5 Ways Graphic Design Improves a Nonprofit Case for Support
So many nonprofit fundraising professionals have been there – pouring our hearts and souls into crafting the perfect case for support document, only to feel like our efforts at nonprofit storytelling are getting lost in the noise. Our partners at Grand River Agency have a solution: expert graphic design.
Kelsey Boudin, GRA’s President and Founder, specializes in nonprofit case for support development. With a theme of NONPROFIT SUPERHEROISM, Kelsey’s recent blog campaign aims to educate nonprofit leaders everywhere as to the importance of such a document – and how to build one that:
- Captivates donors
- Honors your mission
- Demonstrates community need
- Looks to the future
And let’s not forget the most important underlying goal: justifying the need for more funding!
Read Kelsey’s original blog post here: Nonprofit Case for Support: Fulfilling Your Grand Design.
What a Winning Nonprofit Case Statement Design Should Accomplish
Today, we’re diving deep into the world of graphic design and exploring how it can fulfill your nonprofit’s grand design. Because let’s face it, a nonprofit superhero without a costume is just a regular person in tights.
A nonprofit case for support – or cast statement – needs some visualization, especially if it’s going to be sent directly to prospective major gift donors and grant funders. Here’s how it works:
1. Your Mission Visualized
Design isn’t just about making things look pretty (although that’s certainly part of it). It’s about presenting your mission, challenges and goals in a way that’s easy to understand and impossible to ignore. (That’s the key to truly engaging your community and prospective supporters.)
To a nonprofit superhero, it’s essential to back up well-crafted words with professional visualization that explains and amplifies community need.
2. A Professional Introduction
First impressions matter, and your case for support’s design is your organization’s professional handshake with potential donors and funders. With expert graphic design – from your professionally designed logo to your branded colors and fonts – it’s your chance to show that you’re committed to excellence in communication just as you’re serious about making a difference.
3. Explaining & Emphasizing Key Points
Graphics and graphs are like your superhero sidekick, helping to hammer home key points and break up walls of text. Whether it’s a powerful statistic or a heartwarming testimonial, a well-placed graphic can speak volumes.
A graph or pictorial can also make complex statistics more easy to digest.
4. A Picture’s Worth A Thousand Words
Photos and illustrations breathe life into your mission, providing a tangible glimpse into the impact of your initiatives. They evoke emotion, convey meaning, and show donors exactly where their support is going.
5. Consistent Branding
Harmony is key when it comes to design. Consistent branding across your case for support, emails and marketing materials reinforces your organization’s professionalism and builds brand recognition.
Graphic Design: A Nonprofit Case for Support Secret Weapon
In your nonprofit superhero’s arsenal of superpowers, there’s one secret weapon that can take your case for support from overlooked to outstanding: great graphic design.
Don’t think you need one? You couldn’t be more wrong.
(Related reading: Case for Support: 6 Legit Reasons ALL nonprofits Should Have One.)
Your nonprofit’s story is too important to be overlooked.
