Instructional Content: Module 7 - Making the Ask

Welcome to the execution guide for Module 7! If the slides showed you the structure of a winning ask, this is your step-by-step toolkit to craft and submit it. With Module 6's value delivery under your belt, the ask is a natural progression: A concise report that recaps shared wins, proves ROI, and proposes scaled impact with a clear budget. This isn't high-pressure—it's an invitation to continue mutual success, often leading to 70%+ conversion rates and recurring funding. By positioning as their CSR partner, you unlock transformational support (e.g., quarterly grants becoming core initiatives).

Expect 45-60 minutes: 15 min gathering data, 20 min drafting the report, 10 min budgeting/asking, 10 min submitting/follow-up plan. By the end, you'll have a polished PDF ready for your contact, logged in your workbook's new "Funding Ask Tracker" tab (add columns: Partner, Report Sent Date, Follow-Up Plan, Status). We'll use the South Carolina financial literacy nonprofit's bank partnership as an example—post-workshop report led to $10K quarterly funding.

Pro Tip: Keep the report 2-4 pages (Google Docs/PDF); use visuals (charts, quotes) for scannability. Base everything on real data from Modules 5-6—no fluff.

Step 1: Gather Your Proof (Pull from Past Wins)

Compile evidence to make ROI undeniable—focus on their benefits first.

Quick Data Audit:

• From Delivery Tracker (Module 6): Metrics (e.g., leads, engagement), testimonials (staff/participant quotes), photos.
• From Value Prop Builder (Module 4): Original prop and projected vs. actual results.
• Guiding Questions:
  • Their ROI: What did they gain? (E.g., "15 new accounts opened.")
  • Shared Impact: Broader outcomes? (E.g., "80% of participants reported improved financial confidence.")
  • Testimonials: 2-3 quotes ready? (E.g., Staff: "Generated real leads"; Participant: "Helped me budget better.")

Transfer to workbook notes.

Time: 15 minutes.

Example (Financial Literacy Nonprofit): Gathered: 15 accounts/50 leads; staff quote: "Workshop access was a game-changer"; participant feedback: "Your bank's tips opened doors."

Step 2: Structure the Report (Past Wins + Proof)

Build the foundation: Recap the partnership and showcase results/testimonials.

Report Outline (Copy to Docs):

1. Header: [Your Org Logo] | Partnership Recap & Proposal | [Date] | To: [Contact Name/Company]
2. Partnership Summary (1/2 page): "We co-executed [prop, e.g., 'a workshop session with your staff co-leading for 200 attendees']. This aligned with your [priority, e.g., 'community growth goals']."
3. Results for You (Their ROI, 1/2 page): Bullets + chart. E.g.,
   • "15 new accounts opened on-site (direct leads)."
   • "50 participant interactions, boosting your local visibility."
   • [Insert bar chart: Leads Generated | Engagement Reach]
4. Shared Impact & Testimonials (1/2 page): Narrative + quotes. E.g., "Together, we empowered 200 families toward stability. As your rep shared: '[Quote].' Participant: '[Quote].' [Add photo of event]."

Time: 20 minutes to draft.

Example Snippet (Financial Literacy): "Your team's 10-min slot sparked conversations—resulting in 15 accounts and glowing feedback: 'This collaboration drove tangible community ties,' per Sarah."

Step 3: Propose Scale & Extras (Future Value)

Transition to "Let's do more"—add benefits to sweeten recurring.

Step-by-Step:

1. Propose Expansion: "Building on success, let's scale to [e.g., 'monthly workshops with co-branded webinars']."
2. Extra Benefits: Unprompted wins (e.g., "Include quarterly ROI reports for your CSR deck").
3. Expected Results: Quantify: "Anticipate 100+ leads/year; enhanced ESG metrics via joint stories."
4. Tie to Recurring: "Structure as quarterly funding for sustained impact—your program as our CSR anchor."

Time: Included in draft.

Example: "Scale to bi-weekly: Project 60 leads/quarter + co-webinars for broader reach."

Step 6: Supercharge with Grok (Draft Acceleration)

Use AI to polish sections.

Prompt Template: Report Generator

"Grok, draft a 2-page funding proposal report for [nonprofit, e.g., 'financial literacy org']. Partnership recap: [brief co-execution, e.g., 'workshop with bank staff']. Their ROI: [metrics, e.g., '15 accounts']. Impact: [e.g., '200 families empowered']. Testimonials: [2 quotes]. Proposal: [scale, e.g., 'monthly sessions']. Budget: [table details]. Ask: [$X recurring]. Tone: Collaborative, data-driven. Output: Full markdown sections with placeholders for visuals."

Sample Proposal: Bank of America & Cradles to Crayons

Here's a realistic sample based on their 20+ year partnership (since 2005 in Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia), where co-events and drives delivered essentials to over 1 million low-income children, leading to multi-year grants and volunteer matching. Imagine this as a post-2024 drive report proposing 2025 expansion—adapt to your voice

Your Action Item: Draft & Submit One Ask

• Today: Gather data for 1 partner, draft full report using template (one manual, tweak with Grok if needed). Submit via email.
• Track: Log in Funding Ask Tracker; plan first follow-up.
• Milestone: Report sent? You're at 80% to funding—celebrate the proof!
• Download/print the template. 
• Like Bank of America's 20-year evolution with Cradles to Crayons, your asks will spark enduring alliances.
• Module 8: Stewarding for longevity. Ask with confidence!