Creating a Digital Case for Transformational Gifts

By Shana Medel

Transformational gifts are the golden eggs of philanthropy.

Elusive and valuable, transformational gifts often support or redirect your nonprofit trajectory, supercharging your capabilities. They come in many forms, from scholarship endowments to program expansions to building projects.

To clinch a big gift, anywhere from six to eight figures, you have to start somewhere. And a tried and true starting place is a case for giving, one of the most powerful nonprofit tools.

A case for giving is who you are and what you do, distilled into a strategic document. This is where you answer the most basic of questions: why. Why should current and prospective donors support you? Why are their dollars critical to helping you make an impact? Why is that impact even necessary? You are quite actually proving your case, either for a specific campaign or general fundraising efforts.

As you create your case for giving in Storyraise Reports, our digital reporting tool, keep these three tips in mind.

Use stories as your bedrock for fundraising and friend-raising

A child is given a camp scholarship, ensuring their summer is a memorable one. A senior receives one-on-one care, easing loneliness on quiet days. A vulnerable family is hand delivered a warm meal on a holiday, adding more light to their celebration.

Telling stories, the oldest form of connectivity, is where transformational gifts start and end. Just make sure to hammer out the details because yes, the nitty-gritty is what makes a donation-worthy tale. And when crafting those stories, there is no gloating allowed. You have to position your nonprofit as a quiet commander, a steady source of help that gives others the opportunity to do so much.

Of course, good stories need good characters. The protagonist is whoever your nonprofit is committed to, whether college students or rescue dogs. In each story, they must take center stage, with you functioning as somewhat of a stage manager, ensuring all of the pieces fall into place. You cheer them on from the wings. By doing so, you put the focus on your core mission, the very reason why you exist.

Show your greatness, never say it

A picture is worth 1,000 words — and multimedia is worth so much more. The perk of creating a digital case for giving is you unlock features that go beyond the confines of a printed, static report.

There is immense value in showing, not telling. Donors don’t want to read about how great you think you are. They want to see your greatness in action, and from there, they’ll understand why you matter.

With Storyraise Reports, you have access to a variety of custom-designed templates. There are also drag-and-drop features, including animated graphs and embedded videos. Use them to create a dynamic report. After all, reports should be exciting, not boring.

Embrace white space and color. Use images that show high impact, steering clear of stock photography. Weave in your brand elements to ensure brand consistency and recognition. Being intentional about your design will produce a sharp report, making your donors stop and look (and even read).

Repurpose your case for giving

Your case for giving is a gift that keeps on giving — all year round. After spending weeks, if not months, collecting stories, photos, videos, quotes and data, what you have is a content arsenal. Use it. Again and again. All can be repurposed for your other marketing efforts, including:

• Organic and paid social media
• Direct mail
• Email fundraising
• Galas
• Donor lunches
• Speaking engagements
• Speeches

With transformational giving, a donor is compelled to become a character in your nonprofit story rather than just skim the pages. And when you and a donor become partners in making the world a little better, the gift and the relationship are transformative.