The Case for Support

What is "The Case for Support?"

The case for support, briefly stated, is "why anyone should give you any money." Or, put another way, it is everything you can and want to say in public about your project and why it deserves the gifts of those you're asking to give.

Basically, the case for support is helpful in defining just exactly what you want to fund, why you want to fund it, and what benefit it will have to the community of people from which you're seeking donations.

The "Case for Support" might contain the following items:

  • "We're a great institution and we've done a lot of good:"The history and background of the church, it's mission and its accomplishment of that mission through the years;

  • "We're in a situation now where we have a great opportunity:"A statement of the crisis, challenge or opportunity now facing the church and what it might mean if we don't act now;

  • "This is what we plan to do with this opportunity:"The plan of action developed by the church’s leaders to deal with the crisis or opportunity;

  • "In order to carry out this plan, here's the money we'll ned to have:"Spell out the type of fund raising activity that is planned and how it is to be carried out;

  • "Our success will mean that the obstacles are overcome and the opportunity not wasted:"The anticipated success of the effort and how it will be achieved, what the money will buy and how the opportunity will have turned out a success for the church;

  • "If we raise X dollars we'll be able to go ahead with our plan:"Describe what will be accomplished by the successful fund raising effort; and, finally,

  • "Our success will mean great things for our neighborhood (or mission field, etc.):"A clear statement of future anticipated results from the completed project.

  • "Therefore, Mr. and Mrs. Donor, we need your pledge. And when we're successful, you'll be successful too:"A clear request for a specific amount of money or a range of contribution, helping the prospect understand that they have a personal stake in the outcome of your project's success.

    Through all this, the mission of the church must be clearly stated and linked directly to the substance of the anticipated project.

Find out more

about Fund Raising from the Greater Detroit Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives (NSFRE), or the National Office of the NSFRE. Both sites offer a wide variety of training events, techniques, tools and services to help you learn more about fund raising for your local church.

Hear the pounding of the hammers?
Hear the buzzing of the saws?
This site is under construction. Watch it grow in the future

Let us know what your church needs,
or send your questions or comments to
John G. Fike, CFRE, Executive Director of the UM Foundation
at
johnfike@msn.com

Catalog Of Topics

(Click on a button and go right away to:)

UM Foundation Report on Fund Performance UM Foundation Investment Policy
How to Set Up an Endowment Fund How to Market an Endowment Fund
Endowment Primer:
The Basics and Background 		Gifts People Can Give to Your Endowment Fund
Workshops Available to Your Church Sample Endowment Resolution
Stewardship Strategies & Issues for Local Churches Stewardship & the Individual Spiritual Journey
Frequently Asked Questions Keeping Fund Raising "Spiritual"
Financial Policy for a Local Church Fund Raising Strategies for Local Churches
What is The "Case for Support?" Games Church People Play
Prospect Capability Matrix:
Who can Give How Much? 		A Capital Campaign Gift Pyramid:
Where Will the $$ Come From?

United Methodist Foundation

This file was updated 12/30/2001