Nail Your Pitch: Tips for Nonprofits Presenting to 100 Women Who Care Knoxville

Pitching to 100 Women Who Care is a unique opportunity for Knoxville area nonprofits to secure significant funding in just five minutes. With $10,000 or more at stake, your presentation needs to be compelling, concise, and memorable.

Here are a few pitch tips for nonprofits presenting to100 Women Who Care Knoxville:

1. Tell a story: Numbers are important, but emotions drive decisions. Share a powerful anecdote that showcases your impact. When crafting your story, consider using trauma-informed storytelling techniques:

   • Focus on resilience and growth: Highlight how individuals or communities have overcome challenges with your support.

   • Respect privacy: Use pseudonyms and avoid overly specific details that could identify vulnerable individuals.

   • Empower, don't victimize: Frame your subjects as survivors and/or active participants in their journey, not passive recipients of help.

   • Seek consent: Ensure you have permission to share stories, even in anonymized form.

   
   

2. Be specific: Explain exactly how you'll use the funds. Concrete plans resonate more than vague promises. When detailing your plans, break down the $10,000 into tangible outcomes. For example:

   • "This funding will provide 500 nutritious meals for homebound seniors."

   • "We'll use $5,000 to upgrade our computer lab with 10 new workstations, and $5,000 to fund a part-time instructor for our after-school coding program."

   • "The grant will cover a year's worth of art supplies for our therapy sessions, serving approximately 200 at-risk youth."

   
   

   By providing this level of detail, you demonstrate thoughtful planning and give donors a clear vision of their impact. It also shows financial responsibility and transparency, which can boost confidence in your organization.

   
   

3. Show, don't just tell (optional!): Use visuals or props to bring your message to life. A picture is worth a thousand words, especially when time is tight.

   
   

4. Practice, practice, practice: Five minutes fly by. Rehearse until your delivery is smooth and confident. That could include some combination of:

   • Timing yourself: Use a stopwatch to ensure you stay within the 5-minute limit. It's often surprising how quickly time passes when you're speaking.

   • Recording yourself: Use your phone to video your practice sessions. This helps you spot areas for improvement in your delivery and body language.

   • Use a mirror: Practice in front of a mirror to become aware of your facial expressions and gestures.

   • Memorize key points, not a script: Aim to internalize your main points rather than memorizing word-for-word. This keeps your delivery natural and flexible.

     
     

5. Bring your passion: Your enthusiasm is contagious. Let your genuine love for your cause shine through.

   
   

6. Have a clear call-to-action: End with a strong, memorable statement about why they should choose you.

   
   

7. Be prepared for questions: There's often a brief Q&A. Anticipate potential queries and have concise answers ready.

   
   

8. Pitch other organizational needs: It's more than ok to also mention what other support and help you need, as you never know who's sitting in the room. Need a new logo? Bookkeeping assistance? Volunteers for an upcoming event? Let us know!

Remember, even if you're not chosen this time, you've introduced your nonprofit to 100+ potential supporters. Make connections and follow up – you never know where it might lead.

Good luck and may the best pitch win!