Sustainability Strategies: First 5 LA Grantees Nominated for "Fast Pitch" CompetitionOctober 26, 2009 |
Printer-friendly version |
 Can you summarize your organization's mission in three minutes or less? Telling a meaningful story quickly under pressure is a skill that many nonprofits need to develop and perfect to stay financially afloat when competing for resources. To help local nonprofits work on this skill, three Los Angeles County agencies - Los Angeles Social Venture Partners, Social Enterprise Institute, and USC Stevens Institute for Innovation - have collaborated to host a two-month training and mentoring program for innovative nonprofits, teaching them how to succinctly and powerfully "tell their story." The program, Social Innovation Fast Pitch, is currently training leaders from more than 20 L.A. County-based organizations to compete in a "fast-pitch competition and showcase" on Nov. 11. The goal of the competition is to build the capacity of organizations and raise the visibility of the social entrepreneurs who lead them. Participating organizations were nominated because of their innovative approach to creating social change and their potential for significant positive community impact. At the showcase, finalists will compete for grants of up to $10,000 by presenting a three-minute "pitch" to a panel of judges and an audience of more than 300 people, including investors, business and nonprofit leaders, and members of the local philanthropic community. Competition finalists will be announced on Oct 30. Three of 13 nominated First 5 LA-affiliated organizations were chosen to participate in the training and mentoring portion of the program, and hope to be selected for the finals. All three agencies have participated in First 5 LA's Grantee Technical Assistance Institute where they gained some preliminary "fast-pitch" experience. Two of the organizations, Compton Junior Posse and Free Arts for Abused Children, participated in last year's First 5 LA Sustainability Project, which culminated in a forum where participants presented their sustainability plans to a panel of experts. The third organization, the Center for Nonviolent Education and Parenting, participated in the Social Enterprise Academy, a year long program at the end of which participants presented their proposed business venture to a panel of business experts and potential financial backers. To learn more about Social Innovation Fast Pitch, and to purchase tickets for the showcase on Nov. 11 click here. First 5 LA wants to wish everyone in the competition good luck. |
|
Comments
Post new comment