Why it matters
The case for support is the source document for everything else you write. Appeal letters, grant narratives, giving pages and the talking points for a board member's visit all borrow from it. When it is clear, every ask gets easier to write and sounds like the same organization.
A useful case is short. Name the problem in plain words, show what you do with one real story and a few honest numbers, and say exactly what the next gift will pay for. Update it every year, and write a focused version for a capital campaign or a big new program.
How Steward shows it
Steward does not write your case for support. When you create a campaign, the "What donors see" section holds the story and photo for its public page, which is where a short version of your case usually ends up.
Related terms
- Capital campaign Capital campaign means a fundraising effort with a set goal and deadline to pay for something big and lasting, such as a building, a major renovation or an endowment, usually on top of the annual fund.
- Solicitation Solicitation is a direct request for a gift, made in person, by phone, by letter or by email. In major giving it usually means a specific ask for a specific amount and purpose.
- Annual fund Annual fund is the name for the money a nonprofit raises every year, usually unrestricted, to pay for day-to-day operations. It is renewed each year through appeals, events and ongoing asks.
The free Lost & Found audit reads a giving export in your browser and shows your lapsing donors and what they used to give. Nothing is uploaded. Then bring the same file to a 20-minute demo.