You’ve got 5 minutes to MAKE YOUR PITCH so make it COUNT!:
Whether you are the founder, a volunteer or a donor that is hands off, if you are going to be the representative to pitch the group for funding your organization/group, you need to know what you do and how you do it. In a matter of 5 minutes you’ve got to be able to describe what your organization is all about, what kind of impact it makes on the community, and what the organization will specifically do with the money given to it. The women sitting in this room have come and are committed to 100 Women Who Care BECAUSE of the simplicity, the quick decisiveness and the camaraderie of seeing all the great work in Erie County. Use the time you have given to make a huge impact. Even if your organization isn’t chosen as the benefactor for the night, you have had the audience of change makers in Erie County…..use it wisely.
1) Know the FACTS!
Practice your presentation. You need to be able to tell the story of the work your organization does in under 1 minute. People get lost easily by drawn out explanations. Write down what they do, how they do it and who is affected. Then wrap that around a few sentences and voila! you’ve got your pitch. Be prepared, concise and confident. The lack of clarity can do more to hurt the organization you are trying to help by confusing those hearing about it for the first time.
2) Tell the HEART story!
Think of a way to tie in a personal story of those your organization impacts with the work they do so that the group has a very clear understanding and then a connection to that work. As you prepare, write down WHY you are involved? Why does it matter to you and who/what have you seen change in the times you have been involved that have mattered to you? If it matters to you, it will probably matter to someone else. Write down a short story of how the work of the organization directly made a change and time it…get it under one minute and PRACTICE it.
3) Show them the MONEY!
Where will the money go! The people in the room are ready to make a wise choice about where they donate. Give a strong description of what the funds will be supporting. It could be general operating budget to help grow a new local organization, it could be for materials to distribute as a part of the programs work. Taking the time to find out where the money will go pays off in the long run and will give you the confidence to stand up and make your pitch to the group. Be prepared that you may be pressed further during the Q&A period.