In recent years, multiple ideas about what makes for successful fundraising have flooded the non-profit market space. Unfortunately, many organizations have been sold a bill of goods on various development program methodologies, relying on off-the-shelf tactics that were not intended for the specifics of their community. Meanwhile, a good amount of money and effort is spent each year in driving initiatives with lackluster results. As a result, the organization ends up on a fundraising hamster wheel, never solidifying any long-term health to their process.

One of the core assumptions of a case for support is that the community is looking to make an impact by giving rather than being a part of the community making the impact. In a world where impact is a marketing tool and influence is a conduit for action, sustainable fundraising models need to have engaged communities rather than metric-based approaches. Given the desire to live out of first-hand experience over vicariously living through someone else’s life, we need to transform the engagement from a passive existence to an active community.

The Case for Support workshop focuses on building the right kinds of pipelines into your development structure, utilizing your streams well, and limiting your engagement erosion along the way. It works through the aspects of stewardship that lead more to long-term giving opportunities over the marketing disciplines that drive decision-based engagement over community-based experience. In a volatile world, where impact and return on investment are valuable pieces of a donor’s process, how you go about soliciting their participation may end up being a decisive factor in whether they give once or are evangelized into your community of support in an ongoing manner.

We offer various planning options to fit the vast number of NPOs, NGOs, 501© orgs, and educational institutions’ needs. From endowments and long-term giving options to donor-advised funds and capital campaign planning, we can help you avoid the pitfalls of an advisor group or leveraged gift where your institution is at the mercy of a donor’s demands. Let’s plan how you can reach your goals and fundraise without losing your soul or overwhelming your community.