I noticed that some of my most popular blog postings were about the PROFESSIONAL CASE STATEMENT, the most basic AND most important fundraising tool for nonprofits, schools and churches. But I never really told you exactly what to do with it when after you wrote it.
I've decided that I am going to devote the next four weeks to sharing everything you need to know about how to use it and the results you can expect.
The Case Statement is About Sharing Your Story in a Way that Inspires People
How do you feel when you learn about the impact these students are having on their community? It gives me goose bumps. That's what you want.
Within two years, students have
literally changed the landscape of Highland School District. When rain runoff, threatened the school
grounds and the school building’s infrastructure, students, staff, and experts
worked together to implement a solution.
Review of How to Create the Professional Case Statement
Before you go any further, you may want to go back and review the first three postings I wrote about how to create a case statement for your organization.
#1 Fundraising Tool - Part I - Did you Know section
#1 Fundraising Tool - Part II - Mission, Vision and Unique Approach sections
#1 Fundraising Tool - Part III - Success Stories, Goals, How You Can Help sections and Credibility Box
What to Do With Your New Case Statement
It's not the case statement DOCUMENT that gets results for you. Often, nonprofits, schools and churches look to MARKETING as the answer. In fact, organizations spend WAY TOO MUCH ON MARKETING. You don't need fancy materials. The materials don't do anything for you. It's ABOUT YOU AND WHAT YOU DO with the marketing materials. It's your job to bring your story to life, and the case statement is just a tool to help you do that.
So, here are two ways to use the case statement right away.
Use the case statement as an introduction piece.
Give it to anyone and everyone. Keep a pile in the reception area of your organization's office. Carry them with you. Make sure your board members and staff people have an electronic version of the document. Allow people to download the case statement from your website.
A really good way to use the case statement is as a followup to a conversation with someone. For example, you may have just returned from a luncheon where you had the opportunity to network or just have good conversation with several people. When you get back to the office (I recommend setting aside an hour on Friday's to pull all those business cards out of your purse/wallet and send follow-up emails to those folks that include an attachment with your case statement), send a short email to the people you met, refer to something interesting they said and then tell them you were excited to share your organization's story and that you're attaching a document that tells them a little more. That's it. Don't expect a response - don't expect any outcome at all. It's just an opportunity to share the story. You JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.
The case statement is a really useful tool for board members. When I do workshops for board members of nonprofits, schools and churches, and I ask the question, "How many of your are comfortable sharing your organization's story," only ONE-THIRD of the hands go up. It never fails to surprise me. These are the most important ambassadors for the organization, and the majority of them do not feel comfortable sharing the organization's story. The sad thing is though that they will never admit that to their fellow board members. Anyway, I've been told by many board members that the case statement made it so much easier for them to talk about the organization.
In my next posting, I'll be talking about how to verbally share the story in an elevator pitch - a more casual and natural way for especially volunteers to share the story of their nonprofit, school or church.
Integrate the case statement language into all communications materials.
Now that you've figured out how to share your amazing story in a more effective manner - compelling, concise and consistent - YOU MUST MAKE SURE ALL YOUR OTHER COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH YOUR CASE STATEMENT. In fact, the case statement is the starting point for all communications materials. It's how you have discovered how to communicate the essence - YOUR SPECIAL SAUCE - of your organization to others in a way that will inspire them to want to help. For example, be sure that you communicate you use the themes in the Did You Know section and communicate your mission the same way in all of your materials - brochures, fundraising materials, website, facebook page, etc.
Building awareness is all about hearing things a million times. While you may feel like you're being repetitive, that's exactly how you build a buzz about your organization. People begin to think, "I just heard someone else talking about the Interfaith Neighborhood Outreach Program. There must be doing exciting things."
Now, It's Time to Try This
If you simply start doing these two things, you will notice new results. In fact, please be sure to share your stories in the comments part of this posting. It inspires people to try new things when others share that it wasn't has uncomfortable was they thought it would be. Remember, NO NEW RESULTS WITHOUT TRYING SOMETHING NEW!
Next Post - How to Create and Use an Elevator Pitch
In my next posting, I'll be talking about how to verbally share the story in an elevator pitch - a more casual and natural way for especially volunteers to share the story of their nonprofit, school or church.
I'd love to hear what happens when you try this. Feel free to share your success story or let me know if you have questions in the comment section of my blog posting or send me an email by via this link.
Deb
alinea, LLC
P.S. Click here if you are interested in purchasing my workbook - complete instructions on how to apply alinea's formula of Story + Direction + Relationships. Let me know you're interested in purchasing the workbook for $7.95 and I'll follow up with you.
The Case Statement is About Sharing Your Story in a Way that Inspires People
How do you feel when you learn about the impact these students are having on their community? It gives me goose bumps. That's what you want.
Did you know . . .
Highland Students are changing the
world NOW!
Within two years, students have
literally changed the landscape of Highland School District. When rain runoff, threatened the school
grounds and the school building’s infrastructure, students, staff, and experts
worked together to implement a solution.
Multi-age teams of students and staff surveyed the land,
worked with experts to identify a solution, and coordinated with the Buildings
and Grounds committee to build a rain-garden that would safely transport rain
away from the building. This school-wide
project not only educated the community on environmental solutions, but also
provided generations of students with a garden full of hands on research
opportunities in the future.
Review of How to Create the Professional Case Statement
Before you go any further, you may want to go back and review the first three postings I wrote about how to create a case statement for your organization.
#1 Fundraising Tool - Part I - Did you Know section
#1 Fundraising Tool - Part II - Mission, Vision and Unique Approach sections
#1 Fundraising Tool - Part III - Success Stories, Goals, How You Can Help sections and Credibility Box
What to Do With Your New Case Statement
It's not the case statement DOCUMENT that gets results for you. Often, nonprofits, schools and churches look to MARKETING as the answer. In fact, organizations spend WAY TOO MUCH ON MARKETING. You don't need fancy materials. The materials don't do anything for you. It's ABOUT YOU AND WHAT YOU DO with the marketing materials. It's your job to bring your story to life, and the case statement is just a tool to help you do that.
So, here are two ways to use the case statement right away.
Use the case statement as an introduction piece.
Give it to anyone and everyone. Keep a pile in the reception area of your organization's office. Carry them with you. Make sure your board members and staff people have an electronic version of the document. Allow people to download the case statement from your website.
A really good way to use the case statement is as a followup to a conversation with someone. For example, you may have just returned from a luncheon where you had the opportunity to network or just have good conversation with several people. When you get back to the office (I recommend setting aside an hour on Friday's to pull all those business cards out of your purse/wallet and send follow-up emails to those folks that include an attachment with your case statement), send a short email to the people you met, refer to something interesting they said and then tell them you were excited to share your organization's story and that you're attaching a document that tells them a little more. That's it. Don't expect a response - don't expect any outcome at all. It's just an opportunity to share the story. You JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.
The case statement is a really useful tool for board members. When I do workshops for board members of nonprofits, schools and churches, and I ask the question, "How many of your are comfortable sharing your organization's story," only ONE-THIRD of the hands go up. It never fails to surprise me. These are the most important ambassadors for the organization, and the majority of them do not feel comfortable sharing the organization's story. The sad thing is though that they will never admit that to their fellow board members. Anyway, I've been told by many board members that the case statement made it so much easier for them to talk about the organization.
In my next posting, I'll be talking about how to verbally share the story in an elevator pitch - a more casual and natural way for especially volunteers to share the story of their nonprofit, school or church.
Integrate the case statement language into all communications materials.
Now that you've figured out how to share your amazing story in a more effective manner - compelling, concise and consistent - YOU MUST MAKE SURE ALL YOUR OTHER COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH YOUR CASE STATEMENT. In fact, the case statement is the starting point for all communications materials. It's how you have discovered how to communicate the essence - YOUR SPECIAL SAUCE - of your organization to others in a way that will inspire them to want to help. For example, be sure that you communicate you use the themes in the Did You Know section and communicate your mission the same way in all of your materials - brochures, fundraising materials, website, facebook page, etc.
Building awareness is all about hearing things a million times. While you may feel like you're being repetitive, that's exactly how you build a buzz about your organization. People begin to think, "I just heard someone else talking about the Interfaith Neighborhood Outreach Program. There must be doing exciting things."
Now, It's Time to Try This
If you simply start doing these two things, you will notice new results. In fact, please be sure to share your stories in the comments part of this posting. It inspires people to try new things when others share that it wasn't has uncomfortable was they thought it would be. Remember, NO NEW RESULTS WITHOUT TRYING SOMETHING NEW!
Next Post - How to Create and Use an Elevator Pitch
In my next posting, I'll be talking about how to verbally share the story in an elevator pitch - a more casual and natural way for especially volunteers to share the story of their nonprofit, school or church.
I'd love to hear what happens when you try this. Feel free to share your success story or let me know if you have questions in the comment section of my blog posting or send me an email by via this link.
Deb
alinea, LLC
P.S. Click here if you are interested in purchasing my workbook - complete instructions on how to apply alinea's formula of Story + Direction + Relationships. Let me know you're interested in purchasing the workbook for $7.95 and I'll follow up with you.
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