Next big thing: “American Idol for Nonprofits”
Ok, let’s hope not. But Craigslist Foundation in the US ran a very interesting program recently. It was a “pitchathon�? where a variety of nonprofits received coaching – and ultimately judging – on their ability to sell their organizations to potential funders and donors.
Most of the organizations I’ve worked with struggle at some point to express why donors should support them. In fundraising-land, we call this making a “case for support.�? It’s a compelling explanation of why you need money and why someone should donate to your group. It can take many forms (documents, brochures, proposals, advertising, presentations).
Richard Male, a nonprofit management consultant, once introduced me to an exercise that I always start with to get some of the very basic information that should go into your pitch or your case for support. It’s called your “Organizational 10 in 60.” Answer these questions and present them as a pitch in under a minute:
- Your name and position with organization
- Name and age of the organization
- Mission of organization
- Primary activities of the organization
- Geographic focus of your work
- Priority issues for the organization
- The budget of the organization
- The name of one or two of the organization’s funders
- One of the organization’s greatest challenges
- An example of the organization at its best
For a few samples of excellent case for support documents, email me!
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