How to write a case for support
A case for support is the master document explaining why your work matters and why people should fund it. Every bid, appeal and pitch can draw from it.
What to include
- The need: what problem exists, for whom, with evidence
- Your response: what you do and why it works
- Your impact so far: numbers and real stories
- Why you: what makes your organisation the right one
- The ask: what funding you need and what it will achieve
Tips that make it work
- Lead with people, not your organisation
- Back claims with evidence — local data, feedback, results
- Keep it short; you can expand for each funder
- Use your own voice and the words your community uses
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Questions people ask
How long should a case for support be?
Two to four pages is usually enough. Keep a longer version to draw from for each bid.
Is a case for support the same as a grant application?
No. It is the master document you adapt for each grant, appeal or pitch.
Written by Jessie Joe Jacobs. Jessie has worked in the UK voluntary sector for around 25 years and founded the Teesside charity A Way Out. She founded Charity Builder to give small groups the support a local CVS would.