Creating a Compelling Case for Support
How Cairney & Company and new Cairney Partner Alex Scott created a compelling Case for Support for the New Model Institute for Technology & Engineering (NMITE).
The Client
The New Model Institute for Technology & Engineering (NMITE)
The Timeline
8 weeks (concluded in Spring 2021)
The Project
Research and develop a compelling Case for Support for NMITE to engage their external supporters and potential donor community.
The Challenge
When you're a new institution and determined to shake up the engineering and higher education sectors, you need to make sure that your messages are clear and that there’s a consistent and compelling reason for people to back you.
The New Model Institute for Technology & Engineering (NMITE) is the first new HE institution the UK for 40 years. Their radical approach ensures inclusivity and diversity in engineering, transforming the educational offer and engagement with industry and bringing new and innovative approaches to the global challenges we all face.
With passionate and trusted supporters, a new senior leadership team, a pioneer cohort of students and on the verge of accreditation, at that time, NMITE were ready to push the button on the next level of fundraising. The first step was to develop a case for support and fundraising proposition that would build engagement, highlighting the uniqueness and impact of NMITE, and the crucial role of the donor.
The Solution
Working with new Cairney Partner, Alex Scott, we were able to harness his extensive experience in writing cases for support for HE and third sector organisations to create the essential story of NMITE, and why it is an urgent and relevant cause to support.
Starting with a deep dive into the idea of NMITE, we completed a comprehensive literature review before creating and conducting in-depth interviews with senior stakeholders, partners and key supporters. Combining the strategic insight with the personal stories gave us a fully rounded understanding of why NMITE was so important. We applied this knowledge to create an original case platform that blended demonstrable impact with an emotive articulation of the power and purpose of NMITE.
This platform was then refined into the final fundraising case for support, clearly showing the problem NMITE was created to solve, their unique set of abilities to be the best proposition to face the challenge, the central role of the supporter, and a clear, compelling and urgent call to action.
Deliverables
Insight and recommendations report
Fundraising platform and proposition
Case for support document
Client Benefits
A clear articulation of the essence of NMITE
A creative and engaging platform to engage their supporters
Agreement on the fundraising ideas and elements to showcase
Senior leadership alignment on how to express NMITE's fundraising proposition
“By spending time with our team, at both executive and board level, and consulting with a wide range of stakeholders, Karen and Alex along with other C&C colleagues ensured that both pieces of work were informed and captured the essence of what NMITE aspires to achieve. Both the case for support and the earlier development of NMITE’s Scholarships Model are very high-quality pieces of work. C&C also reviewed existing materials and conducted research on trends that would inform future strategic fundraising planning.
Cairney & Company continue to provide on-going, excellent service, supporting the fundraising function at NMITE. We are most grateful to them for their professional manner, knowledge of the sector and their credibility”