Make a Case/Pitch an Idea

Help someone decide whether an idea, project, partnership, policy, investment, or opportunity deserves action.

Your Pathway

1. Decision → 2. Audience → 3. Stakes → 4. Evidence → 5. Possibility → 6. Alternatives → 7. Ask

1. Decision

What decision are you trying to influence?

Avoid:

We want them to support the project.

Prefer:

We want the university president to authorize the university to host a Climate Action Lab.

2. Audience

Who can make or influence the decision?

What matters to them?

What constraints do they face?

3. Stakes

What challenge makes action necessary?

What happens if nothing changes?

Do not exaggerate.

4. Evidence

Separate:

What We Know

What We Have Observed

What We Believe

What We Still Don't Know

ASG's voice should remain grounded in evidence, experience, and local wisdom.

5. Possibility

Show what could become possible.

Avoid presenting communities or institutions only through deficits.

6. Alternatives

Ask:

Why might a reasonable person disagree?

Consider alternative approaches and credible objections.

7. Ask

Make the next step explicit.

Approve

Fund

Partner

Join

Host

Pilot

Meet

Explore

Package the Case

Depending on the decision maker, turn the case into:

One-Page Brief

Decision Memo

Presentation

Infographic

Proposal

Executive Summary

For presentations, one-pagers, and visual briefs:

[Open Shared Canva →]

Use the appropriate ASG, Lab, or partner template. For co-branded materials, maintain balanced recognition of ASG, relevant Labs, and partners.

You're Done When

The decision maker understands:

the challenge, the evidence, the possibility, the uncertainty, and the decision being asked of them.