elevator speech nonprofit organization

5 Tips for Developing Your Nonprofit Elevator Pitch + Examples

An elevator pitch, or a “30-second commercial,” is a brief and concise description of your nonprofit that you can use to quickly introduce your organization to potential donors, partners, and supporters. It’s an important tool for entrepreneurs who want to make the most of every opportunity you have to promote your nonprofit. In this article, we’ll provide tips for developing your nonprofit elevator pitch, as well as examples of nonprofit elevator pitches that have been effectively used to promote organizations.

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Why Do You Need an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is a valuable tool for nonprofit entrepreneurs because it allows you to succinctly describe your organization and its mission in a way that can be easily understood by others. When you’re able to clearly and concisely communicate the purpose of your nonprofit, it becomes an integral part of your nonprofit communication plan . This skill will enable you to effectively engage potential donors and partners and, as a result, generate support for your cause, ensuring the success and growth of your nonprofit organization.

Essential Elements of an Elevator Pitch

When crafting your nonprofit elevator pitch, there are a few essential elements that should be included:

– Hook: An attention-grabbing statement that will pique the interest of your listener and make them want to learn more about your nonprofit.

– Cause: A brief explanation of the problem you’re trying to solve with your nonprofit.

– Solution: A description of how your nonprofit is working to address the problem.

– Impact: A mention of the difference your nonprofit is making in the lives of those it serves.

– Call-to-Action: A request for support, whether it be through volunteering, donating, or spreading the word about your nonprofit.

5 Tips to Develop Your Nonprofit Elevator Pitch

Now that you understand the essential elements of an elevator pitch, here are five tips to help you craft an effective nonprofit elevator pitch of your own:

Explain Your Cause and Mission

When developing your nonprofit elevator pitch, it’s important to start by clearly explaining the cause your nonprofit is fighting for and the mission that drives your work. This will help your listener understand what you’re working to achieve and why it’s important.

Show Your Passion and Emotion

Your nonprofit elevator pitch should be passionate and emotional, as this will help engage your listener and make them care about your cause. When you’re able to show how much your nonprofit means to you, it’s more likely that others will be inspired to get involved.

Give Examples of the Impact of Your Nonprofit

In order to effectively communicate the impact of your nonprofit, give specific examples of the difference you’re making in the lives of those you serve. This will help paint a picture of the real-world difference your nonprofit is making and why support is needed.

Differentiate Yourself From Similar Nonprofits

There are likely other nonprofits working on similar causes as your own. When crafting your nonprofit elevator pitch, be sure to highlight what makes your organization unique and why you’re the best nonprofit to support.

Keep It Concise

Remember that an elevator pitch is supposed to be brief, so be sure to keep your nonprofit elevator pitch concise. The goal is to communicate the most important information about your nonprofit in a way that can be easily understood and remembered.

Examples Of Great Nonprofit Elevator Pitches

Here are a few examples of nonprofit elevator pitches that effectively communicate the mission and impact of a nonprofit organization:

“Our nonprofit provides job training and placement services to low-income individuals in our community. We’ve helped hundreds of people find good jobs and start new careers, and we’re just getting started. With your support, we can do even more to help those in need.”

“We’re a nonprofit working to end homelessness in our city. We provide housing and support services to homeless individuals and families, and we’ve seen firsthand the difference our work can make. Please join us in our efforts to end homelessness.”

“Our nonprofit provides after-school and summer programs for kids in our community. We believe that all children deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential, and our programs are making a difference in the lives of kids every day. With your support, we can do even more.”

As you can see, each of these nonprofit elevator pitches effectively communicates the organization’s mission, describes the problem they’re trying to solve and highlights their impact. By following these tips, you can craft an effective nonprofit elevator pitch of your own that will help you engage potential donors and partners and generate support for your cause.

The Big Mistake That’s Hurting Your Nonprofit (and How to Fix It)

by Joan Garry

There’s a simple question you get asked all the time. It comes up nearly every time you meet somebody new. At cocktail parties. Restaurants. Fundraisers. Everywhere.

If you handle it the right way, it can be enormously valuable to you and your nonprofit. More volunteers. More donations. More engagement, awareness, and interest. You know… all those things you desire and worry about and pay money for. Money that could be going to your programs instead.

But you’re blowing it.

And you’re not alone. If what I see at the many board and staff retreats I run is true, it turns out most nonprofit people are messing this up.

So what exactly am I talking about? And if this is so valuable, how can I fix it?

Don’t worry. It’s easy to fix. Read on to find out how.

WHAT DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION DO?

I’m at a fundraising dinner and begin chatting with the woman to my right. “So what do you do?” Turns out she runs a nonprofit. The mission isn’t obvious from the title of the organization. “Tell me what your organization is about.”

15 minutes later. Yes, 15 minutes later. And I still had no answer to my question.

Be forewarned. I can be a pretty blunt dinner companion. I gently stopped her.

“Would you mind answering the question again? And this time, would you pretend that I am ten years old?” (Since there’s a ten year old trapped inside me, this question comes naturally.)

Every single solitary time a board member or staff member is asked the question, “Tell me a little bit about your organization,” there is a big fat opportunity. So why do I rarely get a simple, direct answer?

“So tell me a little about your organization.”

A simple enough question. You’d think this would be a lay up for any executive director or board member.

WHAT YOU’RE DOING WRONG

Here are a few ways you’re messing up your nonprofit elevator pitch.

I teach a nonprofit communications class at the University of Pennsylvania and I have my students read a book called Made to Stick   (highly recommend it – quick read). In it the authors talk about what they call the “ curse of knowledge ” — a presumption that your listener is inside your head, your sector, your organization.

2. Provide a List

An example would be nice, but really what I want is one or two sentences I can hold onto so that when I get home and tell my wife that I was at an event and met this really interesting woman who worked at the ABC Organization, I can tell her something that makes her say, “Wow. That sounds like a great organization.”

Lists don’t get that kind of reaction. Just sayin.

3. Lead With Your Vision

Let’s assume your organization has a vision (sometimes not a great assumption, I am sad to say.) If you start way too broadly, you can either emotionally paralyze your dinner companion or cause a shut down. “Our organization is working to end slavery.”

I’m not sure what question to ask as a follow up. And by the way, as a relatively intelligent individual (with a tendency for snappy retorts), I’m keeping myself from saying “Good luck with that.”

So you can’t get too specific and you can’t go too broad. And you have to assume I’m ten.

So what DO you do?

THE RECIPE FOR A STRONG ELEVATOR PITCH

1. Change the Question

What an ‘aha moment’ during my media training before a national television interview. “You do not have to answer the question you are asked,” I was told. “Just figure out a way to answer the question you think SHOULD be asked.”OK, so I might ask you: “What does your organization do?” This question leads to a list. Or it leads to the paralyzing vision. So pretend that what I actually say is, “Tell me about your organization.” This gives you the opportunity to tell me what you want to tell me. And besides, that is the question I really want to know the answer to.

2. Take Your Mission and Bring it To Life

If you start your answer with, “Our mission is…,” while I may not actually get up and head to the bar, in my head I’m thinkin’ cosmo.Instead, how about a sentence that starts with “We work to ….” Take my friends (and clients) at The Somaly Mam Foundation . If you are lucky enough to meet one of their talented staff members at an event, you might hear them say: “We are working to end human sex trafficking in Cambodia with the help of www.oklahomalegalgroup.com . We help victims to escape, we help these young girls rebuild their lives and achieve economic independence. And we engage with the government and corporations to fix the root cause. Because we know if we can do that in Cambodia, we’ll be on the road to ending sex slavery for good.”

3. Ask Your Own Question

Once you’ve brought your mission to life, let me take it in for a second and then turn it on me. Ask me a question. I’m a fan of “Did you know…” questions. For the Somaly Mam Foundation, it may be a question to make a point about the scope and magnitude of sex trafficking worldwide. If you work for an organization that advocates for kids, maybe you ask me something about MY kids.This question and exchange engages me and provides implicit permission from me for you to keep talking. You have changed this from a monologue to a discussion. You’ve just bought yourself time to tell me more.

4. Give Me One Example 

Clear, quick and simple. Here are two examples:

We just opened a beauty salon in Cambodia in partnership with Estee Lauder. Our girls are learning marketable skills and learning to run a business. Estee Lauder has been an amazing partner. ( www.somaly.org )

We lobbied the New York Times to include same sex couples on its wedding pages. ( www.glaad.org )

5. Let Your Passion Come Through

This is critical. If by any chance you have engaged me in a deeper way, I want to hear that you love what you do, that the work is hard and rewarding, that while there is never enough time or resources, it’s a privilege to do the work. You just might get me to ask if I can help.

6. Practice Makes Perfect

Practice kid, practice. Practice with your board at board meetings, with your staff at staff meetings. This is not a luxury item. Each of you is an ambassador and you have to get this right.

You have to get me at hello.

SO, WHAT DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION DO?

I have a question for you. Tell me about your organization. What does it do?

Go ahead, give me your elevator pitch in the comments (below.) Give some feedback to others who have already commented.

Let’s start a really great conversation so we can all help each other get better at this and grow our nonprofits.

211 thoughts on “The Big Mistake That’s Hurting Your Nonprofit (and How to Fix It)”

Joan, I usually say something like this: Gay Men’s Health Crisis provides men, women, and youth affected by HIV and AIDS in the New York City area with the services they need to stay healthy. We work with people who are both HIV negative and positive, and we provide testing, nutrition, legal, mental health and education services all day long at our two centrally located offices in Manhattan. We also advocate at the local, state and national level to make sure that people affected by HIV are treated equally and fairly. As the world’s first HIV and AIDS service organization we are experts in providing the services that every person affected by the epidemic deserves. You may have recently seen our groundbreaking work with young gay men of color featured on the front page of the New York Times in December. Can I take your card so I can send you an invitation to AIDS Walk NY in May? So in my speech there are a few things I always trying to work in. First, that we serve woman because some people still think we only serve men because of our name. Next, I do a quick list of our services since not enough people know that we provide a full complement of services, including meals and mental health counseling. Finally, I always try and ask for a card and to work in AIDS Walk because so many people in the NYC area have some connection with AIDS walk, and its a great way to get people involved.

So for other readers, Seth is a development director. He SHOULD be really good at this 🙂 But of course as I noted above, it is sadly often the case that folks are not. Seth – I was wondering if you could lose the NYT piece to shorten it. But I get why you included it – it’s about “front page NYT.” The one question I did have for Seth is about the title of the org. Do you always go with Gay Mens Health Crisis? Why not just GMHC? Lastly, thank you so much for sharing your pitch.

Joan, my answer is usually much shorter. (Maybe the line at my Starbucks isn’t as long as other places). I will usually state: Declarations provides homes and support services to individuals with disabilities throughout NJ.

I’m fairly new to this, but I absolutely love your blog and think your feedback on my elevator pitch would be invaluable! So, here goes… Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is a nonprofit on the coast of Maine. Our scientists seek to understand the processes driving global oceans and how the oceans relate to life on Earth. The scientists at the Laboratory come from all over the world to conduct their research, which focuses mainly on microbial oceanography – examining the smallest organisms in the ocean such as phytoplankton, algae, and viruses. Bigelow is also the home to one of the world’s largest collections of algae and sells these strains to other academic & research institutions and industry partners, such as pharmaceutical companies. At any given time, our scientists can be found out in the field from the polar regions to the South Pacific, collecting data to bring back to our state of the art laboratory facilities for analyzation. The new, LEED Platinum building houses some of the most advanced technology for single-cell sorting and genomics studies in the world. Some of the most important, current debates are surrounding ocean acidification, climate change, and ocean health – and at Bigelow Laboratory we’re studying the most fundamental pieces of those puzzles and helping to increase the world’s understanding of these ecosystems. It’s a bit long, I know. I try to point out right away that we are indeed a nonprofit (many people think we are a government-funded org due to gov’t research grants). Also, I like to note that we are located in Maine but do research all over the globe. Very much looking forward to everyone’s remarks – thank you!

Love this post, Joan. Here’s mine for Immigration Equality. Would love to hear feedback from others about how this lands: Immigration Equality advocates at the intersection of three of the most potent civil rights issues of our time: LGBT, HIV, and immigration rights. We opened our free legal hotline in 1994 with three goals: 1) End the HIV travel ban, which barred anyone with HIV from entering the United States –even as a tourist even for one day (If there is time, I will ask if they can guess the one exception to that law. The short answer was that if you are straight, you could apply for a waiver.) 2) Win green cards for the husbands and wives of gay people. Until last summer, our families were force to make the impossible decision between family and country. 3) Make asylum a possibility for gay and transgender people fleeing for the lives and seeking safety in the United states. We achieved the first goal in 2010, the second last summer, and the third ongoing goal is the core of our work moving forward. As things get worse for LGBT people in places Nigeria, India, Russia, calls to our hotline skyrocket. Fortunately, we 99% of our cases.

I also wanted to share this much shorter pitch one of my favorite colleagues uses: In 76 countries around the world it is a crime to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. For LGBT and HIV-positive people, being out or being outed is life-threatening. Immigration Equality is proud to be the national leader in the field we pioneered: LGBT immigration rights. Every day we support gay and transgender asylum seekers, detainees and binational couples by providing expert pro bono legal counsel. We also fight to change the systems that hurt our families.

Long Island Arts Alliance is an alliance of not-for-profit cultural organizations that works to support arts and arts education on Long Island. We curate an online events calendar – ArtsAliveLI.org – celebrate each October as “Arts Month” on Long Island and provide professional development and support for our region’s artists and art educators. We also give scholarships to high school students who excel in both the arts and academics. In 2014 we launched a monthly half-hour television program -Arts Alive LI Presents – about our region’s cultural arts destinations and the impact of the arts on economic development. How’s that?

Hi Jim. Thanks for sharing this with us. Some constructive feedback? Short is great (and I need to know the address of this Starbucks with a short line 🙂 Two observations. (1) I’d like to know a specific example or a few examples (list) of services you provide. I might want to know either how many people you house or the # of clients you serve each year (2) I’m fascinated by the title of your organization. While I’m waiting for my latte, I will definitely ask. Not sure you should add to the pitch though. Wonder what other readers think? Thanks again.

Valerie. Thanks for jumping into the conversation. You’re right it is long and my latte would no longer be hot 🙂 but you have a lot to communicate and it’s quite technical. So you have a tough job. Some thoughts from me and then perhaps others. If you want folks to know about the global reach, tell em right up front. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is a nonprofit on the coast of Maine that does research worldwide OR that brings researchers from around the world together to….. To what? your next sentence is technical and vague. Pretend I am 10 years old. What problem are you trying to solve? You are trying to understand the processes IN THE SERVICE OF SOLVING WHAT PROBLEM? As for the rest of it, take the language out of the lab and put it at a kitchen table. What difference is your work making to me in my life or to my kids and the world I will leave behind. This might help you rethink the pitch. Hope this is helpful

Hia Win. I like this even though it is a bit long. I like that you illustrate that you are a winner. I would love one statistic that tells me how big the asylum problem is (est # of folks seeking safe haven in the U.S. each year?). I think your last line is so powerful but opens with ‘fortunately.’ How about “I am proud to say that we win 99% of our cases.” Other reactions?

I really like this for Starbucks. I don’t need to know that 2 of your three things are done. I need to know what you are doing, how good you are at and that you do this work PRO BONO (missing from the longer version btw). The state about the 76 countries is crazy powerful.

I REALLY like this one. I get what you do in that first sentence. And each of your brief examples are very clear and cover a broad range of program work. I’m not sure I would change a word. I’d be interested in what others think.

Joan, thank you. i do move between GMHC and Gay Men’s Health Crisis based on the audience, but for the right person including gay, health and crisis is important. I’d add that part of the elevator pitch is about reading your audience. It’s not a race to get through the whole thing, but rather you want to read the body language and facial expression of the person you’re talking to in an attempt to find out what is resonating.

“Many Voices is creating a movement for gay and transgender (or LGBT) justice from within the Black church.” Usually I pause, because it takes a moment for that to sink in, and for the person to have some reaction, and then I go from there, responding to whatever they express. Usually I go on with something like, “A lot of Black pastors want to be supportive but don’t feel equipped to respond to questions about the Bible, or how can they say that as a Christian? So we provide a safe space in a Black church context for pastors to get up to speed and then speak out publicly. Also, because Black LGBT people haven’t shared their lives that much, we’re sharing their stories through a really powerful video campaign. If you like, you can see them at our website, manyvoices.org.” Would LOVE feedback. Thanks so much for this conversation.

Thanks for the feedback and for your wonderful blog! It’s so extremely helpful and in this case, great to know I’m on the right track!

Joan, Thanks for the feedback. In my experience, shorter has always been better. With the longer speeches, one runs the risk of sounded too rehearsed. I have found that this “answer” usually results in additional questions similar to the one’s you posed. Hence, more buy in to the conversation. If no follow up questions are asked, the odds where they would have tuned out in the middle of a longer elevator speech. (I formerly worked at an agency that had an a long speech and I could see where people tuned out). As for the name of the organization, our role for our consumers is to help them gain their independence. As our founding fathers taught us, independence starts with Declarations.

Ann. Your first sentence really grabs me!!! I want to know more. When I hear more, I learn that the work is about pastors. Even more interested. So why not put the pastors in the opening sentence – right up front. And when you get to the ‘how,’ it gets a bit fuzzy. “Provide a safe space in a Black church for pastors to get up to speed…” Not clear enough to me WHAT you do. I totally get that Many Voices works with pastors inside Black churches to create a movement for LGBT justice. Compelling mission. But I want more specific examples of HOW you do that. And to keep it shorter, you could drop the sentence that explains WHY. Lastly, in the HOW, if you can drop in SCOPE or MAGNITUDE of impact. Last year we trained over X pastors in over Y cities….. Happy to keep this conversation going.

I am so very glad you find the blog helpful. It’s very gratifying to hear.

Love that. Independence starts with declarations. Keep up the good work Jim. And thanks for being a part of my subscriber tribe!

I’m curious why you think it’s good to drop the “why.” I’ve seen compelling evidence that people care much more why do you something than how you do it. Great TED talk on this – http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html

Hey Scott. I think it depends on your opening. Sometimes the ‘why’ is implicit in the brief description. Or can be folded into one of the examples. That’s what I was going for with Ann. Build in scope and magnitude into one of your examples and it covers the ‘why’ and the ‘what.’ If you look at Win Chesson’s pitch for Immigration Equality, the shorter one, he starts with the why. It’s not an exact science. And I will definitely check out this Ted Talk.

Sense of Security provides financial assistance to Colorado breast cancer patients in treatment so they can focus on rest and recovery. Basically, we pay their bills, things like rent or mortgage, gas & groceries and other basic living expenses. (pause to let info sink in) Over the past 14 years, we have served more than 1,000 patients by providing $1.5 million towards housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, COBRA or insurance premiums. We are proud that our services allow patients to stay in their homes and have enough good food to nourish themselves and their families. We are small but mighty, and all funds raised stay in Colorado.

Liz. Home run elevator pitch. Did it come to you naturally or was there a process to develop this. You cover SO much turf in two short paragraphs. Is your board as good at this as you are??? Congrats. This is really great.

Thank you so much, Joan. There was definitely a process behind our pitch’s development – last year we undertook a Branding committee initiative, and conducted some focus groups with our stakeholders, and most of our board participated as well. We’re still working on streamlining some other aspects, such as our tagline and mission statement, so the process is ongoing, however, it’s encouraging to know that we are moving in the right direction. I’ll be sure to share the good news, and hope our example provides food for thought for others in the nonprofit world.

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Ok, so how can you make a quality pitch for an NPO that you are just starting that has not yet provided services yet?

Great question and easier than you think. Sell the vision. Paint a picture of the roadmap. Get people excited about the journey and ask them to join you on it. Give them vision (“imagine a world with…../ or without…..”) and then give them a taste of the path you are going to take to get there. Position a gift as an opportunity to make this NPO a reality and to start on your way down that path. Hope the advice is helpful. And good luck!

Yes, it is very helpful. Thank you so much.

Hi Joan! Sorry I’m joining the conversation a little late. Just catching up on all the wonderful and very helpful information you share. Here’s what I say: The Foundation for Hope is a community outreach organization helping people dealing with bullying, depression, or suicide. We staff a 24/7 hotline providing support, referrals, and crisis intervention. We raise awareness by hosting public engagements in schools and in the community. And we recently opened the A Place for Hope Community Center in downtown Harrisburg to provide a safe space for people to go for support. Our mission is to create a safety net of support so people dealing with bullying, depression, or suicide know that there are people in our community who care and will do everything in thier power to help them through this tough time in their lives. New at this, so feedback is always welcomed.

Since 1999, we have been providing free legal services to immigrants fleeing violence. We do this through relationships with some of the best lawyers in America, so that with a small intrepid staff of 10 we performed almost 4 million dollars of free legal services. Whether it is a pro democracy activist from Ethiopia who is escaping torture, an immigrant woman escaping domestic violence, or a young teenager from Honduras, escaping gang violence we help them start a new life in the United States.

We at HRI are big supporters of Immigration Equality. We’ve done pro bono legal services for gay asylum seekers here in Dallas. Well done.

Bill. Seems like you have had some practice. I think this is great. I clearly get the WHY and i get enough of the HOW. I also LOVE the ‘small intrepid staff of 10″ and “$4 million in free legal services. This is an organization doing great work that makes a very compelling pitch in just a few short sentences. NIcely done.

First of all, thanks for what you are doing. Your organization is clearly filling an important role in your community. I think you can combine the first and last sentence to tighten it up a bit. The other sentences are great with one exception. I’d love to have some numbers to give me a sense of scope. # of calls that come into the hotline. Maybe something about the vision for center??? To inspire me about your new project. Hope this is helpful.

thanks Joan. This is such a great resource.

Hi. We are starting a brand new school in Boston and this pitch is written as if we are in business even though we are starting in 2015. We are starting to fundraise now and need feedback on how to get donors invested. The Wright School of Boston offers a space where students the tools and skills to tackle today’s problems. Rather than be discouraged and overwhelmed, our students are empowered to be the change in the world. Because we know if we can make our students tomorrow’s innovators, we are really making tomorrow’s leaders. Did you know that anxiety is the number one problem facing children and adolescents today? Did you realize that some of the leading causes of this anxiety are a lack of self-confidence, loss of community, media bombardment, and a lack of ability to know what to do with these negative feelings? One unit we do is a public health campaign. We know that middle school students are bombarded everyday with the lure of junk food and bad dietary choices. But we all know that preaching to adolescents does not work. Through our food unit, students study the food system in America, as well as the political and corporate decisions behind this system and then they create the public health campaign to combat childhood obesity and dietary health problems. We are driven by our desire to help young people navigate the challenges of today’s world by giving them the tools to take charge of their own learning.

Lisa. I’ve been away – sorry for the delay in replying. First off, a noble mission for a school if ever I heard one. I have a few comments about this elevator pitch. 1) Why would you talk about the school in the present tense when it is not up and running? Often donors like to be “angel’ investors in something new and innovative, getting in on a new idea on the ground floor. Do you miss that excitement messaging it THIS way? 2) You make the statement “students are empowered to be the change in the world. I want to know HOW. What are you doing that is different and 3) you talk about anxiety which interests me greatly but not about how your school will grapple with it and then you drive right to public health which feels unrelated. Think about what is really different that will happen at your school that other schools just TALK about. And bring that to life. Condense it. Are you doing coursework on managing anxiety? Now THAT has me very interested! Best of luck and hope this was helpful

VERY helpful! Thank you so much!

you’re welcome!

Shiloh House assists children struggling with behavioral and emotional issues due to neglect and abuse through providing residential treatment that will allow them to transition back into the home if possible or into the foster care system. We provide home like environments with 24/7 awake staff members and have our own on campus schools. Shiloh was founded in 1985 and is the only owner operated facility of our kind still managed by the original owners. Our staff has doubled over the last 5 years allowing us to serve even more children and provide them a safe haven as they heal.

Mountain Circle Family Services is a non-profit community based organization, committed to ensuring stability and life sustaining changes for foster and adoptive children. We also have a therapy program and our only fundraiser is an annual Boston Qualifying Marathon is in Greenville, CA – home to less than 1200 people.

Calgary Crime Stoppers helps keep our community safe by providing an anonymous place for the public to provide law enforcement information regarding criminal activity. Our call centre receives over 10,000 contacts every year which results in 10 new “tips” every day. We offer cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of a wanted person, seizure of illegal drugs and recovery of stolen property. With over 5,000 persons arrested, 13,000 cases cleared and $285,000,000.00 worth of drugs seized our impact is undeniable.

Hia Terry. So first off, I am really glad you do what you do. Second off, you score high marks with this pitch. Can you directly attribute the impact metrics to CCS? These things happened as a result of anonymous tips? Over how long a period of time? If the answer is yes, SAY THAT! makes this even more impressive. Do you have paid staff that man the call centre? Or volunteers? Now I’m just curious. And that is a very good thing indeed. Your pitch made me want to know more!!!!!!! Thanks for writing and hope this was helpful!

Jennifer. Sorry for the late response. So here are some thoughts. First, working with kids is something that people really respond to so if you can bring this pitch to life more, you can really engage lots of folks. What ARE the programs that ensure stability and life sustaining changes? Workshops for parents? Placement? I can’t tell what you do specifically. Don’t include a laundry list but bring the work to life. And therapy for whom? Lastly, an elevator pitch would not typically include info about its annual fundraiser. You could, after a great pitch, talk about your incredible annual event and encourage the prospect to buy a ticket. And I’m not sure I know why the location of the event is important. Remember to use your time wisely and focus on the why and then bring the what to life for me. Thanks for writing.

Lara. Somehow this comment slipped through the cracks for me. So sorry. Hope this response is not too late to be of help. This is a terrific pitch. Really. The only thing you might want to add is what happens after they heal. And what kind of successes have you seen in the kids when they head back to the home? I’m left with a ‘what happens after’ question. But you could use this as a pitch and then in a conversation say “So let me give you an example. A kid came to us xxxxxxx and as a result of our work, she left and xxxxxxx. How wonderful that families have Shiloh to turn to.

Wow. I took our mission statement thinking naively that it would be a great response. I LOVE your comments!!! I’ll work on it.

Glad I could be helpful!

Revised: Mountain Circle is a non-profit organization committed to ensuring stability and life sustaining changes for foster and adoptive children. We offer extensive training to foster parents, programs such as equine therapy and back to school supplies to assist the kids, as well as 24/7 support for the foster parents. We match the children to the parents to help assure positive, long term foster care placements. We have a therapy program that foster children can utilize but is also open to the public. Marriage, family and individual therapy are offered daily at our office.

WAY better!!!!!!!!!! Good luck.

Hi Joan– I feel very fortunate to have found your site– this is something we have struggled with for a long time. Before I give you background, I’d like to hear how effectively we would be communicating with this elevator speech: “Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services– we call it GCB, provides people in Southwest Ohio who have serious mental illnesses, like schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder, the tools and support they need to be healthier, both mentally and physically. With a recent merger now complete, we now provide treatment for substance addictions as well. We are a “one-stop shop” for living more productively with mental illness. From psychiatry and primary care to family counseling and job training, GCB offers a system of hope for our clients and their loved ones.”

“If you look the right way, you will see the promise of a better life for you and me. If you listen, you will learn, Unique Lady’s in Transition is the “RIGHT TURN.” The goals of Unique Lady’s In Transition Resource Center offer to meet the immediate needs to assist women of domestic violence crisis, by establishing a business that will meet them at their cross-road. Our passion is to pay it forward by helping to empower other women that are victims/or survivors of Domestic Violence. Our vision and mission is establishing a business to educate and assure immediate needs to victims.

Lillian. Thanks for joining the conversation. Sounds like you do great work. First, I’m curious why the organization is called Unique Lady’s In Transition rather than Unique Ladies In Transition…. As for your elevator pitch, I am a bit unclear about exactly what you mean by “establishing a business” — do you help women start their own businesses? Do you provide training to these women so they can? And starting a business is time consuming so I’m not clear about how you “assure immediate needs?” I think these are some of the questions you’d get from folks. Hope this is helpful.

Prima Civitas is a statewide nonprofit organization working to strengthen Michigan’s economy. We focus on work in four key economic drivers of the 21st century – talent/workforce development; innovation and initiatives in emerging markets, regional development and global connectivity. We leverage relationships with the public and private sector, educational institutions and other key partners, to act as conveners, connecting assets and working collaboratively as we add capacity to ongoing initiatives and new projects.

We are working to help grieving children and teens who have had a parent or sibling die, to grow up emotionally healthy and able to lead meaningful and productive lives. We provide peer support groups led by adult volunteer facilitators who create a safe environment that allows children to develop health coping skills for dealing with the painful feelings that accompany loss and we advocate on behalf of these children in schools and communities through our Fostering Resilience in Grieving Children workshops and presentations. I believe the world is driven by unresolved grief and that if we can teach children to cope with their pain in healthy ways we will be able to transform grief, loss and trauma into resilience, empathy and compassion, which will create resilient healthy communities. Do you know any children currently coping with loss of any kind? It doesn’t have to be due to death.. it can be divorce, a parent or sibling diagnosed with an illness, or simply not making their team of choice. One of the really cool programs we have is #Here4U where we go into the schools and train students to be peer mentors and have them deliver a workshop about loss and grief with us for their fellow students. Imagine is a labor of love for me. I do this work because there was literally no support 40 years ago for children who were grieving, and I was a child in grief. Actually a teen. My father died of cancer when I was 14 and my brother and I lost years of our lives to unresolved grief. And there was no need for that IF we had gotten support.

Not sure how your comment slipped by me. So sorry. I do try to respond quickly to all comments on the site. First off, your work is so badly needed. So thank you. The elevator pitch is strong, to the point and clear. It’s missing one important element you might consider. Heart. Or maybe facts. “X thousand people in Southwest Ohio struggle with mental illness and substance abuse. Not everyone can afford private counseling or inpatient services. Both of these issues can tear families apart. ” Maybe a sentence or two like this that adds IMPACT and HEART???

Arnold. Sounds like great work. That said, your pitch is very abstract. I want to know HOW you leverage relationships — it’s not clear what you DO. I get the problem. How about a recent success that illustrates the work????

Mary. I admire you for the personal journey that led you to this work. I have family that benefit from organizations like yours. Where is your org? Is it local, national, state-based? Would like to know that. I might lead with your LAST paragraph. Did you found the organization? Say so if you did. That is powerful. I like the example you used ALOT. You could probably edit down the original first paragraph and make it a bit tighter but I would open with your last graph. Lead with THAT at an event and you absolutely have captured my attention and my heart. Best of luck and thanks for what you are doing.

Joan…you asked for an example of the work Prima Civitas does that might describe my elevator pitch. Here is it is: I-69 International Trade Corridor. The Project: Prima Civitas facilitated the coordination of four county governments and 31 municipalities to form the extensive I-69 International Trade Corridor Next Michigan Development Corporation (NMDC). Results: I-69 Corridor earned International Economic Development Council’s Bronze Award. Qualifying businesses benefit from state/local incentives, including real/personal property tax abatements, and tax-free Renaissance Zones. Prima Civitas Vice President Jim Smiertka was recognized in a March 21, 2013 Forbes.com article highlighting the promise of NMDC for the region and state.

Arnold. I love hearing from such a wide diversity of organizations that serve the public interest so thanks for writing. As for your ‘pitch’ you are very clear about what you do and the recognition of the VP offers authority and credibility. What is missing here is the WHY? WHY is what you are doing and accomplishing making a difference? That would help this pitch alot.

Great article, Joan. My pitch below. Looking forward to your feedback! The Alzheimer’s Association Michigan Great Lakes Chapter helps the 170,000 families across 23 Michigan counties currently living with Alzheimer’s disease. We provide amazing resources like our website and 24-7 helpline, free classes on everything from the 10 warning signs to how to talk to your family about your diagnosis, and support groups that connect people who are going through this journey so that they know they’re not alone. Did you know Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, and the only one in the top 10 without a way to prevent, slow, or cure it? And actually, a woman is twice as likely to get Alzheimer’s in her lifetime as she is to get breast cancer. Those facts keep us up at night, which is why we are also fighting every day to increase concern and awareness about the disease and encouraging the government to increase funding for research so we can find a cure and end Alzheimer’s once and for all.

The New Albany (IN) UEA has many responsibilities, first among them being downtown revitalization. But we have others as well. Under my tutelage the enterprise zone experienced an estimated $26 Million in private and public investment and an estimated 1,500+ jobs increase while property values increased by an estimated 200% between 2006-2012. Other important project include increasing the skill set of our existing workforce, educating new entrepreneurs about our community and working with the state university to educate potential high school and college-age want-to-be entrepreneurs about the pros and pit-falls of business start-ups and ownership. We accomplished our goals by engaging and connecting potential business leaders with existing community business and political leaders through a series of meeting and seminars that discussed opportunities within a community in the midst of revitalization.

I am late to the party, but good advice is timeless. Here is the 30 second elevator speech I wrote today, using Joan Garry’s advice: “Roots Ethiopia is working to build a poverty free world. We believe there should be no barriers to Ethiopian families succeeding in work and at school. We help families send their children to school, we help women create valuable local market work, and we join with communities to improve their schools so everyone has a chance to learn! We know that if we do this in rural Ethiopia, we are building economic and educational equality worldwide. We are a smart and small organization with strong local leadership in Ethiopia. We have 100 kids in school, 114 women led businesses, and 7 schools with stand-out learning resources. We are change-makers!

The Ladies of Like Minds Community Coalition partner with women, women organizations and other nonprofit organizations to raise money and awareness through our Adopt-A-Prom Program, Great Give Away Program and coming soon the 419 Program. The Adopt-A-Prom Program focus on senior high school girls who need financial assistance with their prom. Through the Great Give Away program women who have been affected by human trafficing and teen mothers have recieved needed donations and funding. The 419 Program is a referral system that will be developed help mothers and girls in need.

I’m super late… Family Assistance for Renaissance Men (FARM) is a non-profit organization committed to developing relationships between fathers and their children. We are rehabilitating the thought processes of fathers and helping them to identify and step into their vital role in the lives of their children. We provide father accountability counseling as well as father & child relationship building activities. We can also offer support for fathers to reach their educational and skills training goals. FARM assists with legal adjudication and child support arrearages and we help fathers to secure safe housing. We are the ray of hope to keep fathers connected with their children – physically, financially and emotionally.

Muscatine Center for Social Action is a nonprofit organization in Muscatine, Iowa, that annually serves more than 700 men, women and children through its homeless and domestic violence shelters and other programming. After nearly 25 years in our community, we are known locally as MCSA. In addition to our shelters, we offer a Homeless Prevention Program and rent 35 dorm rooms to men over age 18 who have steady incomes and need affordable longterm housing. We are also home to a vision clinic for low-income adults, a pediatric dental clinic and a mental-health counseling office. MCSA is dedicated to serving those in need. I am the deputy director and my duties include fundraising, grant writing, marketing and public relations.

Hi Joan, I just came across this wonderful post and wanted to share our elevator pitch in case you’re still checking the comments. Our organization is all over the place with our offering and this process has been a challenge. Thanks for your advice! The Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC) is a non-profit association for colleges and universities providing services to make their jobs visible and accessible to the most talented and diverse candidates. We work to create shared resources like our job board and dual-career network so members can make the most of their recruitment efforts and investments. Our members are our stakeholders and their success is what inspires our work every day. For fifteen years, we have fostered an innovative peer-network of human resources, faculty affairs, and diversity leaders. With a growing community of 17 regions, 700 institutions and 4,000 professionals, we never lack in inspiration and learning opportunities to advance our shared goals to achieve equity and excellence.

The Faison Center gives each individual with Autism Spectrum Disorder the best chance to improve their life’s journey. We believe that individuals with ASD can lead productive and meaningful lives and Faison is committed to providing the tools to make that possible. Our services span the life cycle and include early intervention, full time day school, life skills and employment training, consultation, adult day services and residential options. The most recent feather in our cap is the Faison Residence which offers supported, semi-independent living to individuals on the spectrum. Everything we do is research driven – we only use proven strategies that deliver results. In keeping with our holistic approach, The Faison Center also serves the Greater Richmond community and Central Virginia by developing autism education practices and programs for teachers, medical professionals, school professionals, first responders, families and the general public. Exceptional progress is made possible every day at Faison.

I don’t know if you are still checking comments, but I would love your input on our elevator pitch: Lowcountry Autism Foundation strives to improve the lives of people with Autism from diagnosis to adulthood. Once a child is diagnosed with Autism the family is thrown into a complicated web of therapies and services. LAF’s goal is to decrease the stress on the family and connect them with every available resource. We also develop programs to address some of the most difficult challenges that come with a diagnosis.

Susan. Yes, still checking comments – have been traveling recently so I am a bit backlogged. I like what you have here. Here are some suggestions / questions. Can you give any examples of services or resources so the pitch comes to life – the challenge here is that the pitch is not specific enough and the need is not quite clear enough. Try something like this When a kid is diagnosed with Autism,the family is thrown into a scary world with a complex web of resources. It’s stressful.Lowcountry Autism Foundation serves as your family’s guide through these often bumpy waters. We make it our business to know all the resources out there thanks to a dedicated and knowledgeable staff and help to ensure that your child gets the best care possible and that your family can address the challenges of a diagnosis with a lack of stress and an abundance of resources.

Brianne. I would reply but we’ve already spoken! Hope the session was helpful … http://www.joangarry.com/sessions

Amy. Clearly your organization does amazing work. The challenge here is that this pitch is too much of a laundry list. You sound like a huge organization doing incredible things but this is too scatter shot. One thing that might help you in materials or on your website is an infographic that follows someone diagnosed with ASD – almost like a timeline of age. At varying points on the timeline, add a service so that folks can easily see the service you provide at different steps along the way. Last thing: just went to your website. Your website leads with the fact that the Faison Center is a SCHOOL. This is lost in your pitch. Hope this is helpful. Joan

I appreciate the feedback! This is exactly why we’ve entered into a rebranding process. We started as a school and are heavily rooted in that history. But over the last few years we have grown into so much more and our language hasn’t kept up. As of July 1 we are officially The Faison Center but we’re trying to get everything else up to speed. The graphic below is a patch over I had created. Hopefully, we can flesh it out further. Thanks again!

great infographic! glad i could be of some help!

I hope you’re still checking these comments. Wonderful article! Thank you. Our small nonprofit would love your help with an elevator pitch. What do you think of this: “AND JUSTICE FOR ALL” is the resource-raising and –sharing umbrella organization for Utah’s civil legal aid agencies, working for 16 years to provide an attorney for Utah’s most vulnerable. Our partners have helped over half a million low-income and disabled individuals and victims of domestic violence meet their most basic needs: ensuring safety, stabilizing families, preventing homelessness, increasing income, and fostering self-sufficiency. And we benefit the benevolent by giving donors one legal aid organization to know, love and support (because many can agree that there are just too many nonprofits vying for the same pool of money and limited attention), and do it in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Every dollar donated to AJFA results in $7.27 return on investment in community benefit and savings to the taxpayers. And while many attorneys’ hourly fees can be upwards of $500 or $600, we can tackle a protective order case for just $200, start to finish. Did you know that civil legal aid is the number one most effective way to prevent future domestic violence?

Here’s my first try! Over the past 26 years the Animal Shelter Assistance Program (ASAP) has stopped the euthanizing of southern Santa Barbara County homeless cats and kittens for population control reasons. We provide daily care and sheltering for over 1000 cats and foster homes for over 300 kittens every year. We also provide adoption services and assist the public in finding their lost cat. We rely on almost 200 volunteers and have only 4 paid staff members. ASAP is known in our community for ground breaking advertising and adoption promotion strategies, as well as implementing a stellar behavior program to increase the adoptability of the cats and kittens in our care. I’m constantly amazed at everything we are able to accomplish!

Journey to New Life provides counseling and financial services, including emergency housing, to ex-offenders. We’re proud to make Kansas City a safer place to live and work by showing people how to succeed in a different way of life. Our staff of less than ten people works with over 100 clients every week. While 2 of every 3 ex-offenders in the nation return to jail, less than 1 in 10 of our clients do. .

Susan. This is really good. I wonder about your use of the word “ex-offenders” – I have heard some organizations use a phrase like “those impacted by the criminal justice system” or “those who have experienced the criminal justice system.” Is there a way in the pitch to diminish the pejorative nature of the phrase. I’m also not entirely clear what “how to succeed in a different way of life” means. Your last sentence is AH-mazing.

I agree with you on the ex-offenders (trying to be succinct). I’ll also look at rephrasing the ‘succeed’ sentence. I appreciate your feedback, Joan! How about “those returning from the criminal justice system”?

Kaitlyn. First off, I am a pet owner and lover of rescue animals so I’m really passionate about this issue. A few questions. Your opening sentence indicates that because of your org, there is NO euthanizing in southern Santa Barbara county. True?? No other shelter in that area euthanizes? Also I think it should be more prominent that you are all about cats. Interesting that your name doesn’t reflect that. I like the ad and promotion piece. Lastly an elevator pitch would not typically include the last sentence.

I’m so sorry to be delayed in responding. As my article suggests, there can be a tendency (as a result of enthusiasm and passion) to put too much into a pitch. This pitch is loaded with great info. TOO much. And it’s not clear enough. You are a fundraising organization? Do you grant money to local legal aid organizations? And for statistics, I’d rather know about # of clients whose lives you have changed and compare that with the need.

Chris — I don’t know how this comment slipped through the cracks. SO sorry. I really like your pitch. You can lose the last sentence of graph 1 to save time. Your second graph is perfect. Maybe one statistic about the NEED?

Chantelle. I am even later still. I am SO SO sorry not to respond sooner. This is absolutely terrific. Would not change a thing. I totally get what you do. It’s perfect. I hope there are lots of other organizations out there doing this kind of work.

We are working to reconnect young people and prevent future disconnection.

Should I be adding one more phrase at the end where I mention how it’s being done? “We are working to reconnect young people and prevent future disconnection by empowering youth to overcome their own obstacles.” Any feedback would be great!

Daniel. Thanks for sharing your pitch. Sounds like you are doing important work but I have to be honest and say that I don’t know, based on this what exactly you do. Reconnect young people to????? Each other? To society? What young people? Troubled? Homeless? Give it another go and this time imagine you are typing a note to a 10 year old. Better to start with longer and edit down.

ha! Well thank goodness I found you…if it helps, i’m referring to the 6 million disconnected youth in america ages 16-24. I am going to try again…

We are working to reduce inequality in New Jersey. We help young people who are born into situations with scarce-opportunities because they deserve a chance to enjoy this American life just as much as the next person. We invest in these young people with a wide-range of resources, education, and a lifelong network of support with our mentors and teachers. I am passionate about this because it was not very long ago that I was the person I am helping now.

WOW. What a transformation. Do you see the difference? Do you FEEL it in your words? You started with a vague tag line and transformed into a invitation to join you in this remarkable and important work. Made ever so much more meaningful because of your profound connection to the work. No need for any HOW. Your pitch will lead me to ask questions as I will want to know more!!! It’s fantastic!

Sorry for delay! Your comment inspired me so much I just ran with the energy…it was the first time I smiled all weekend. Thanks for being there 🙂 I have this pitch tomorrow at 11am. I first met with this group about a month ago – one of my partners/team mates was able to facilitate that connection – I spoke for about 5 minutes last month just to intro myself and for them to see if they wanted me presenting any longer than 5 minutes. Now they scheduled me for 25 minutes tomorrow. I was thinking of talking for maybe a few minutes and then getting the conversation going. what do you think? I know it’s late now so no worries if you don’t get back to me tonight, but do you think I should go through the 5-8 minute pitch or go slow…almost slide by slide and ask them for information before moving on to the next point. Let them build the idea together with me as we move through the high-level framework of what I am thinking. It takes a lot of pressure off me just to talk to your comment box – feels like someone is listening. I was asked to give an intro pitch about a month ago where I tried to keep people excited. They were

A little late to the party, but this is a significant issue for us and would appreciate any feedback you might have. Here is the most current working draft. The Arts Commission is an artist service and advocacy organization that manages Toledo’s public art collection, engages youth in the arts, and supports arts-based and culturally-based community development, all working together to enhance arts and cultural experiences and opportunities for residents and tourists, while fostering a supportive environment for artists of all kinds to live, work, and create in Toledo. We are home to the first public art program in Ohio, have hired more than 1000 youth apprentices for intensive summer training learning job skills and creative skills over the past 20 years, are working to lead arts-based neighborhood redevelopment in and around the downtown Toledo area to highlight and connect the unique cultural assets of each, and we offer opportunities to educate and train local artists for professional development.

Ryan. The party is ongoing! This is really fantastic. Your last graph rocks. One of the best succinct descriptions of what an arts commission actually DOES. We know why they exist but you actually explain the what. If you needed to condense, you could tighten up the first graph a bit – it gets a bit list-heavy. Could you go from “advocacy organization that enhances arts and cultural experiences….. ” as a way of tightening up? It’s good as is – I just might recommend getting to that second graph more quickly. i EVEN think you could almost lead with the WHAT graph and tie the vision in at the end. As the home to the first public arts program in OH, The Toledo Arts Commission has… THEN at the end add ‘ We do this in the services of enhancing arts and cultural opps for residents and tourists, while…… Just another way of looking at it. But the goods? You’ve got em.

Thank you Joan, excellent suggestion. Appreciate your speedy reply and great feedback!

Joan, so glad I found this thread! Would appreciate any advice! What do we do? the harris project raises awareness about a disease few have heard of – co-occurring disorders (COD). It is when people have mental health challenges and turn to substances to self-medicate. 9.2 million Americans meet the criteria for a diagnosis of COD, 60-70% of all addicted to substances have COD, yet we are the only non-profit committed to this cause. WE ADVOCATE: to make an individualized, integrated and comprehensive treatment model the norm because if you treat the substance abuse side or the mental health side alone, sustained recovery is nearly impossible. Each person and his or her individual challenges must be assessed, the amount of mental health and substance abuse treatment specific to that situation must be determined, and the entire person must be looked at. WE EDUCATE: high school and college students about the relationship between mental health challenges and substance abuse – in the 80’s the message was “Just Say No”, but at the harris project we are determined to educate our young people as to why they and their friends should say no. Knowledge is power, and the life of someone with COD is anything but a party. WE SUPPORT EARLY INTERVENTION: by certifying people in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA). YMHFA is likened to CPR for the mind. It is an 8-hour course that teaches you how to help a young person who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The training is very hands-on and comprehensive, helping you identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health disorders and addictions. Supporting our young people and their families, letting them know they are not alone, and making good mental health and well-being a national priority is critical. co-occurring disorders: out of the shadows and into the light

Freedom and Fashion works to empower young female survivors of the sex trade through creative arts mentorship. We use fashion and beauty curriculum to help them discover their voice, heal from past traumas, and learn marketable skills. We partner with organizations working to fight sex trafficking and child marriage in places like Los Angeles and Bangladesh. If we can achieve our mission in some of the biggest sex crime hotspots of the world, we’ll be on the road to ending the abuse and oppression of women everywhere.

We work to ensure that children are a part of every policy discussion. We want elected officials to put the needs of children first when they create or change a law, especially since everything from school funding and meal programs to housing and health insurance directly impact young people’s lives. To do this, we partner with other advocacy organizations as well as service providers, like school districts. We raise awareness about changes needed and influence the governor and legislators. Our voices are much stronger together. If we can get people to prioritize children, we can make Allegheny County the best place to grow up.

Peacebuilding Solutions (PS) was founded to revolutionize the way humanitarian aid is delivered in the field by treating refugee and internally displaced person (IDP) populations holistically. Put simply, PS’s long-term operational goal is to deliver humanitarian aid in an integrated way that empowers the communities we serve, working alongside them to help restore their hope and their dignity. We always start with the most important question: “How can we help you help yourselves?” Currently, PS has implemented a pilot project in Gressier, Haiti to address the needs of an IDP community displaced by the 2010 earthquake but who has not received humanitarian aid since 2011. An initial research trip coordinated by PS’ Research Department gathered information through key informant interviews, environmental scans, and group interviews so that PS could tailor initiatives based on the wants and needs of the community. The results showed that the community needed access to water, sanitation, and shelters in the present however economic opportunities and education seemed to be a more long term goal for the community. PS created an initiative based on the data collected which included bringing water collection/filtration systems, providing agricultural tools for economic opportunities, as well as school supplies and shoes for the children of the community. Every part of aid given was determined by the community in collaboration with our organization.

Geneva. Great! Some thoughts: Raises a few questions that you might want to work into the elevator pitch. do these mentorships lead to jobs? do the partner organizations shelter these women? And then one possible question that could come up — why fashion and beauty? It feels like it reinforces their previous lives as sex objects. I wonder if there isn’t a way to add something to preempt that ‘objection?’

Greg. I love how this is written. And the second graph brings the work to life. But what if you had half the time ?

I’m assuming speaking twice as fast isn’t acceptable? Very well. PS does something simple, yet revolutionary: after a natural or a man-made disaster, we ask displaced communities how we can help… Then we do it, and make sure we give those communities the space to empower themselves. It’s as simple as that.

Greg. I like this one very much, especially sentence 1. I might add just a bit to the second one to make that more tangible and real.

Joan, Thanks so much for the replies! This is helping me focus a bit, I admit. Unfortunately… I get what you’re saying in regard to the second sentence, but the issue is that we don’t have a specific plan until we ask first. Do they need a school? Then we plan for that. A clinic? Shelters? A specific kind of water system? We plan for that, but until they tell us first (and that’s why it’s so important to do research first), we don’t know. What would you suggest, given the stipulations I outlined, to address that second sentence to make it more tangible?

Greg. Say something JUST LIKE THAT. How about something like this? (then I must go back and watch the Mets lose) After a natural or a man-made disaster, we ask displaced communities how we can help. They tell us and we get to it. It could be a clinic, a shelter or a water system. Our work is shaped by the communities we serve. By putting these communities in the driver’s seat, we empower them and partner with them to rebuild their lives. Hope this is helpful

note to self: save Mets games on my calendar as potential dates Joan is available to write mission statements!! 🙂 @greg_hodgin:disqus sounds like your project is awesome and definitely needed. Your empathy is glowing through your prose. I will be of great value to not only your project, but also the many lives you will impact. Please feel free to add me to your update list if you have one or if you have a link I can click through.

@socialentrepreneurship:disqus absolutely! We’re at http://www.solvepeace.org . Pardon the mess; we’re revamping the website right now but we are excited for the future and the ability to help people help themselves. @joangarry:disqus, It is very helpful, thank you so much for your input! I wish I spoke/typed half as well as you did! It took us years to stop speaking “academic-ese” and break down our mission into easily digestible chunks. I am heartened that we can finally do that now. Keep up the great work here!

Thanks for any advice you and your readers can offer: The Free Clinics enhances the healthcare system in Henderson County and Polk Counties by ensuring the accessibility of quality healthcare for uninsured, low-income clients through a team of community volunteers. At TFC our community comes together to help our most vulnerable neighbors address their healthcare concerns with everything from access to a doctor’s visit to prescription assistance to helping with food and transportation challenges that can impact our patients’ ability to stay healthy. Many people don’t realize that 1 in 5 residents of Henderson and Polk counties still lack insurance even with the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act. At TFC we know that health is everyone’s responsibility and we work together to make Henderson and Polk County a healthier place for our neighbors in need and for ourselves. At TFC anyone can make a difference as a volunteer, an advocate or through a donation. Many of our donors appreciate knowing that we turn every dollar we receive into $8.53 worth of care for our patients! Can I bring you over to TFC for a tour? I know you’ll be amazed!

One of the challenges we face with our organization is differentiating it from therapeutic riding, so we had to find a way not only to emphasize what we do, but what we don’t do. Here is what we have come up with: LEAD with Horses provides educational and therapeutic equine programs in Washoe County. LEAD stands for Leadership, Education, and Active Development. We use horses to promote positive change and personal growth for children, adolescents, and young adults. Our programs focus on positive skill development and mental health. The activities are ground based; most don’t involve horseback riding. Caring for and working with horses can be a powerful experience. Did you know that horses have been shown to lower heart rate and stress hormones? Horse programs can be particularly beneficial for kids struggling in traditional educational or therapeutic environments. We serve children with autism; at-risk youth; and kids facing learning, social or emotional challenges. LEAD combines proven educational and therapeutic approaches with the power of horses to support, encourage, and empower young people.

Jeane. THIS is what I love about my work being introduced to remarkable organizations like yours. OK, so I played around with yours a bit. Here’s what I did. See what you think. —————————————— LEAD With Horses serves kids with autism, at-risk youth and kids with learning, social and emotional challenges through the power of horses, remarkable animals with the power to lower heart rate and stress hormones. Our gifted staff uses proven educational and therapeutic approaches focusing on positive skill development and mental health. We offer our extraordinary kids the opportunity to care for and work with our extraordinary horses. ________________________________ It is (a) shorter (b) I removed things I believed were superfluous (c) I went RIGHT to who you serve and (d) I really wanted to talk about the power of the horses. As you’ll see, I put the horses and your kids on an even playing field. They are both extraordinary. You don’t have to say what your organzation ISN’T. As long as you are clear about what it IS. What do you think????

Joan, Thanks for the quick reply – and the awesome changes! As much as I work to be concise, I am an academic at heart and just can’t seem to limit my words. This is quite helpful and I will definitely make the changes. I do still worry that people misunderstand and assume that we are therapeutic riding. Perhaps this is something to be addressed in a deeper conversation and not part of the elevator speech.

Our goal is to make one’s life better through art. In diversity of our collection, programs and special exhibits, we work to engage our diverse community, and need your help to make this happen.

The Guns to Arcs Program pays tuition costs, up to $6,000, to send unemployed or transitioning veterans into welding programs around the country. From what we’ve seen, almost 90% of schools that offer welding programs do not accept the GI Bill due to the high cost of having a VA Rep on staff and the low amount of veterans that enter the individual schools. Our board is entirely comprised of currently serving United States Marines and myself and one other board member are both former welders as well. The average starting pay for welding careers is right there with new college graduates, but the training averages only 3 to 6 months. It makes our program perfect for individuals that are trying to support their families and do not have the time commitment necessary to wait 4 to 5 years for a college degree. Essentially, we are giving veterans one more tool in their tool box to help them be successful and we are very excited about how we’ve done so far. Usually what happens when I pitch this is I’ll get a “Thank you for your service” when I tell them I am a Marine. This has kind of been the cue that lets me know if they have been listening or not. There aren’t a whole lot of people that will write off a service member trying to help other service members. Generally when I finish pitching it to them, they’ll ask questions about the welding and manufacturing industry, and why we chose that. This leads into more casual conversation and away from a “pitch” itself which, at least to me, is very good. The only problem I have had so far is the name. When we first started I assumed the word “guns” would be a problem, but it turns out the word “arcs” is the problem. Everybody knows it, but when I talk to them, they don’t realize right away that it is a reference to a lightning arc or, truly, a welding arc. With that said, everyone so far in the manufacturing industry seems to love the name and pick up on it right away.

Hi Joan. I stumbled upon this conversation preparing my elevator speech. I left my job after 12 years and am pursuing employment with a non-profit organization. I am using your above outline and critiques below as a guide. Would you be available to critique this type of elevator speech?

Lee. Without knowing you personally it would be near impossible to offer you valuable guidance about how to present your own credentials, skills and attributes to a potential employer. But you are right that this post can serve as a guide in some ways. Very best of luck.

The name is a problem. Your audience is not welders. It’s vets. I would really think about a name change (and yes I know this can be an excruciating process. How about something like this. I am a military vet and served in _____ from ____ to _____. The military trains folks in all kinds of trades. Welding is mine and I know a great deal about the opportunities welders have to be trained quickly and find gainful employment quickly to support themselves and their families. Many vets and their families simply can’t afford the time or expense of a four year college degree. We provide tuition assistance to vets for the 3-6 month welder training program and then ? Our org is call Guns to Arcs. An ‘arc’ is a welding term that means _______ and we thought that the idea of an arc spoke to a journey our clients are on. Last year alone we provided scholarships to _X # of vets and today, as a result of our efforts ___ # of vets are now on their feet, providing for their families through steady and gainful employment as professional welders.

Diana. Sorry to be slow in responding. Can you give me an example of HOW you engage the community and what impact you have. It’s not always clear how one’s life is better through art (VERY clear to me btw! 🙂

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The Michiana Humane Society takes in unwanted pets and changes their lives. When people in LaPorte and SW Berrien Counties can no longer care for their cats and dogs (and occasional critters) due to financial or health reasons, or simply no longer want them, they depend on MHS to take them, rehabilitate them, and rehome them. People always ask if we are a no-kill shelter. Because we take any pet if we have room, the technical answer is no. Many pets come to us too sick or aggressive to treat, and in those cases we humanely euthanize them. But over the past two years our euthanasia rate has dropped 31% because donations have helped us to increase our vet care budget. And healthy animals can be placed more quickly, turning their lives around. We can change your life, too. Visit the Michiana Humane Society and meet your new BFF.

We do our best to provide the highest quality performing arts to residents, visitors and vacationers in the area. We do this by seeking out creative young actors and musicians and invite them to spend a season with us in our housing facilities and work their tails off for little or no money. In addition to musicals, we produce a kickin’ Children’s Theatre, run a performing arts Ice Cream Parlour, and offer small group and private lessons to anyone who thinks they can act, sing or dance. Our year round offerings include concerts, comedy shows, movie nights, recitals, choral performances and anything that the community wants that doesn’t break the bank.

Hia Blawton: Thanks for this and for the work you do. I really LOVE the personality that comes through in this. Pitches don’t have to be super formal. Not sure I understand the last phrase “anything that the community wants that doesn’t break the bank.” And of course, I would love to know the name of your org and where it is located. You really bring the work to life with this. Nicely done. (and if you read the comments, I am not afraid to offer candid feedback about needed changes 🙂

Northern Initiatives is working to create prosperous, thriving communities by providing small business loans and knowledge-building services to entrepreneurs and business owners in Michigan.

Also Joan, I was always under the impression that an Elevator Pitch was supposed to be short and succinct because you only have a few “floors” or “seconds” to pitch it. Is this no longer correct?

This is great! Both versions, but the short version is a great model for concise language. I too work for an organization that partners with horses in a variety of therapeutic programs. Jeane, I think you don’t have to worry about clarifying in your initial pitch that your are not doing. Most people have such vague notions of what anybody does with horses. I’d suggest having a good followup statement if the person asks “oh is that like therapeutic riding?” Then you come in with a quick sentence about the benefits of building the relationship with the horse from the ground. You no doubt have some astonishing stories – I know I do! – and you can tell a quick one that is a clear example. It also helps to talk about types of clients who cannot or really don’t want to ride but are willing to do ground work.

Here is what mine has evolved to, and varies significantly from the one I helped draft 2 1/2 years ago not long after I started here. Navy Marine Coast Guard Residence Foundation is the supporting foundation for Vinson Hall Retirement Community in McLean. We fund programs that are not included in resident fees, including scholarships for residents who have outlived their resources- no one has ever been asked to leave Vinson Hall due to inability to pay-. a program for wounded warriors who are transitioning out of Walter Reed and special projects for the community. For example, in 2015 we received funding to replace all the fitness equipment in the fitness center. I gage my “Did you know…” based on the reaction I get and usually present either a stat about how seniors come to out live their resources thus why our scholarships are important, orI talk the gaps that can come up in support for wounded warriors. and how our program helps solve this. On the rare occasion someone seems interested in the special projects, I’ll talk about how a restricted bequest funded the community’s transition to electronic medical records- something that probably would ahve taken years in the capital budget. Would love to know what you think!

Me: I’m Thom Melendez, Director of Development for CODAC, Health, Recovery and Wellness. Other person: Tell me about your organization: Me: At CODAC we envision a society where everyone lives healthy, productive lives-positively contributing to their communities. We provide tools, support and services to individuals, families and communities so they may live in dignity, free from the harmful effects of mental illness, substances use disorders and trauma. Did you know that in surveys of adolescents receiving treatment for substance abuse, more than 70% of patients had a history of trauma exposure? What began as a grass roots drug abuse prevention program 45 years ago has grown into a multi-faceted organization the provides services across the entire spectrum of behavioral health care, and I am proud to say that we have added primary care services to our members as well.

Hi Joan! Sertoma Centre serves individuals with developmental and mental health disabilities–adults with intellectual, social and emotional challenges–by focusing on the spectrum of their own individual power and inner strength. Our gifted staff uses proven educational and therapeutic approaches focusing on real-world skill development, immersive programs and mental health. We offer our extraordinary individuals the opportunity to take charge of their own lives by reaching toward their personal goals and empowering them to engage in their own community.

Hi Joan! Thank you for your assistance! This is my pitch. Greater Titusville Renaissance is a grass roots community organization whose mission is to help redevelop North Brevard. Our programs of work include business development where we assist startup businesses; arts and culture where we bring new and inspiring events to enhance our quality of life; beautification where we work on improving the look of our major corridors and public areas and youth programs where we provide leadership development for our young professionals and engage our youth in civic responsibility. GTR has been instrumental in helping obtain a major developer with the purchase of Miracle City Mall. The mall will become a major shopping center in North Brevard. We have also made major improvements of the signage at the entrance to the city on the main corridors. GTR hosts the annual Art & Algorithms Digital Art Festival and International Film Fest bringing thousands of people into our community. We also put together the annual Indian River Festival. We have over 50 young professionals engaged in our YP program and are working with 3 area high schools with our GTR Academy program. In 2016 we are opening a cowork space to assist entrepreneurs to start and grow their business.

(Renaissance Youth Center – Here’s my pitch) At Renaissance we change lives – one song, one science project, one art piece at a time. We work with young people to fully maximize their potential using cool things like music, art and science to hook them and social development to cook them! Hook ’em and Cook ’em. (pause) In the poorest congressional district in America, in the Bronx, NY for 15 years we have above 95% graduation rate and college matriculation, serving 3000 students every week in services from music to mentoring, art to aviation and everything in between. A bodega for youth!

This is the most compelling, direct elevator speech I’ve seen.

Set Free Alaska is working to provide individuals in our community freedom from addiction. Set Free Alaska is an outpatient substance abuse treatment center serving both youth and adults in our community. We have a highly trained staff who believe every individual should be valued; and free from addiction. We are unique in that we use an innovative mind-body-spirit approach to recovery; with completion rates well above the state average as compared to other agencies.

My pitch for an organization I just started with as their ED. Love some feed back! Colorado Honor Band Association is a non-profit instrumental band program that cultivates excellence through music education and performance. We are based in the Denver metro area with over 200 youth, ages 9-18, who participate year round in our weekly program and yearly summer camp. It fosters peer camaraderie and respect, appreciation for the arts and a pursuit for excellence – – all skills they take into their adult life.

Natasha. This is great but almost too short. I might want to know about the gap it fills. Why can’t they get the loans from the local bank? What is an example of a knowledge building service? Or can you give me a sense of impact either emotionally or with a little bit of data? Thanks for the work you do!

Paula. It works and flows until you get to ‘a program for wounded warriors… all the way to fitness center.’ Several questions: WHAT is a program for wounded warriors? Vision Hall? If so get that up earlier. Make that your second sentence after ‘in McLean.’ Then I’m confused why you say “RECEIVED” funding to replace all the fitness equipment. Why are you not saying “For example, in 2015 we raised funds to replace all the fitness equipment in the fitness center.’ With those changes it would be even stronger I think. And yes, the “did you know” can be tailored. That said, it would be interested to add to the general pitch “Over the last X years, through our scholarships, enabled X # of residents who have outlived their resources to stay at Vinson Hall.

Lisa. You sound so passionate about the work you do! The challenge here is that the WHAT is really unclear. You open with a phrase that is very abstract and has too much jargon for the average joe or jane. “focusing on the spectrum of their own individual power and inner strength.” What does the work look like? How many people do you serve? Be more specific and you will engage more folks!

Catherine. Nice job. A few comments. I believe that tons of organizations refer to themselves as “grass roots” and listeners have no idea what that means. Can you describe your organization without using that word? Does it just mean “local?” What does it mean for you? I like your first graph alot but you might want to add young people into that first graph somehow. 2nd graph is a bit laundry list like. That said, not sure what you would lose. Maybe the signage. I really love that you are opening a co-work space for entrepreneurs. That is really interesting and I’d move it up. Hope this is helpful.

We discovered your site a few months ago, and SO appreciate your clear and straightforward advice as we build our organizational infrastructure! Here’s our speech: The Los Angeles Drama Club is the country’s youngest Shakespeare Troupe. We are an artistic home for children all over Los Angeles where, through the process of putting on a Shakespeare production, they hone their literacy and communication skills, build self esteem, and, most importantly, create community. Each Spring, we present Shakespeare Youth Festival LA – four full productions featuring more than 60 kids. We don’t audition, and we offer a variety of scholarships and free programs – if a child has the passion, our arms are open.

Kevin. JBaker is right. This pitch rocks. One point of clarification. Is it an after school program. When do kids come to you? Maybe something about the need? P.S. I love the Bronx – I’m a Fordham alum!

Sherry. Your work is so important – thank you. Two notes: 1) any kind of data of the # of people you have served since your founding? something that speaks to the magnitude of your work and 2) not everyone knows what a “mind-body-spirit” approach is. You say it is why you are unique but I bet that phrase does not come to life for most people. More clarification would be great on that. Oh one more thing “completion rates well about the state average” – would be great to be able to say “twice the state average” or some percentage if the % is impressive.

Johanna. First I just could not resist. Here are my two pets. Charlie (dog) and Lou (cat). I have captioned this photo “I swear we did not have a party while you were gone.” OK now down to business. I would leave out the ‘no-kill’ from the pitch. I love that the more $ you raise, the faster you can re-home the pets (LOVE the phrase ‘re-home’) I’m not sure I would boast that your euthanasia rate has dropped but flip the idea around. How about some # of lucky families and lucky pets? Also, it would be great if there was something in here about how you care for the animals when they are there – some shelters are so loving and lovely. Others not so much. How do you stand out?

Julia. So glad my advice is helping you. This is a great pitch. Clear and specific. Love the last line. Anything unique about the kids you engage? Any external validation about the quality of productions? Also when you talk about ‘creating community,’ are you saying that kids from all walks of life meet each other thanks to The Bard of Avon and create a new and more diverse community? Not sure what you mean here.

These are great suggestions. It’s funny you mention the numbers served. We incorporated that into our year end appeal, which was very successful for us. Our numbers are small because we are a small program, but if we can squeeze in cost, people get it. Thank you so much for your feedback!

Carol. Congrats on the new gig and I think you will find some great ED resources here on the blog. At least I hope so. This is great – I might want to know something about where you could see the band perform or how often they perform publicly. Or any good stories about any “alums” of your program playing in cool bands or great college bands or at the Rose Bowl or the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Just trying to see if there is a way to bring it a bit more to life…..

No need to feel bad about being a small program. It’s all about impact. I know $50 million organizations that cannot articulate what they do and why it is important. People give these big orgs money sometimes b/c of the brand they build. Small orgs can be focused and mighty!

Great comments! How’s this? Would the latte be getting cold by the end?! The Los Angeles Drama Club is the country’s youngest Shakespeare Troupe. We are an artistic home for children all over Los Angeles where, through the process of putting on a Shakespeare production, they hone their literacy and communication skills, build self esteem, and become part of a true community – many of our kids come to us at 6 or 7, and are still with us, mentoring the younger students, when they graduate from high school. Each Spring, we present Shakespeare Youth Festival LA – four full productions featuring more than 60 kids. People are generally stunned by the level of the work our kids do – a Royal Shakespeare Company actress recently attended one of our shows and said that she found it more alive and compelling then when she had seen the same play at RSC!! We don’t audition, and we offer a variety of scholarships and free programs – if a child has the passion, our arms are open.

The purpose of our organization is to engage people in restoring and protecting our rivers. We do that by getting people outside, engaging them as citizen scientists in monitoring the health of our rivers and deepening their knowledge through both outdoor and more traditional educational programs. We are also the voice for these rivers – advocating for and supporting the funding needed to eliminate water pollution, protect land, remove dams, conserve water and restore river habitat.

Right…..that makes sense. What sets Northern Initiatives apart from banks is that we fund start ups in addition to being more flexible with our terms of the loan. And knowledge building services include an array of tools and resources for businesses who are ready to grow and thrive, including business coaches and our online customer portal.

Add the business coaches into your schpeel. that will stick with people. and the flexibility of terms. you are really INVESTING in the success of these folks. and be sure to have a very quick success story in your back story about a business you helped. pick a biz that stands out in your community if you can.

Not just an after school program, but we do offer after school services. I could definitely add a quick stat about the need in there, drop out rates, or something. Thank you for your response!

We are working to make San Diego safer by lowering crime and reducing recidivism. We start by helping people identify behaviors that lead to bad decisions. Then we provide every resource they might need to attain self-sufficiency, like employment, housing, mentoring and supportive peer groups. We have an unequaled success rate and have the support of all local law enforcement agencies.

I used to fundraise for an amazing local humane society, and I very much understand the desire to answer the “are you no-kill??” question before it’s asked. The misconceptions around that movement can be frustrating. Instead, I’d recommend pointing out what makes you unique and the positive parts of not being “no-kill” (without actually mentioning it unless they ask). For me, that often meant sharing that we were an open admission shelter, accepting every single animal who came through our door, as well as mentioning our outstanding 96% live release rate, thanks to our innovative behavior modification and shelter medicine programs.

I would recommend not using the term “recidivism” as it’s jargon the average person is unfamiliar with– consider Joan’s advice and ask yourself if a 10 year old would understand. I would also consider adding a more personal example of someone who benefited from your critical services, I think that’s a great way to drive home your impact while making it easier for your listener to remember.

Hello, my name is Jason and I’m on the Board of the Wenatchee River Institute (WRI), a local non-profit in North Central Washington that connects people, communities and the natural world. Through youth and adult programs, special events, and collaboration we strive to educate the public about their environment, and the role they play in stewarding our natural resources. We have an amazing campus located on the banks of the Wenatchee River which provides a great outdoor classroom for individuals to learn about the natural world. It’s so rewarding to be involved with an organization that makes learning so much fun!

Eleslee. Great advice!

Thank you, Joan! I’m going to re-work the wording this weekend and see how I can make it simple, but clear.

We are working on building a ranch for adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Because there is a need for creative, integrative options that focus on inclusion, we are working to help fill the gap.

Hillcrest Platte County moves families from homeless to self-supporting within our 90 day program of case management, budget counseling and life skills training. Families who come to us from their cars are now in their own homes with the skills and budget in place to sustain them into the future. Did you know that the average age of a homeless person in this area is 7 years old??

We work to end poverty. We provide programs in these three areas to attack poverty at its root: Education and career development; Business & economic development; and housing and community solutions. We also respond to the needs in our community when they arise. For example, we started a no to low interest dental loan program because good dental care proved to be a barrier for some people to get jobs. We work to restore hope, dignity, and opportunity for those who want to claim their potential and dream again.

Would LOVE any feedback!! “Valley Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of life for residents of the Matanuska Susitna Borough. For 60 years, VCI has focused its efforts on those facing adversity and looking for assistance. We continuously survey community services and identify where our resources can bridge the gaps. Today we serve the community through Turn-A-Leaf thrift store, our medical equipment loan program, the Basic Homeless Assistance Program, and most recently, a Returning Citizens program that assists with the reintegration of formerly incarcerated persons. Nearly ten percent of Mat-Su residents are struggling with poverty, and more than 500 are homeless. Through grants, services, and donations, VCI provides more than help – we provide hope.”

AESC provides executive search and leadership consultants the information, tools and services they need to conduct business at the top of the profession. We offer access to best practices, market data and research, continuing education and training, and peer networking in a non-competitive environment. Since 1959, AESC has set the gold standard in executive search and leadership consulting worldwide. We are proud that our rigorous standards and professional practices guide our 300+ members in 75 countries to serve as strategic advisors on behalf of their clients. In turn, AESC members are best positioned to provide companies with a competitive advantage—the ability to find, attract and develop the best talent in the world and ensure that executives are successfully integrated.

I recently opened a non-profit resale shop and give 100% of profits to animal rescue leagues. Any donations that we cannot sell go to homeless shelters, battered women’s shelters and other charities that volunteers pick up for me and deliver. I quit a great paying graphic design job to start this non-profit. It’s way more physical work than I ever could have imagined and it fills me with so much joy on a daily basis. Everyone has stuff they do not use and if we can keep it out of our landfills and make use it for great causes, everybody wins. It’s the best thing I have ever done and I am so very passionate about it that I want to shout it to the world!

Natasha. Sorry for the delay in responding. People use the phrase in diff ways. For me, I think of it as a 1 minute 411 and invitation to hear more.

Buffi. Congratulations on finding something you are passionate about! You definitely want to communicate that in your pitch. It’s contagious! But you don’t want a pitch to be too much about you. It’s about those pets. Try something like this; Several months ago, I followed my passion, quit my job and started _____(name). We run a thrift shop and donate X% (NOTE: IT COULDN”T BE 100% – THERE MUST BE COSTS) to animal rescue leagues in our community – (NAME EM). This year alone, we have raise $_____ for these shelters enabling the shelters to _____ and ______.

Joe. This is excellent. If you are as focused with your searches as you are with your pitch, you must be very successful indeed. One thing to add. There is typically some skepticism about headhunters. Is there any metric you can include about the success of your placements?

Eileen. Move your last paragraph into second position. You take too long to articulate the need. In the first graph, can you tell me the total # of residents? Otherwise, great!

Sarah. Your work sounds amazing. Truly. A few things. Avoid leading with your vision. “We work to end poverty.” Overwhelming, too good to be true. What is the name of your org? Where do you provide these services? The three areas — can you change the words to include less jargon – for ex, I don’t know what “community solutions” are. Your last two sentences are great. How many folks do you help in a year? How big is the poverty problem in the area you work? These things can help and don’t need to lengthen the pitch. Good luck!

Joan, thanks so much for your feedback! It’s so nice to hear feedback from someone removed from what we do. I work for Total Action for Progress (TAP) in Roanoke, Virginia.

Thanks, that’s good advice. It is actually 100% of profits though. Profits are all money left after rent, etc. is paid. We never say all proceeds, but all profits is accurate.

Buffi. There is a problem with the use of the word “profit” and your language is misleading. You should figure out what your costs are monthly or annually and then tell folks that 85% or 95% of every dollar they give helps the animals waiting for their forever home. It is not accurate to say 100%.

Donice. This is really awesome. I find myself wondering if you should lead with the last question. It’s stunning. You did a great job.

Susan. Sorry for the delay. Talk to me more about the need, what is the gap. What void do you fill that is there because there is no ranch. Why a ranch? Sounds really really interesting.

Jason. Ive gotten very behind in answering these. Please forgive me. This is terrific. I’d love to know how many people you serve. Do you work with local schools? How do adults find out about you?

Trisha. So it seems that I didn’t respond to this one because I thought I did when in fact it was a fellow member of my tribe:) Great advice from elelsee!!!!!

Sam. So sorry to be slow in responding. I get so many of these comments it’s getting hard to keep up!!! This is a great start. I need to hear more about IMPACT. Have you been successful in advocating? What does that look like? Again, #s of people you have engaged? Bring the work to life a bit more!

The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project provides free legal and social services to detained adults and unaccompanied children facing immigration removal proceedings in Arizona.

The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project provides free legal and social services to detained adults and unaccompanied children facing immigration removal proceedings in Arizona. There is no public defender system for detained immigrants. As a result, an estimated 86 percent of the detained people go unrepresented due to poverty. The Florence Project strives to address this inequity both locally and nationally through direct service, partnerships with the community, and advocacy and outreach efforts.

Great Article- Thank you. I am the ED for Episcopal Place. I look forward to your feedback. “We are a non-profit, faith based apartment community that works to give low-income elderly and disabled adults a place to live where they can receive free services like transportation, and food and the services of a Social Worker that can help them with day to day problems like dealing with bills, doctors appointments and other financial issues. The goal is to delay or eliminate the need to move to a nursing home which in the long run is really what the residents and their families want and it also saves the government money.”

I love love this thread! So informative and much needed. Here is my mission and program first line paragraph of our program details. I’m already hoping it’s a slow ride down the elevator. On a twofold mission, the Love Lives Foundation’s purpose is to uplift the youth through our Lead with Love Mentorship Program. The program was designed to promote trust, respect, leadership and unity by empowering the youth through motivation, education, commmunity service projects and mentorship. Our Lead with Love Leadership Retreats serve as a “Replenish Retreat” for mentors, community leaders, volunteers, and organizations across the globe by providing workshops hosted by experts in the non-profit and social services arena, mental relaxation and fun. The Lead with Love Mentoring program imparts life, entrepreneurial and culture skills to male and female participants ages 11 ­ through 18. The program includes leadership development through mentorship aiming at uncovering passion and talent in the young participants. Participants are required to participate in mandartory community service and culture preservation sessions. Organizational staff, volunteers and mentors alike today have to battle with immense responsibilities as their organizations undergo significant changes and challenges in their line of service. The Lead with Love Leadership Retreat(s) were created to allow its participants the opportunity to further enrich, deepen and develop their own knowledge, skills and competencies to match and exceed the requirements of the challenging world of not for profit.

Joan, thank you very much. Great point — we have just conducted some new research on our profession and can demonstrate with new data that candidates placed by our members have a longer tenure versus those placed by non-members or other types of recruitment services. Will find a way to weave that in. Thanks, again!

First and foremost, thank you so much for this article! Secondly, you are so amazing to respond to these great pitches. I’ve learned so much already! Did you know that last year, the Star of Hope Mission provided housing and transformational programming to over 1,800 homeless children? Trees of Hope strives to transform the lives of those children by hosting fundraising and outreach activities for the exclusive benefit of children’s programs at Star of Hope. Through its unique and well-known gala, the organization has raised awareness to a population which otherwise might have never known about the issue of child homelessness in Houston. Through this awareness, we are able to make an impact in the effort to enrich, enhance, and transform the lives of homeless children at Star of Hope.

NAMI Seattle works to fill the gaps in our mental health system through education, referral, and support. What makes NAMI unique? Everything we do is free, most of it is peer-led, and the support we offer is for the whole network of people touched by mental health issues, not just the person with a diagnosis. So if your family member has bipolar disorder and you want to get connected to other people with similar experiences, we have a support group led by someone else whose family member has bipolar disorder, too, and who can share their journey. More than 42 million Americans deal with mental illness every year. In 2015, we served 12,000 people in the Seattle area with our volunteer-driven programs. NAMI Seattle is building a world where everyone impacted by mental illness knows they are not alone.

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Hi Joan, I just discovered your website, lots of great advice!! We are a charity based in Australia in our startup phase – basically looking for funding and you are right it is essential to get our pitch right. Please see my effort below, any feedback would be much appreciated Thanks Kindred Clubhouse works with the mentally ill to facilitate recovery and rehabilitation back into the community. Attendees of the Clubhouse are considered members of the organisation rather than patients and they work side by side, as peers and partners, with the staff to run every function of the Clubhouse. The Clubhouse itself is a community-based centre within Frankston, hours of operation mirror business hours within the local community and members attend, normally, on a part time basis allowing them to familiarise themselves with the structure of a working day. The Clubhouse offers members the opportunities for friendship, employment, housing, education, and access to medical and psychiatric services through a single caring and safe environment.

Hi Joan! I happened upon your article and all the examples of elevator pitches while doing some research. What a wealth of information! Thank you for your guidance and to everyone else who posted their work here! It was incredibly helpful. Here is what I worked on for my non-profit, The Dragonfly Home. I’m facing the need to overcome a substantial learning curve about human trafficking in the United States and the specialized needs of those we serve coming out of it. I had to balance talking to audience as if they’re “10 years old” and succinctly describing the need for services that isn’t intuitive yet. I would value any input! Thank you again! “We’re working to open Oklahoma’s very first state-certified crisis center for victims of human trafficking – – The Dragonfly Home Human Trafficking Relief and Restoration Center. Our staff has a combined ten years of work with trafficking survivors and anti-trafficking advocacy, so we have specialized experience with the complex, severe trauma that trafficking survivors face. This makes our program more effective as we help people gain access to services – like medical and dental care, mental health counseling, and basic necessities – through our strategic community partnerships. When survivors of this horrific crime receive basic care, we have seen true miracles of restoration happen. Now, we’ll be able to provide this life-saving help to a more diverse group of men, women, and youth impacted by both sex and labor trafficking. We have seen incredible resilience in human trafficking survivors. The Dragonfly Home’s vision is to walk with these individuals down the path toward hope and a future of freedom.”

Hugo. I’m not sure how I missed this comment. Please forgive me. I like this b/c it is short and to the point. It’s almost TOO short. can you add a few more sentences? Either to drive home the NEED for your services (data?) or “If it wasn’t for our organization…….” or something about the number of lives you touch? OH, I just saw the FIRST one you posted. I like that one better – it gets to some of my points. is the 86% in Arizona? make sure you stats are relevant to the folks in your state.

Tim. Please forgive this delay. I’m not sure how I missed a number of these and hope my input will still have value. I feel like the end should be up closer to the top. Something like: Episcopal Place is home to low income and disabled adults in _________. We have created a faith based community of support with _____ apartments and staff who provide a full range of services from transportation and food to navigating the health care system. Our vision is create an independent living situation offering support and dignity and give back to the elderly who have given us so much. We provide the environment they want and need and in so doing reduce our dependency on often fickle government funding.

Jayda – what a wonderful organization. You might need the elevator to get stuck between floors to finish this one !!! 🙂 Try to tell a single narrative about your story — not about two different yet related programs. These programs are in the service of the main thing. Forgetting the famous person who said “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Try again in 1/2 the words and pretend I am 10 years old. I promise to respond quickly. joan

Ruth. You CLEARLY learned alot from this thread. I’d love to hear maybe one sentence that gives me a sense of the transformation. Some of the alums of our org are now…….. or 70% of the kids who are with us for ___ days and are now…… something that brings “transformation” to life.

Ashley. I know about NAMI and have a personal connection to the issues you grapple with. So I should be hypercritical. BUT I AM NOT. This ROCKS! Great work.

Fiona. Please forgive me for dropping the ball on responses. As my blog reach grows (to places like Australia!!!) I am finding it harder to keep up 🙂 This is really really good. Can you tell me just a bit about the success of the program –what does rehab back into the community look like? That might help what is a already a clear and terrific pitch.

Melissa. What you do is so important and so very hard. Thank you. “Human trafficking” is a phrase that perhaps needs to be elaborated. I know what you mean but if you were talking to a 10 year old, how might you describe the issue you are grappling with. And as with many other pitches here, can you bring to life what the future looks like thanks to your work. Miracles like _______. I just want to know what success looks like after being a part of your org. And maybe how many folks you serve annually or since you started?

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Hi! Thanks for sharing this great article, Joan. I’m working to create a guide to help our team talk about our work, and this article has been a great reassurance that we’re headed in the right direction. Our current pitch aligns perfectly with the three points made under “What You’re Doing Wrong.” However, when we discuss ways to improve our general agency pitch, we keep running into the same issue — we do a lot and nobody wants to be left out. Our primary focus is on improving early learning opportunities for children ages birth to 5, but we also provide mental health services, financial education, case management, administer Head Start and much more. While most of these services are working together, I find that I lose people when I try to explain where they all intersect. I usually say something like this: We know that the first five years of a child’s life are the most important, because before a child enters kindergarten, their brain is 90 percent developed. That’s why we’re focused on ensuring children access high quality education and care, and strengthening families and environments so parents, caregivers and teachers can provide the support children need to be successful. For example, our Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids program provides on-site parent education and support to families living in public housing complexes. Last year, we helped more than 100 families with young children learn to care for and support the development of their children. My question is, can we trim the “fat” in order to focus on the heart of our work? Thanks for your help!

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Hi Joan! I am wrangling with this very topic and came across your page. We are a tiny organization with several program areas – condensing is hard, but so important. Here is what we are working with so far: ANCA believes that rural economic growth depends on lots of small entrepreneurial businesses – more local farmers growing food, successful artisans, independent businesses on main streets, and renewable energy powering our communities. Did you know that clean energy is the fastest growing sector in New York State? One solar installer just hired 40 people to serve demand generated by the Solarize programs we started.

Shining Success provides at risk men and women in our community a sense of dignity and confidence as they transition toward the goal of self reliance. We supply appropriate professional wardrobe, styling advice and communication workshops. Our vision is that community members will feel comfortable in their own skin, confident in their abilities and competitive in the marketplace.

Hi Joan, I’m back! I have something but I think it might be too long (we have 25 programs, so this is a constant issue): TAP are an independent community action agency that serves Southwestern Virginia that is not affiliated with a larger franchise or government agency. We work to provide opportunities that help people get and stay out of poverty. We do this by attacking poverty at its roots with our 25 programs that range from early-childhood development, youth education and job programs, small business development, providing refuge and resources to domestic violence survivors and veterans, building stronger fathers through our fatherhood program, providing home weatherizing services so low-income people can remain in their homes, and helping ex-offenders reestablish themselves into their communities. And believe it or not, this is just a short list. We help over 5,000 people per year with this work and we’re constantly innovating to find new ways to help more. For example, we started a no to low interest dental loan program because good dental care proved to be a barrier for some people to get jobs. We work to restore hope, dignity, and opportunity for those who want to claim their potential and dream again.

Ironically, we just started working with NAMI here in Northern Virginia/DC, we’re designing some materials for educating their audience, brochures and flyers. So ironic, I just had a discussion with my design team about NAMI 5 minutes before reading this article and then seeing your comment. You do run a great organization, glad to be working with you guys! Also, very well written, great elevator speech for NAMI.

The arts tell an important story about who we are as a society. Celebrating and creating that story is vital to our cultural history and future. California Musical Theatre preserves and expands the American musical theatre as an art form by educating new audiences and nurturing aspiring artists. We present national tours of Broadway musicals, produce professional musicals in a theatre-in-the-round and provide performing arts education programs for all ages.

Have you ever poured your heart and soul into something, only for it not to work out, simply because… the timing wasn’t right? Maybe it was something you were trying to create, or a job you were really working hard for, but got shut down time after time, in spite of your resilience. For me, I spent 20 years training in synchronized skating, chasing my dream of becoming an Olympian, but it never happened – not because I wasn’t good enough, but because the sport has been trying and failing to be accepted into the Olympics for as long as I can remember. And I am not alone in this story – it is one that is shared by thousands of skaters around the world. So I started this nonprofit organization as a way to help build the sport up, through promoting awareness of the sport while helping teams to develop and learn to market themselves, in hopes that one day, the young athletes who take up the sport have an opportunity to compete on the most prestigious athletic stage there is.

Homeless Intervention Services Company provides basic needs to the Hardin county homeless population so they can feel safe while healing mind, body and spirit.. Essentially, we light their paths to healing and provide life coaches to guide the client by the hand to all services available to them through partnering agencies. Over the past 2 years, we have served more than 200 clients by providing shelter, food, direction, transportation, job search assistance, government benefits guidance, betterment classes, and in all ways possible guided clients to reenter society. We are proud that our services allow clients to stay safe and continue on the path to healing. We are tiny but powerful, and 100% of the resources raised stay in Hardin County.

Joan, this is really great advice. I now realize that my”pitch” was actually a “speech” and I have totally changed the way I think about this. Here’s my first draft! Mile in My Shoes brings the power of running to people experiencing homelessness. We create teams that run & train together, which leads to dramatic improvements in physical & mental health. Did you know that every one hour of running leads to SEVEN additional hours of your life? And you need very little to start running – just some good shoes (which we provide)! At the same time, our volunteer runners are constantly talking about how much their perceptions of homelessness have changed. One of our members told us how disconnected he felt from his community. He joined last year hoping to run a 5k – he’s since run three marathons. But what’s most impressive is that he now attends regular runs with a local running group, and even takes it upon himself to mentor new runners. We want to bring that power that running has to really transform to as many people experiencing homelessness as we can.

Hi Joan Just found you in a search and loved this I work for a Charity in Australia here is our pitch… It may surprise you to know that even with the enormous growth in information technology over recent years in Australian that our children’s literacy performance is declining. Dymocks Children’s Charities want to support children’s literacy and to improve the potential of all Australian children through the provision of literacy support programs and excellent books. Our vision is to change kids’ lives – one book at a time. Would love your feedback

Do you know that 81 percent of families in Colombia are poor? And this causes two thousand children to lose their families a month, that is so sad. That is why we have been participating in this project for two years, in which we take orphans to share during the holidays, with families in the United States, we are looking for Colombian children to create a better life project. The Obuntu Foundation, fulfills dreams like this and seeks to keep families together, I’ll send you an email to learn more about Obuntu

I am a private lender with 25 years working experience in this field. Do you need a legit, honest, reputable and quick loan?? I can help you with 100% guarantee loan. I am offering business and individual loan, more also we financing all kind of projects. For more details contact us at, EMAIL:[email protected]

Hi Joan! Just finished your book and as a Board President I learned SO MUCH about how we can improve at our organization, the South Brevard Sharing Center in Melbourne, Florida. Here’s my elevator pitch… it’s a bit longer than the 1 minute 411 that I saw you recommend elsewhere, but I felt like it needed more content to hit all of the recipe ingredients you mentioned above. Can’t wait to hear your feedback on how this can be improved! 🙂 Thank you! “We are working to end homelessness in South Brevard by providing housing and life stability for those literally living on the street or at risk of losing housing. Those we work with have barriers such as physical and mental disabilities, a history of abuse or addiction, or they were already barely making it when an accident, medical issue, or even a broken down car put them under. The majority of our housing clients have been homeless for years so not only do we work alongside them to locate and secure the right housing for them, but we continue to work with them for up to 18 months to assist with reintegration to “normal” living. Can you imagine how overwhelming it is to have a key to your own place after sleeping in a tent for so long? One client recently told us he slept on the floor his first night in his new apartment because sleeping in a bed again was just too much for him to handle. When something that simple is overwhelming, imagine the magnitude of cooking your own food or paying your own bills or scheduling and going to necessary doctor’s appointments on your own. One major way that we do things differently is we work using a model called “Housing First”, which means that instead of telling someone they need to address the issues that led to homelessness and THEN we will help to get them housing, we recognize that the foundation of a stable home is the key to success in being able to address the illnesses, addictions, or income instability that led to homelessness in the first place so we get them into housing first and address life stability issues from that starting point. Since starting this program in early 2016, our small team has housed over 100 adults with supports, and at this point only 3 of them have returned to homelessness. We have an amazing team of people working on this issue, but we are already at full capacity and we still have over 100 more people in South Brevard experiencing homelessness on our waiting list. We have been actively collaborating with partners in the community, healthcare industry, and at the government level to continue the success of our program. This is a never-ending job and it can be physically and emotionally exhausting, but it’s also extremely rewarding.”

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We are working to provide the community of families of the incarcerated, reliable information and resources to help them during their difficult journey. And a difficult journey it is, as you know my Daniel is in prison. I won’t go into detail on all the things we’ve had to endure. We focus on coordinating actions so that we can see successful changes – changes that families AND communities can feel and leaders can measure in relation to public interest and safety. We recently joined forces with GJP, ULGA, SCHR among others to bring together leaders that want to learn more on how they can help. Not just leaders, but companies like Mercedes Benz, Coca-Cola, UPS, Waffle House to name a few as well as area Rotary and Chamber members. These focus groups are ready to act. And we are poised to help them. But more importantly we help families like mine. This is a horrific journey and the barriers that we encounter everyday are not sustainable on any level. The NIA vision is clear! We want the criminal justice system to be one of dignity, safety and personal improvement for everyone involved. How do we get there? We get there by having people like you listen and understand that the mass incarceration predicament is real and it impacts all of us.

Great blog post. If you are searching best lift manufacturer in India then you should visit Vintec Elevator. Vintec Elevators is the best Passenger lift manufacturers

Here’s ours: I’m part of HomeShareSLO a local non-profit. We connect people and homes. “You know how some people can be lonely living alone or are on a tight budget, while others struggle to find housing? We match home providers with home seekers, increasing housing without building housing.”

Well done. I’m intrigued and want to know more. But can you throw in something that tells me about your impact. “Last year alone, we found homes for _____ families?” or perhaps the scope of need? “Did you know that in our county, ___ families move from shelter to shelter every night to keep some kind of roof over their heads?” Consider size of need and a piece of data to impress me about your impact. And I love your mission.

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About Joan Garry

Joan Garry is an internationally recognized champion for the nonprofit sector and a highly sought after executive coach for CEOs of some of the nation’s largest orgs. She is called upon by large organizations to tackle substantial change management / crisis management / leadership transitions requiring a compassionate truth-teller, a hands-on strategy advisor, a communications expert, and a focus on strong internal and external messaging. She is also the founder of the Nonprofit Leadership Lab.

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How to Create the Perfect Elevator Pitch for Your Nonprofit

If you attend networking events, you’ve probably realized how important an elevator pitch is. Having a nice, succinct speech about your organization’s mission can make a big difference in your networking efforts.

What is an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is a short, persuasive snippet of information about your business. Called an elevator pitch because you should be able to give the entire pitch during an elevator ride. Most people estimate that to be about 118 seconds, the average length of an elevator ride in New York City.

This doesn’t mean that your elevator pitch should be exactly 118 seconds (almost 2 minutes), but that it shouldn’t be any longer than that.

Why are Elevator Pitches so Important For Nonprofits?

As a nonprofit, you rely on donations, volunteers, community engagement, and public interest to operate. A good elevator pitch costs nothing but can help you secure all of those things.

When someone asks the age-old question, “What do you do?” they’re giving you the chance to talk about the incredible work your organization does. You only have a minute or two to get your point across. You can make a big impact in a short time, but you want to make sure it’s a positive impact.

How can you do that? What should a good nonprofit elevator pitch look and sound like?

The Structure of an Elevator Pitch

Because elevator pitches are short, they require careful planning. That includes dividing up the information you want to share and expanding on it at just the right time. They follow a particular structure to maximize effectiveness: hook, body, wrap-up.

1. The Hook: 10-15 seconds

This is the first part of your pitch and it should catch your listener’s attention. Don’t bother with small talk, just introduce yourself and your position. Add in one sentence, perhaps adapted from your mission statement, about your organization to give them a better idea of what it’s about. You’ll go more in depth in the body of your pitch so one sentence is plenty right now.

2. The Body: 30 – 60 seconds

This is your opportunity to expand on the information you gave in the hook. Tell your listener what makes your nonprofit special, who your work impacts, and how effective your work is. Use specifics to make your point.

3. The Wrap-Up: 20-30 seconds

This is your opportunity to wrap everything up nicely and make a specific ask. Before you even start your pitch, you should know what you’ll be asking. Do you want your listener to donate, share your nonprofit on social media, sign up as a volunteer, or something else entirely? Keep in mind that this is an elevator pitch and an invitation to become part of your organization, not a solicitation. You don’t want to be pushy.

How to Perfect Your Elevator Pitch

A great elevator pitch is more than the sum of its parts. You have to know how to put the pieces together to create an effective pitch.

Here are our top three dos and don’ts for perfecting your elevator pitch.

Do: Practice Your Pitch

Practicing your elevator pitch ensures that you’re within the recommended timeframe and that you can deliver your pitch confidently. Reading your pitch out loud will help you identify any parts that are tricky to say and allow you to rework them before going “live” with your pitch.

Rehearsing also helps you make sure you sound natural every time. It shouldn’t sound like you’ve memorized it and you shouldn’t be reading from index cards. It’s ok to commit the main points to memory, but use the rest of the pitch to inject your own personality and let your passion shine through. You’ll instantly sound more genuine.

Instead of talking to your mirror, try practicing with other members of your organization so everyone has the opportunity to perfect their pitch.

Do: Bring Your Mission to Life with Examples

This is where specifics come in. Tell your listener exactly who you help, how you help them, what problem(s) your organization solves, and the successes you’ve seen. Try to answer who, what, where, and why:

• Who does your work impact?
• What is your organization’s mission?
• Where are you located?
• Why should your listener care about your organization?

Just be careful not to overwhelm them with examples. There’s no need to share every success you’ve had over the past year, just one is enough.

Do: Give the Person Your Business Card

If you have your business cards, it’s a great idea to give your listener one after you’ve wrapped up. This ensures they have your contact information if they want to speak further, get involved, or make a donation.

Don’t: Use Jargon

If your elevator pitch is so full of jargon and industry-speak your listener can’t understand it, they’re likely to tune you out. Your pitch should be conversational and use plain language, not loaded with words the layperson can’t understand.

Don’t: Assume Your Listener is Familiar With Your Cause

Similar to not using jargon, you shouldn’t assume that your listener is familiar with your cause. The assumption that you can be vague because your listener knows what you’re talking about is a foolproof way to deliver a lackluster elevator pitch.

Don’t: Answer Questions with a List

When someone asks, “what do you do?” it would be easy to rattle off a list of the things your organization does. Reciting a list is a succinct way to answer the question, but isn’t very intriguing to listen to. Instead of listing everything you do, use this opportunity to explain a few key things your nonprofit focuses on.

Final Thoughts on Elevator Pitches

The great thing about an elevator pitch is that it’s not set in stone. You can update it as your organization grows and changes, or even tailor it to your audience. The important thing is that you have an elevator pitch the next time you find yourself at a gala, dinner, or one of your kid’s soccer games and someone asks, “so, what do you do?”

How to Craft a Successful Elevator Pitch

Elevator pitch, elevator speech or an elevator statement—whatever you choose to call it, this tiny snippet of information can make a big difference in your networking success.

The idea is that a short summary about your organization should be limited to the length of an elevator ride and should compel your audience to continue the conversation after the ride is over. However, if not done effectively, your pitch can cause more harm than good to your organization.

Here are a few tips for optimizing your elevator pitch and rocking it the next time you choose to deliver it.

Be Specific

Treat your elevator pitch much like your mission statement. Your mission statement describes the reason your organization exists, and your elevator speech should do the same with some extra information about the who, what, where and why:

Who: What is your name and what is your relation to the organization?

What: What is your mission statement and how can you adapt it?

Where: Where are you located and where is your impact focused on?

Why: Why should the person speaking to care about your organization?

Keep it Short

Did you know that the average adult’s attention span is about eight seconds? That’s shorter than a goldfish’s, so you don’t have much time to work with.

While your elevator pitch should answer all of the questions mentioned above, it should be concise and brief enough that your intended audience remembers key words. When you are putting your pitch together, time it and make sure that it is no more than 30-60 seconds . Longer elevator pitches may be appropriate in more formal settings.

Remember, a little ambiguity is good; it can help make the other person more curious about who you are and what you do. Just make sure that you save the long details for when they inquire further.

Practice Your Pitch

Just like those high school classes that made you give speeches, a good grade and positive feedback requires that you practice and perfect your pitch. The difference here is that you don’t get notecards or a podium to hide behind, so make sure you put in some extra practice into delivering your pitch.

However, avoid being stiff and robotic. That goes for body language, too—be aware of your nonverbals and the message they might relay. Bad nonverbals, like slumping or crossed arms, can overshadow your pitch.

Say your pitch often, say it clearly, but remember to speak naturally. Memorize the main points and be conversational by adding your personality into it.

Leave a Lasting Impression

Your elevator pitch should work much like a call-to-action. It should be impactful and make people want to know more about your purpose and organization.

Consider ending with an open-ended question that invites the other person to talk further. You may also have something on you that you can leave with the other person, like a small flyer or a business card. This will show your professionalism and your desire to keep in contact.

Keep in mind, however, that one size does not fit all. As you become more comfortable with approaching others with your pitch, it’s okay to customize it to fit your audience’s needs. This will help you make a more unique connection with each person you encounter.

Still wondering what a bad pitch looks like versus a good one? We’ve got you covered. Nonprofit Hub’s staff recently had a little fun crafting good and bad elevator pitches. Check it out in the video below.

Video edited by Devin Thomas.

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How to Nail the Perfect Elevator Pitch

You have just 2 minutes with a prospective donor. It’s time to #NailYourPitch.

One of the most common situations you’ll find yourself in working in the nonprofit field: Having a casual conversation with someone—someone who might even be a prospective sponsor or major donor!—and getting the question, “So what does your organization do?”

This is the perfect segue to a meaningful, productive dialogue about your nonprofit’s mission. One that could, if handled right, could lead to a powerful partnership.

You need a quick, simple response to this question in your back pocket—one that showcases your work, why it’s important, and leaves the door open for future conversations about gifts and sponsorships. We call this tidy little explanation your “elevator pitch.”

An elevator pitch should be one or two sentences, with more you can include if given the time. It should be refined, but not come out rehearsed. It’s something you and your team should practice until it is natural and second nature.

So how do you write one? Here’s a very simple template to follow for crafting your pitch:

“This is what we do, why we do it, and how you can help.”

“Here’s What We Do.”

Your basic pitch should be succinct and no frills—don’t try to include too much detail or cram lots of information into it. Get at the core of your work and the impact it has. This is a great time to brainstorm with staff and board members about representing what you do, and how you do it in as few words as possible.

Let’s say your organization builds and funds water infrastructure projects in poor communities, then works within the community to operate and maintain those resources into the future. This is pretty long-winded, and might lose your audience’s attention—not because it isn’t compelling, but because it doesn’t get to the point . And it includes a lot of specifics and details that aren’t necessary at this introductory stage.

Here’s an example of a fast and savvy pitch: “We work to ensure all children—regardless of income—have access to clean water and sanitation.”

Note that sometimes your elevator pitch might end up a little reductive, and that’s okay! Once the door is open with your prospective sponsor or donor, you’ll have more opportunities to answer specific questions and get into the meat of your work.

“This Is Why We Do It.”

The next critical piece of the pitch equation: Why does this work matter, and why is your organization best positioned to do it?

A clearly-defined need is a great way to grab someone’s attention right out of the gate. “Without clean water, illness and disease can spread easily—especially among children.”

Try starting your pitch with an engaging question that will immediately pique the listener’s curiosity: “Did you know 2 million Americans live without access to clean water?” It’s straightforward and fast. If you have a longer moment to work with, you could add a surprising statistic for more gravity: “Studies show that access to clean water leads to better health and education outcomes for kids.”

You know your hot topics better than anyone! Capitalize on the parts of your nonprofit’s story that carry emotional weight. You’ll want to hold your prospect’s attention for the most critical part of the pitch.

“Here’s How You Can Help.”

Now that you’ve laid the groundwork, it’s time to bring everything together. Why is your nonprofit best positioned to do this work—and what do you need to continue doing it? You’ve outlined a clear problem, and now comes the solution: “In two years we brought water access to 10,000 families, and have plans for 20,000 more.”

It’s exceptionally powerful to include hard numbers as a result of your nonprofit’s activity. You’re telling potential prospects that you know what you’re doing… and you get results.

But you can’t do it alone—every nonprofit relies on donors to fund this important work. By now, your potential supporter is hopefully asking you how they can help. This is a great opportunity to talk about how past giving has led to tangible achievements. Don’t be afraid to position sponsorships and gifts as filling specific needs.

And if they aren’t asking, you might gently add one last piece: Does this cause interest you? And how can a curious party get involved?

“We’re always looking for people who share our passion to help expand these efforts.” This leaves the door wide open in a friendly way that doesn’t put pressure on donating, because there are many wonderful paths for prospective donors to get involved outside of monetary giving. That involvement can be just as valuable, such as serving as a board member—which may lead to a big donation down the line.

Give everyone an opportunity to help at a level they feel comfortable with. It’s only the beginning of a relationship!

Next time we’ll talk about delivering your pitch!

It’s all about practice, practice, practice. Before your next serendipitous meeting with a potential donor, let’s #NailYourPitch!

Kiersi Burkhart

Kiersi Burkhart has been writing about fundraising, event planning, and benefit auctions for over five years. She builds on years of experience in planning and executing benefit auctions, and comes from a background providing technical support to nonprofit organizations. She's worked with many national nonprofits both on- and off-site, including the American Heart Association, JDRF, and the Arthritis Foundation.

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LATEST FROM THE BLOG

Company news and industry insights, building a good elevator pitch for your nonprofit.

Everyone involved in fundraising should know the basic concept of an elevator pitch.

Why?  Because good elevator pitches make money.

What is an elevator pitch?   It’s a short speech you give every time someone asks about what you do or where you work.   Here’s the basic scenario.  You get on the elevator and someone strikes up a conversation with you and asks where you work?   You respond with a few well-rehearsed lines in which you quickly sum up what work you do, why it’s important, and what makes your organization unique.   Then you gracefully hand off your business card.

The locations can vary.  The pitch can vary as you fine-tune it.   But the time limitation needs some respect.  Most people go wrong on the time limitation.  Keep it very short—around 30 seconds.

First, you must recognize that a question about where you work or what you do is an opportunity.   We run into these situations all the time.  Whether in line at the grocery store, at your kid’s soccer game, or, on the Metro, you can quickly find yourself in a conversation with a stranger.

Your new friend may be a potential donor.   And, you have about 30 seconds to let her know the nuts and bolts of what you do.   This is no time to explain your organization’s vision, mission, and core values statements. The time constraint may be real or self-imposed.  You want to keep the pitch short (even if you have more time) so that you don’t risk overwhelming the person with an unsolicited 5-minute infomercial.

If you are not using conversational language in your elevator pitch you are making a mistake.  An elevator pitch that uses $10 words like those found in many vision statements will not be very memorable.  If you rush the delivery of the words or sound like you are reciting, it will sound like a sales pitch.  The trick is to rehearse so often that it doesn’t sound like a sales pitch.  You should sound natural and conversational when you deliver your elevator speech and know it so well that you can even pause momentarily as if you are gathering thoughts mid-sentence.

Here are some examples:

Bad (because it requires translation for those people outside the Nonprofit community): I’m the Executive Director for the Stop Homelessness Coalition of the Greater Metropolitan Area of the District of Columbia that maintains facilities that provide shelter for homeless constituents.  Our client-focused educational process creates an environment that fosters dignity and provides value for not only our clients but also stakeholders and the community at large.  Application of these principles ……[continuing for 30 seconds].

Worse: Anything that goes over a minute–even if it isn’t using lofty Nonprofit-ese wording.

Good: I’m Executive Director for a Nonprofit that runs homeless shelters.   We [pause] help about 1,300 people per night get out of the cold during the winter months and team up with other Nonprofits to provide food for them.  [Collect a thought] What makes us different is that we have a successful job training program that helps many homeless families back on their feet.  Here’s my card.  If you’d like to see what we do, check out our website.

The hand off of the card is also vital, especially if you have a great website that really tells your organization’s story in words, pictures, and video.

The keys to a good elevator pitch are brevity, plain language, and repetition.

Write it down.  Rehearse it.  Practice it on the other staff or the volunteers.  Get feedback.  Ask to hear their elevator pitches.  Make it fun.

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Perfect Your Nonprofit Pitch: How To "Tell Your Story” In 20-Seconds Or Less

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How to Use Social Media to Improve Donor Loyalty

Sometimes one of the biggest obstacles nonprofits have to overcome is the fact that “nobody gets what we do.” As a member of the organization, you understand what you do every day… but to the general public, they just don’t understand who you serve, how your mission works, or the importance of it. To make matters worse, when you or a board member goes to explain, you get tongue-tied and don’t know quite how to phrase things because, let’s face it, you do a lot! It’s important that anyone raising awareness on behalf of your organization understands how to share your story effectively and an incredibly important component to your story is your nonprofit pitch. 

The pitch is your “spark-notes” version of your story. In essence, it is a bite-sized, action-packed, statement that tells the audience what you are all about . When pitching, less is more. Try to keep it clear and concise. The goal is to hook the listener’s attention quickly so they will want to know more and engage you further. Whether you are meeting with a potential donor or pitching the media , having a powerful nonprofit pitch will set you apart.

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Here’s what to include in a nonprofit pitch.

Who you serve + the results you achieve for those people. 

Use a hook for this. Something that instantly gets the attention of the audience. In other words, tell us what problem your organization solves… in 20 seconds or less!

PRO TIP: Make sure the nonprofit pitch is clear enough that even a second-grader could understand it. Leave out big, fancy words and industry jargon.

The pitch should be also be absolutely brimming with emotion . I remember when I was in an entrepreneur class for my princess party business in my early twenties. Yes, you read that right, I owned a princess party business and in case you were wondering, yes, I played the princesses.

Anyways, after completing the course, we held a showcase of our final products a.k.a. our businesses. During the showcase, we had an elevator pitch competition and the goal was to hook the audience in twenty seconds or less.

My pitch went something like, “Imagine the look on your child’s face when her favorite princess arrives on her special day to celebrate with her. For priceless moments and unforgettable memories call (insert princess party business name here).” See how that thing was almost nauseatingly over the top? Well, it won.

When you don’t have a lot of time, you have to be a little “extra.” The secret to not coming across as completely icky is to make your pitch about the listener . If I had said, “Have our dazzling princesses arrive to create a party you’ll never forget. With their unmatched beauty and magnetic personalities our princesses will make your party one to remember.” It doesn’t evoke the same emotional response because it is more focused on the princesses than the consumer .

Your pitch should always be about the consumer

The pitch should have the person visualizing themselves with what you are offering and not wanting to live without it. No pressure, right? In nonprofit terms, tell the problem you solve for the community because for most of us, the community is the consumer.

I currently work for a nonprofit in Indianapolis called Morning Light that operates a 12-bedroom home for hospice patients without financial resources. When we share what we do it goes something like, “Morning Light makes sure the terminally-ill with nowhere to go and no one to care for them in their final days have a place to call home and a hand to hold. We provide a warm bed, three home-cooked meals a day, and most importantly, care and dignity at the end of life’s journey.” Ultimately, we explain who we serve and how we help in a way that emotionally resonates. Later, we can get into the details of the size of the home, how we operate, who staffs the home, who sends us referrals, how we fundraise, etc… but in terms of the pitch, the goal is to show your audience what you are all about as quickly as possible. Remember, practice makes perfect. Write the twenty-second pitch and try it out on a few people. Ask for suggestions, questions, and improvements. The audience is always right.

Take your pitch a step further

Try This Too: The book Let The Story Do The Work by Esther K. Choy takes the concept of “a pitch” a step further. Instead of perfecting the “Elevator Pitch” the Author argues it is best to perfect the “Elevator Dialog.” People respond better to being talked with rather than talked at. If you are in a situation that allows for good back-and-forth, it is better to engage the listener by inviting them to participate. How can you adapt your pitch to include guided questions? An example would be to end the pitch with, “Who do you know who may be interested in this?”

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How to Give a Great Elevator Pitch (With Examples)

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How to Give a Great Elevator Pitch (With Examples) was originally published on Forage .

Though people are complex and so much more than just their jobs, in a new social situation you’re often asked, “So, what do you do?” or “What are you majoring in?” While you probably have a stock answer ready to go (I’m in sales; I’m majoring in English), the person asking may be able to help you achieve your career goals — but they won’t know unless you’ve got an elevator pitch ready to go.

An elevator pitch is an enticing and interesting three or four-sentence summary of you. But you do more than talk about yourself. Your elevator pitch gets the listener interested in what you’re capable of.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

What Is an Elevator Pitch?

How to write an elevator pitch, elevator pitch examples, elevator pitch bonus tips.

Mike Gardon of CareerCloud sums up elevator pitches like this: “When meeting someone for the first time, we all get asked what we do, right? Well, an elevator pitch is how you answer that question.”

At its core, an elevator pitch is a brief synopsis of who you are and what you do (or are trying to do). It’s named so because of the idea that you’re in an elevator with the one person who can make your career dreams come true. You’ve got the length of that elevator ride (approximately 30 seconds) to convince that person to keep listening to you.

Why You Need an Elevator Pitch (and When You’ll Use It)

In many respects, an elevator pitch is all about you. And though it may seem strange — uncomfortable even — to talk about yourself, a well-designed elevator pitch starts with you and ends with the listener.

Gardon explains, “The elevator pitch is designed to engage the person with whom you are communicating, and get them to take some next action. Think about it like this: if you were writing an email, the elevator pitch would be the subject line plus the next couple of lines that are shown in an inbox. The purpose is to get the recipient to open the email.”

In the case of your elevator pitch, you’re attempting to spark a longer conversation (or later meeting) with someone who could potentially help you professionally.

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Your elevator pitch comes in handy when you’re looking for a job. But you’ll also use various versions of your elevator pitch in situations like:

• Networking events
• Prospecting for new sales and clients
• When you’re interviewing and asked, “Tell me about yourself.”
• As the “about me” on LinkedIn, Twitter, or other social media page
• In the summary of qualifications on your resume

How Long Should an Elevator Pitch Be?

While elevator ride times vary, the general rule of thumb is that an elevator pitch is no longer than 30 seconds, which means your pitch needs to be concise.

So, you can’t include every accomplishment from your last three jobs, just the top most recent ones. As you’re honing your pitch, write it down and limit yourself to four sentences. This will help you focus on your top highlights.

In general, an elevator pitch includes four essential elements: who you are, what you do, what’s unique about you, and what your “ask” is. Though the “meat” of your pitch likely doesn’t change often, you should prepare multiple elevator pitches that you can tailor to your situation.

For example, if you’re a student, the pitch you use at a career fair may not be the same one you use at a networking event. Likewise, if you’re changing careers, you may need to switch up what your “ask” is depending on who you talk to.

Gardon offers an example. “I wear so many different hats and am involved in different businesses. So, if I want someone to be a guest on my podcast, I might tell them how we’ve done over 400 episodes, instead of telling them that I’m a former derivatives trader.”

Also, while the below elements are crucial, they can go in almost any order. While a good elevator pitch usually begins with your name, you may find that listing your skills before your accomplishments is better for your pitch.

Part 1: Who Are You?

Your elevator pitch starts with your name, of course, but also consider throwing in a “hook” that gives the person you’re speaking with an opening to ask you questions. Here are some examples:

“I’m [your name], a recent graduate of [university] with a degree in [your degree].”

“My name is [your name] and I’m a junior at [university] majoring in [your major].”

“I’m [your name] and while I’m currently in product development, I’ve decided I want to change gears and go into graphic design.”

Part 2: What Do You Do?

The second part of your elevator pitch explains what you do. However, you shouldn’t limit yourself to a job title. This is the place to mention one outstanding accomplishment from your job, internship, or even a class that will wow your listener.

Like all parts of your elevator speech, this needs to be brief, but it should also be detailed and help the listener get an idea of what you’re capable of:

“During my marketing internship at [name of company], I grew social media engagement by 43%, which resulted in an uptick in newsletter sign-ups year over year.”

“Our business is small, but that lets us have more personal interaction, which has helped us keep a small but loyal and profitable client base for 15 years.”

“After learning about the stock market, I wanted to test what I learned as well as my skills, so I created a mock portfolio that’s realized a 24% gain over the last year.”

Part 3: What’s Unique About You?

The next section of your elevator pitch includes something unique about you. While this can include specific skills, you can also trace your career path or accomplishments to illustrate how you use your skills.

Because you only have 30 seconds, you might be tempted to list your skills or accomplishments like a grocery list. But try to link them to an outcome or something you can do.

“I enjoy analyzing data and using the results to plan my content calendar, including social media posts.”

“I worked on my college newspaper, starting on the sports beat, eventually moving my way up to chief editor.”

The first example mentions one skill (data analysis ) and two outcomes (planning the content calendar and social media posts). The second example doesn’t mention any skills but illustrates the speaker’s career path (sports beat to chief editor), demonstrating an increase in skills and responsibilities.

>>>>>> Ready to level-up your data analysis skills? Try the Data & Analytics Virtual Work Experience

Part 4: Call to Action (or What’s Your Ask?)

The final part of your elevator pitch includes a call to action. Or, more specifically, what are you asking for?

Much like networking, you may not want to blurt out “a job!” even if that’s your desired outcome. This section is what you hope will happen, which could be a job, internship, or just a new networking connection.

“I would love to speak to you about being a potential mentor, if you have time.”

“I’d like to follow up with you about how I can get involved in and conduct summer research.”

“Can you tell me how you decided on [this] career?”

Each of these invites the listener to continue engaging with you either right now or in the future. 

Optional Part 5: Something Memorable

Finally, depending on the situation, you might want to include something memorable in your pitch. This is situation-dependent and only something you should do if you’re comfortable.

For example, the pitch on Gardon’s LinkedIn profile says, “Earned the Title ‘World Champion Funniest Person In The World (to my kids)’ 10 years running.”

Of course, not everyone can be the “Funniest Person in the World,” but your memorable moment could be your love of science fiction, who your favorite author is, or the fact that you just adopted a cat.

Here’s what all the elements look like when you put them together:

“I’m David, a rising senior at XYZ University and an education major. I spent last year student teaching at my old high school, and it was quite the experience being on the other side. I’m graduating in the spring and am looking to teach high school biology.”

“I’m Ella, and I’m currently an individual contributor at XYZ company running the social media accounts. I use Google Analytics to analyze and improve content performance, and my personal TikTok has XXX followers. I’m looking to move to a leadership role at a mid to large-size company where I can mentor others.”

“I’m Mike and I’m a sophomore at XYZ university. When I was a kid, I really wanted to communicate with animals, which is partly why I’m majoring in zoology. I’m not sure what career is best suited for me. Can you tell me how you ended up in yours?”

Once you’ve written (and rewritten) your elevator pitch, you’re almost ready to try it out. Before you do, though, ensure your delivery is memorable — for the right reasons!

• Practice. Practice makes perfect, of course. And while you don’t want to sound too rehearsed, you also don’t want to trip over your pitch or start rambling. Practice in front of a mirror, with friends or family, or record yourself to make sure you’re getting it right.
• Time yourself. Thirty seconds can feel like forever or fly right by. Time yourself to make sure your pitch isn’t too long or too short, and adjust as necessary.
• Use your “excited” voice. While you’ll want to use your “inside voice,” vary your tone. When you give a rehearsed speech, it should be polished but not robotic. Try to bring some excitement to your voice as you speak.
• Speak slowly. You may want to cram as much as possible into your 30 seconds, but that could result in you speaking too quickly to try to get it all in, making it tough for the listener to understand you. As hard as it might be, stick to one or two main points.
• Maintain eye contact. While you don’t want to stare at the listener the whole time, you don’t want to stare at the floor either. Maintain the level of eye contact that feels normal and natural to you, and break eye contact when appropriate.

Make Your Pitch

An elevator pitch is useful in all sorts of professional (and even personal!) situations. By taking stock of what you do and what you want to do, you’ll find the perfect elements to include in yours and impress the next person you pitch it to.

Want more insights into creating the perfect pitch? Check out Ashurst’s Building Your Personal Brand Virtual Experience Program .

Image credit: Canva

The post How to Give a Great Elevator Pitch (With Examples) appeared first on Forage .

How To Create a Great Nonprofit Elevator Pitch – aka “Verbal Branding”

what you promise to be/do. It’s just enough to engage someone and make them say: “Please, tell me more!”

Just came across this great article http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2012/07/17/how-to-pitch-anything-in-15-seconds/ about how to pitch anything in 15 seconds. It's a great process for developing an elevator pitch. Check it out!

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How Nonprofit Storytelling Shapes Your Elevator Pitch

July 9, 2019

Storytelling permeates nearly every aspect of our society. The human brain is hardwired to respond to the power of storytelling. From curling up with a good book, to taking a trip to the movies, to listening to your friend recount what they did last weekend, human beings love to be enthralled by stories. 

Throughout history, people have moved nations, changed minds, and touched hearts with only the power of words on their side. They do this by creating a narrative so powerful and emotionally charged that people cannot ignore what they are saying. 

We respond better and remember more when information is presented as a narrative. But there is a limit to how long people are willing to pay attention to stories they are not already invested in. Brevity is the key to this kind of communication. 

Incorporate storytelling into your nonprofit’s elevator pitches and see more people become invested in your organization and the cause it supports. When approaching storytelling in your elevator pitches, make sure you understand the following: 

• Why is nonprofit storytelling important?  
• How to tell your nonprofit’s story
• How to make your nonprofit elevator pitch
• Nonprofit elevator pitch samples

Let’s dive in and prepare you to share your nonprofit’s fundraising and engage more donors!

1. Why is nonprofit storytelling important? 

Storytelling may seem like an ambiguous and immeasurable concept that’s difficult to apply to marketing in concrete ways . But, this could not be more wrong—storytelling is a science! As humans, we seek emotional connection and intellectual stimulation . Nonprofit storytelling combines these two elements to maximize the impact of your nonprofit’s marketing strategy.  

When we hear a story, it is a natural impulse to become engrossed in the narrative. In other words: Our brains actively participate during storytelling. 

We experience, in a small way, what the speaker is saying. We imagine ourselves in the story. We empathize with the characters in the story. This all makes the stories, or any content that has a story-like structure, more memorable. As a member of a nonprofit marketing team, you surely understand that being memorable is a huge part of your job. 

Information isn’t everything when it comes to marketing your nonprofit. The way you present your nonprofit materials to donors and potential donors greatly influences how they will respond. Donors want to see the human element of your nonprofit. They want to see the impact that your organization has and imagine their own potential influence.   

Your organization does amazing work that helps contribute to the social good. So, why hide what you do behind spreadsheets and data reports? Make sure your nonprofit’s story is clearly highlighted in a way that guarantees the highest chance at success.  

2. How to tell your nonprofit’s story 

While there are many ways to go about storytelling, there are a few story frameworks and stories that have proven their success time after time, among them The Hero’s Journey , the Narrative Framework , and, of course, the Pixar Pitch . These story frameworks contain all the greatest elements of stories that have shaped literature, film, and now, marketing techniques. 

These frameworks can all be adapted to suit your nonprofit’s needs. If you rely on The Hero’s Journey framework you can depict the donor as the hero who enables your good work and you are merely their mentor figure who gets the process rolling.  

For a clear and easy way to get started developing your nonprofit’s story, consider telling one of the following story types: 

• The genesis story. Explain how your organization started and explore the driving, motivating forces that are behind your organization’s goals. Don’t be afraid to delve into the importance of your cause and why change is needed.
• The future story. Rooted in the human desire to leave the world a better place, this story will convey what could be if your organization succeeds and achieves its goals. This will impress upon your audience the vital importance of your organization in bettering the world.
• The beneficiary story. Indicate who you are helping and how their life has changed because of the efforts of your organization. This will put a name, or even a face, on the beneficiaries of your efforts and will increase the likelihood of your audience forming an emotional bond with your cause.
• The staff story. Shine a spotlight on your nonprofit staff who make everything happen. Reveal what goes on behind the curtain at your organization and demonstrate that people are extremely passionate about your cause and are willing to work hard to accomplish your organization’s goals.
• The supporter story. Focus on the impact that an individual supporter can have. Allow the potential donor to see how they can make a difference and further your important cause. 

These story formats will help you uncover what is truly important to your organization and the real reason why you do what you do. Your genesis story, for example, gets back to the root issue or problem your organization exists to solve. 

Think of your mission statement. This should be one of the first places you implement storytelling techniques, albeit in a very concise, laser-focused way. After all, years of board meetings, fundraising campaigns, and marketing struggles can make it surprisingly easy to lose focus on your original driving goals. This is called ‘mission drift’, and you can help prevent it by writing a strong mission statement centered around the future you envision or the beneficiaries you seek to help. 

Telling stories can help you refocus your organization’s mission and make it memorable for your audience. Plus, it’ll serve as an even stronger guiding light or roadmap for your team. Using one of the storytelling frameworks listed above can reduce your team’s stress and make it easier to tell the stories that your audience wants and responds to.

3. How to make your nonprofit elevator pitch 

All members of your nonprofit team need to be prepared to share what your organization stands for, what you do, and why you are important. If a community member asks about your nonprofit, every person involved in your organization needs to be able to answer accurately and succinctly. 

Perfect your elevator pitch so people can easily understand both your organization’s role in your community and the wider world. 

An elevator pitch is a quick, engaging summary of the work you do. It should be simple, easily understood, and memorable. Increasingly elevator pitches aren’t done in person, rather they are exchanged via email, websites, chats, videos, etc. No matter how you are giving your pitch, make sure it is succinct and informative, while also emphasizing the emotional component of your work. 

There are many ways to form an elevator pitch, but here are 6 of the best: 

While all of these are useful in their own right, the Pixar pitch is especially valuable because of its reliance on nonprofit storytelling. This framework clearly outlines what your organization should talk about and how you should approach the topic, ensuring you don’t encounter any obstacles in your fundraising strategy. 

Having your elevator pitch rely on a storytelling model ensures you have grabbed the attention of your audience from the start. Time is valuable when giving an elevator pitch and you need to make every second count. When you have real people and real evidence to present, listeners or readers will be more engaged and more likely to remember your organization long after the conversation is over. 

4. Nonprofit elevator pitch samples

Developing with a new storytelling-based marketing strategy for your nonprofit may seem daunting, but it is really simple. Check out these elevator speech examples for nonprofits that use the Pixar pitch format to help you get started. 

The Pixar pitch story format is surprisingly simple and flexible. You can even use the Pixar pitch format to incorporate the classic Hero’s Journey trope into a beneficiary story:

• Once upon a time, there was a woman named Florence in Rwanda who was fighting to provide for her children.
• Every day, she would wake up at the crack of dawn and work all day but never quite get ahead.
• One day, she saw a group of women with an Opportunity International loan officer under a tree and walked over to see what was going on.
• Because of that, she learned how a micro-loan could help her start her own milk distribution business in her neighborhood.
• Because of that, she was able to employ other people, open two stores and earn more income with less work.
• Until finally, she had earned enough profit where she could provide a quality education for her son Johnson.

One of the most popular trends in nonprofit storytelling is to depict the donor as the hero, seen below:

• Once upon a time, there were thousands of people living in the village of Yella, Ethiopia without access to clean water, which sadly contributed to preventable death and disease in the community.
• Every day, women and children would walk for hours just to fetch usable, drinkable water, taking up valuable time away from work, for women, and school, for children.
• One day, Jenny decided to participate in the Abbotsford Run for Water and raise funds for the Run for Water Foundation.
• Because of that, Jenny raised $350 by inviting friends and family to donate to her page.
• Because of that, the Run for Water foundation was able to provide clean water to 10 villagers in Yella, Ethiopia from Jenny alone.
• Finally, thanks to Jenny and other dedicated supporters, the entire village of Yella has access to clean, drinkable, usable water letting women and children spend more time generating income and going to school.

Your stories should, in some way, be donor-centric, relating back to the donor’s potential impact should they get involved in your organization. Storytelling, while most obviously present in the Pixar pitch, can also be found in the other types of pitch. You can easily distill the information in these pitches to satisfy the requirements of any of the other pitches. For example, we have turned the second Pixar Pitch into each of the following: 

• The one-word pitch. The six-word phrase “provide clean water to developing countries” can easily be concentrated into a single word: water. 
• The question pitch. How long do you think you can go without access to clean water?
• The rhyming pitch. When it’s water you must supply, don’t stand idly by. 
• The twitter pitch. Provide clean water to those who need it most with the Run for Water Foundation. 
• The subject line pitch. Want to help quench the clean water crisis? 

No matter which type of pitch you choose to utilize, there is always a way to emphasize the storytelling element of marketing. You can tug on heartstrings, inspire with facts, or open someone’s eyes to the truth of the situation, all with your elevator pitch. 

Storytelling is an integral part of nonprofit marketing, especially when it comes to elevator pitches. In order to capture the interest of your audience and embed your organization in their memory, you must concentrate on telling your nonprofit’s story in a way that is impactful and memorable. 

Additional resources for nonprofit storytelling include: 

• What Makes a Strong Impact Story? See what can maximize your nonprofit story’s impact with this guide!
• Building a Strong Nonprofit Brand. A step-by-step guide and free resources for cultivating your nonprofit’s brand. 
• Stewardship Stories: 4 Things You Have to Do . Find out how you can use storytelling to steward donors with this article. 
• A Great Nonprofit Brand is About People. Learn more about the importance of maintaining the human element of your nonprofit with this post!

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• Marketing and Design

The Elevator Speech

What is an elevator speech and why do you need one.

That’s one of those marketing catchphrases that gets thrown around a lot in branding exercises. What is it? Is it still relevant?

Chances are you have inadvertently created one and didn’t even know it. You’re at a networking event and someone comes up to you and asks you what your organization does. You know you have less than a minute to communicate about your company, your mission, your value proposition, your successes, your membership base…sigh. So, you rattle off a few salient points and hope that you have communicated effectively. That’s an elevator speech you created on the fly.

What if you created one thoughtfully and taught everyone in the organization to use the same one? If someone asks about your organization, you have a golden opportunity with a captive audience and you need to make the best first impression you can. And you want everyone else in your organization to make the most out of those precious opportunities.

There are many different mindsets and methods on how to write an effective elevator speech. But they all come down to the same result: describing your organization quickly and effectively in an engaging way in 30 seconds.

Your Attention, Please

You want to grab your audience’s attention first and foremost. Starting with an interesting fact or anecdote is a great way to begin.

“My organization is over 100 years old and our first member was Alexander Graham Bell.”

“The ABC membership organization has helped over 2,000 people find jobs in the construction industry.”

“Did you know that there is only one organization in the United States that creates the standards that define safety standards for this industry?”

Once you have their engagement, move on to what you feel is the most important thing to communicate about your organization. This can come from your mission and vision statement or your value proposition. But, one size might not fit all. You may need to tailor what you communicate based on your audience. Think about what the person you are talking to might find interesting. That might mean you have a list of points to communicate in your head so you can vary what you say.

And while what you say is important, what’s more important is HOW you say it. Keep your elevator speech conversational. Your elevator speech should be delivered with genuine passion and enthusiasm. Let your belief in the organization’s mission and the value it offers shine through. A passionate delivery is infectious and can leave a lasting impression on your listeners.

Make sure that you’re aware of your body language as you talk, which conveys just as much information to the listener as your words do. Practice in front of a mirror or, better yet, in front of colleagues, until the pitch feels natural.

Crafting an effective elevator speech for your membership organization is an art that requires a deep understanding of your organization’s value proposition and the needs of your target audience. With a concise, compelling, and passionate pitch, you can captivate potential members, forge valuable partnerships, and drive growth for your organization. Embrace the power of the elevator speech, and watch as it becomes a catalyst for expanding your membership community and fulfilling your organization’s mission.

Elevate your pitch and elevate your organization to new heights of success!

If you need help crafting your organization’s value proposition, mission, vision, and elevator speech, Nonprofit Resources can help.

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How to Write Your Elevator Speech

Kivi Leroux Miller, Founder and CEO

Wake Forest University’s business school held its Seventh Annual Elevator Competition this weekend. Teams of business school students from around the country got two minutes on an elevator ride to pitch their million-dollar idea to a venture capitalist. The winners get a cash prize, free professional services, and a real meeting with a potential investor.

Wouldn’t it be great if the nonprofit sector had a similar contest? The winners could get meetings with program officers at some of the nation’s biggest foundations.

Philanthropy Journal offers the next best thing, I suppose. On their website and in their e-newsletters, the editors allow nonprofits to tell their story in 50 words or less . It’s a great opportunity and a valuable exercise for all nonprofits to try.

Here are a few tips for writing a 50-word blurb, or creating your elevator message. Remember, you only have 3-4 short sentences in total.

Don’t just repeat your mission statement. Mission statements are often “pie in the sky” or full of buzzwords that don’t actually say what you do.

Tell us what you do and who you do it for. Donors want to know how their support makes a difference on the ground.

Share a quantitative result. How many people did you help last year? How many acres did you save? Whatever it is you measure, throw in a stat about your accomplishments.

Provide some perspective. Put your work in context, in one sentence. Why is what you do so important? What’s the scale of the problem?

Spell out the opportunity. Complete this sentence: “With some additional resources, we could . . . “

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How to help Board Members Craft their Elevator Speech

Dec 18, 2018 Message

PO Box 530102 Birmingham, AL 35253

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Nonprofit Chapin

Nonprofit development consultant helping organizations with their fundraising planning & strategy

Tag: elevator speech

Quick sell yourself.

I bet if you asked twenty people their top five hated activities, networking would be mentioned more than once. People hate networking. It feels awkward, scary and weird. But it doesn’t have to! Here are some tips to remember when networking!

• Make an elevator speech for yourself. We’ve all heard of the phrase elevator speech – the idea that you have 30 seconds to describe the organization you work for. Concoct a description of you and what you’re looking for in three sentences or less. Example: “I work doing fundraising and marketing for a nonprofit in San Diego, and my ultimate goal is to become a CEO of a nonprofit. I’m interested in learning more about nonprofit operations and all the facets that make them work.” Follow your elevator speech with the next bullet. Note: Even if you don’t have a job/aren’t working in the field you want, you can still make a self elevator speech! Lead with your passion and you’ll get what you’re hoping for.
• Balance what you want with what they want. As humans, we’re inherently selfish. What’s in it for me? is the first thing we ask ourselves in everything we do. Make your self elevator speech about what you can offer to the listener. If they represent a nonprofit you’d like to get to know, offer to visit their facility or make a donation. Demonstrating your value up front is the best way to make an impression.
• Listen. It sounds easy, but it can be harder than you think! Let go of all distractions when you’re networking and focus on what you’re saying and what the listener is saying. Respond to what she says. If she interjects with a shared experience, listen to it and respond. It takes two to tango – don’t make the conversation one sided .
• Show your interest. Make eye contact. Give a firm handshake. Smile. These things make a world of difference! When you outwardly express ease and interest, the listener will do the same. Have you heard of the phrase smile and the world smiles with you ? It’s true!

These tips could translate to many situations – in an interview, when meeting your boyfriend’s parents, or even in any workplace conversation. If you respect the listener and that comes across in your interaction, you’ll have them hanging on your every word!

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