal Case to External Case	91
	Case Qualities That Stimulate Donors	93
	Matching Case Expressions to Donors	94
	Reviewing Your Case Expressions	95
15.	Annual Review of the Case	99
	Answering Critical Questions Every Year	99
	Identifying Why Donors Should Give	102
	Conducting an Annual Review	104
16.	Moving Forward with the Case	107
	Leading the Effort	107
	Assembling the Case Resources File	108
	Developing and Testing the Case	109
	Recognizing All the Case Functions	109
	Reviewing and Revalidating the Case	110
Part 4	Resources	113
	Sample Case File	115
	Our Neighborhood Development Corporation	116
	Sample Case Expressions	123
	The Case for Renovating the Abbey Church	124
	Letter Sent to "Insiders" During Renovation	139
	Text of Regional Benefactors Dinner Talk	141
	Newsletter Article Detailing Renovation Plans	145
	Appeal Letter Sent to Summer Session Alumni	150
	Appeal Letter Sent to Friends	151
	Brochure Included with Appeal Letters	153
	Press Release Announcing a Large Gift by an Individual	157
	Appeal Letter to Donor Recognition Group	159
	Mailing Describing Changes in Donor Recognition Group	161
	Honor Roll of Donors	166

New interesting textbook: Analysis of Panel Data or HIPAA

Majoring in the Rest of Your Life: Career Secrets for College Students

Author: Carol Carter

Majoring in the Rest of Your Life is a practical strategy to get you from your first semester freshman year to your first job. Courses are not the only place to learn in college, and Majoring in the Rest of Your Life shows you how to make the most of your opportunities to discover what you enjoy doing, get practical experience, and meet people. Beginning with her own less than stellar high school career, Carol Carter takes you through the steps to life success. She tells you how to balance your studies with campus activities, part-time work, summer or winter internships, and travel. She explains how to network, write a perfect resume, prepare for interviews, and even how to negotiate a higher salary once you are offered the job of your dreams. Carol Carter writes in an informal, personal, and often very funny style, and she has spoken to people in a wide range of professions who share their experiences, both good and bad, in school and on the job. This updated edition features a new chapter on practical concerns for students living on their own for the first time, including how to handle their money and credit cards.