I like to think of fundraising as a public offering that gives people and organizations the opportunity to invest in our mission and share with us the satisfaction of accomplishing our goals. Asking for money is not begging for charity.

Here’s an approach to writing a philanthropic case statement that might be helpful. Take the term “case” seriously when you think about writing the “case statement.” As in presenting a case to a judge or a jury, imagine . . .

In his recent book, Strategic Giving: The Art and Science of Philanthropy, Peter Frumkin notes that every foundation employs a repertoire of tactics by which it makes grants that fulfill its mission and obligations. Taken together, the tactical repertoire of a foundation reflects its “theory of change”—its particular framework for creating impact.

Recently a client asked us about how funders use Charity Navigator. We asked 8 foundation executives in Chicago to tell us if they or their colleagues use Charity Navigator or comparable ratings services, and if so, how they use it.