Sample Funding Case Deck
Exactly what the deck builder gives you, built from made-up numbers for a fictional county: Key Takeaways, What to Do Next and nine slides with speaker notes.
This Is a Sample Deck
Built from made-up numbers for a fictional county asking its commissioners to restore a budget cut. You get the same Key Takeaways, What to Do Next and nine slides. One number is left blank on purpose, so you can see how placeholders work.
Sample Funding Case Deck
Built for Sample County Tourism. Nine slides: your local numbers first, national context from the 2026 State of Rural Tourism Survey, then your ask and what you’ll report back. Talking points are in the speaker notes.
Key Takeaways
Your ask: restore $60,000 in tourism funding. You present to County Commissioners on February 10, 2027.
Your strongest number: visitors pay about $268 in state and local taxes for every household in Sample County. Lead with it on slide 2.
Still to fill in: tourism jobs (slide 2).
County officials weigh their own county’s numbers most. Keep slides 2 and 7 on screen the longest.
As part of local government, frame the ask as a line item that pays for itself. Compare it with the visitor taxes on slide 2.
What to Do Next
Five steps between this draft and the meeting, in order.
1
Fill Each [Placeholder] or Cut the Slide
Why: A bracket on screen tells the room the deck isn’t finished.
How to start: Still missing: tourism jobs (slide 2). Search the PowerPoint for “[” to find them. If you can’t find a number in time, delete it rather than guess.
2
Check Your Numbers and Print the Sources
Why: Someone will ask where a number came from, and a printed source settles it.
How to start: Match each figure on slide 2 against its source (State tourism economic impact study, 2025; county treasurer). Bring a printed copy of the page each one came from.
3
Send the Deck Ahead If Allowed
Why: People who read it first ask better questions and remember your ask.
How to start: Ask the clerk when materials are due for the agenda packet, and send a PDF by then.
4
Practice It in Ten Minutes
Why: Most commissions and councils give you less time than you expect.
How to start: Run through it out loud once with a timer, using the speaker notes. If it runs long, trim slides 5 and 6 first. Keep your local numbers and the ask.
5
Follow Up Within a Week
Why: A short follow-up keeps your ask in front of them when they decide.
How to start: Send a one-page summary of slides 2, 7 and 8: your local numbers, your ask and what you’ll report back. Answer any question you couldn’t in the room, and put the first report date on your calendar.
Your Nine Slides
Gray text in [brackets] is a placeholder to fill in or cut. The PowerPoint has the same slides with talking points in the speaker notes.
Ask Other DirectorsSee how other rural tourism offices made their case to commissioners, councils and boards, and what worked.Join the Community Forum →Read the Full ReportThe 2026 State of Rural Tourism report behind these national figures. Free.Read the Research →See How You CompareTwo minutes to see how your budget and staff compare with rural tourism offices like yours.Get Your Free Benchmark →
Need local numbers you can defend? Our Tourism Value Brief traces your county’s figures to primary sources in a short report your officials can keep.
National figures: 2026 State of Rural Tourism Survey, Rural Tourism Network. 116 rural destination marketing organizations and 82 chambers of commerce, economic development groups and local governments, fielded July to November 2026. Local figures are the ones you entered.