The Case for the Case: Building a Selling Proposition for Fundraising in the Jewish Community

Whether launching a capital campaign, expanding your endowment, or refreshing your annual campaign, one element remains essential to success: a compelling, clear, and inspiring Case for support. 

At The Lapin Group, we often say that fundraising is a form of storytelling. But not just any story — it must be your organization’s authentic Jewish story, rooted in values, mission, your vision for the future, and how you intend to improve the lives of families and communities. And the case for support is the tool that brings that story to life. 

In this article, we explore what makes a Case for Giving successful and how to use it across your fundraising efforts — from synagogue campaigns, schools and leading community organizations; capital projects to endowment development, to planned giving. 

Why Your Case Matters 

Your case is not just a brochure or a web page. It is the central articulation, the beating heart of your fundraising purpose — a shared language that your board, professionals, leadership , and donors can use to understand, advocate, and invest. 

A strong case for support: 

• Inspires emotion and connection 

• Builds credibility and trust 

• Demonstrates urgency and opportunity 

• Aligns donor values with institutional impact 

Especially in Jewish communal life, where giving is so often a reflection of identity, memory, and tradition, a powerful Case resonates in deep and lasting ways. 

The Core Ingredients of a Great Jewish Fundraising Case 

Whether for an annual campaign, capital effort, or endowment initiative, these components should be present in every case statement: 

1. Mission and Vision 

Ground your message in who you are and where you’re going. This is your Jewish “why” — the unique role your organization plays in building community, honoring heritage, or advancing peoplehood. 

Further, where would you like your organization to be and be doing in 2, 5, and 10 years from now, and why? How will this successful campaign advance that cause? 

2. The Need 

What problem are you solving? What gap are you filling? What’s at stake if you don’t act? Be honest and specific, while showing how this campaign meets a real and timely need. 

3. The Opportunity 

Why now? Lay out the positive impact this campaign will create — for your organization, for your constituents, and for the Jewish future. Be bold, aspirational, and vision-driven. 

4. The Plan 

Donors want to see that you’re prepared. Include clear, high-level details about what you’re raising, how it will be spent, and how the outcomes will be measured. In a capital campaign, this may include timelines and renderings; in an endowment campaign, result and impact projections. 

5. Results  

Campaigns today are about results – how you are going to improve families, communities and institutions – and the impact that those results will have. That is what people invest in. be clear and accountable. 

6. The Call to Action 

Invite readers to take ownership of your vision. This is where values-based language matters most — show how giving is not charity, but an expression of belief and trust, and a sacred act of partnership. 

What Makes a Jewish Case Statement Unique? 

Jewish nonprofits speak to a donor community that is shaped by history, identity, ritual, and culture. Your case should reflect this by: 

• Using Jewish values (like tzedakah, l’dor v’dor, or kehillah) when appropriate 

• Tapping into shared heritage and collective memory 

• Emphasizing community impact over institutional preservation 

• Speaking clearly with authenticity, not jargon 

The most effective case is about what a community can build together, less about what an organization needs. 

A Living Document, Not a One-Time Tool 

Your case for support is always dynamic. It should evolve as your campaign progresses and deepen as your donor conversations grow more sophisticated. Use the case as a foundation, then adapt versions for: 

• Major gift one-pagers 

• Donor conversations 

• Grant proposals 

• Board trainings 

• Campaign websites 

The Lapin Group often helps organizations craft a “core case,” then develop custom assets from it to suit different audiences and contexts. 

Final Thought: Don’t Skip the Strategy 

A beautifully written Case means little without a strategy to use it. Before you draft, take time to understand your fundraising goals, your donor landscape, and your readiness to launch. Then craft a case that speaks not just to what you want to raise — but to the future you want to build. 

If your Jewish nonprofit is preparing for a capital campaign, endowment initiative, or revitalized annual campaign, now is the time to invest in your case for support. It’s not just a fundraising tool — it’s the story of your purpose, your values, and your vision. 

Need help crafting a compelling case statement? The Lapin Group brings decades of expertise in Jewish nonprofit fundraising. Let’s work together to create a case that inspires, mobilizes, and delivers results.