Make Your Case — a Pathfinder Strategies tool
Your case is simply the clearest reason anyone should support you. This walks you through building it in eight small pieces — so whether you're a seasoned pro or you've never done it before, you'll walk into your next meeting ready.
Your answers stay in your browser. When you download or print, we'll ask where to send your draft.
Start here · 60 seconds
It's not a brochure or a grant form. It's your answer to the one question every donor is silently asking before they give:
"Why should I give you my hard-earned money?"
Answer that well and fundraising gets easier. Answer it weakly and every ask is uphill. You'll build your answer in eight small pieces. For each one, we'll teach the idea, show you a weak version next to a strong one, then you write yours. We'll follow a made-up reading program the whole way so you can watch a flat case turn into a compelling one.
Step 1 · The spine
Clarity is the biggest lever you control. When one nonprofit sharpened its core "why give," tested giving jumped 86%. A confused donor gives less — or nothing. If a board member wouldn't say it out loud, rewrite it.
"We are a community-based nonprofit committed to leveraging resources to empower stakeholders toward positive outcomes."
"We help kids who've fallen behind in reading catch up — so a struggling third-grader walks into class confident instead of ashamed."
Step 2 · The story
People give to a someone, not a statistic. One person you can name and picture sparks far more generosity than big numbers — which actually dampen the urge to give. Open with a face, not a figure.
"Each year, thousands of children in our city read below grade level."
"Marcus is 8. He hides his book during reading time so no one sees he's still sounding out words his friends finished a year ago."
Step 3 · The need
People fund needs they can picture — not wants. "Renovate the building" is a want; "fix the broken heat and crumbling floors" is a need. Specific people, specific barrier. And say what happens if no one acts.
"We need funding to continue our important programs."
"120 kids are on our tutoring waitlist. Without a reading partner, most will enter fourth grade unable to read the textbooks they're handed."
Step 4 · Why you
Donors choose the org that's clearly different, not just well-meaning. Answer the real question: "Why you, instead of the next org doing similar work — or nothing at all?" That's your edge.
"We're passionate, dedicated, and committed to excellence."
"We're the only program that pairs each child with the same trained tutor every week for a full year — consistency is exactly what a struggling reader needs."
Step 5 · The proof
Trust is earned with real numbers, not "countless lives changed." A specific, defensible figure reads as credible. One hard outcome plus one story is plenty.
"We've helped countless children and made a huge difference in our community."
"Last year, 84% of our kids jumped at least one reading level — and 47 hit grade level for the first time."
Step 6 · The hero
Not your organization — the donor. When they're the hero and you're the guide, they feel the power to change something. "Because of you…" beats "We did…". Then make the gift concrete.
"We provide free tutoring to children who need it." (Your org is the hero here.)
"Because of you, Marcus stops hiding his book. $40 gives one child a trained reading partner for a month."
Step 7 · Why now
No urgency, no reason to give now instead of someday. A clear "why now" — a deadline, a season, a rising need — turns "maybe later" into "yes."
"Donations are always welcome and appreciated."
"The school year starts in six weeks. Every child we match before day one starts on track instead of behind."
Step 8 · The ask
Clear beats clever. In real tests, a plain "Make your gift today" outperforms vague lines like "Stand with us." Tell them exactly what to do — one action.
"Join us in our mission to change lives. Be part of something bigger."
"Give $40 today and put a trained reading partner beside one child this month."
Your Organization
Case for Support
Your one-sentence core will appear here.
One real person at the center.
The specific need, and the cost of inaction.
Why you, and not someone else.
Evidence that you deliver.
The donor as hero — and their gift, made concrete.
The reason this matters today.
The single, clear next step.
Eight rules you can carry into every appeal, letter, and grant from here on:
Run your draft past these — they catch 90% of weak cases:
Print it for your team or your next board meeting — then let's turn this draft into a case that actually raises money.
Find the way forward.