How do you create a winning pitch for your non-profit?

1 Know your audience

Before you start writing or rehearsing your pitch, you need to do some research on your audience. What are their goals, motivations, challenges, and values? How do they relate to your nonprofit's cause and beneficiaries? What are their expectations and questions? How much time and attention do they have? By knowing your audience, you can tailor your pitch to their needs, interests, and preferences, and avoid wasting their time or boring them.

2 Define your objective

Next, you need to clarify what you want to achieve with your pitch. What is the main message you want to convey? What is the specific action you want your audience to take? How will you measure the success of your pitch? By defining your objective, you can focus your pitch on the most relevant and persuasive information, and avoid getting sidetracked or overwhelmed by details.

3 Structure your pitch

A good pitch has a clear and logical structure that guides your audience through your story. A simple and effective structure is the problem-solution-impact model, where you first describe the problem that your nonprofit is addressing, then explain how your nonprofit is solving it, and finally showcase the impact that your nonprofit is creating. You can also use the hook-story-ask model, where you first capture your audience's attention with a hook, then tell them a compelling story that illustrates your nonprofit's work, and finally ask them for their support.

4 Use stories and data

One of the best ways to make your pitch memorable and convincing is to use stories and data. Stories help you connect with your audience on an emotional level, and show them the human side of your nonprofit's work. Data helps you back up your claims with evidence, and show them the scale and scope of your nonprofit's work. You can use stories and data to illustrate the problem, the solution, and the impact of your nonprofit, and to highlight your unique value proposition and differentiation.

5 Practice and refine

Once you have written your pitch, you need to practice and refine it until you are confident and comfortable with it. You can practice by yourself, with a colleague, or with a friend, and ask for feedback on your content, delivery, and style. You can also record yourself and watch or listen to your pitch, and look for ways to improve it. You should aim to make your pitch concise, clear, and engaging, and avoid jargon, filler words, or distractions.

6 Follow up and follow through

After you have delivered your pitch, you need to follow up and follow through with your audience. You can follow up by sending them a thank-you note, a summary of your pitch, or any additional information they requested. You can also invite them to connect with you on social media, join your newsletter, or visit your website. You should also follow through by keeping them updated on your progress, fulfilling your promises, and delivering on your expectations.

By following these tips, you can create a winning pitch for your nonprofit that captures your audience's attention, showcases your impact, and motivates them to support your cause.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?