Nonprofits selected - 2009 Social Innovation Fast Pitch program
LASVP, Social Enterprise Institute, University of Southern California
September 21, 2009

By Diane Helfrey

LASVP is once again co-hosting the Social Innovation Fast Pitch program with the Social Enterprise Institute and the University of Southern California. The Social Innovation Fast Pitch is a two-month training and mentoring program for innovative nonprofits that are effecting social change in Greater Los Angeles, culminating in the Social Innovation Fast Pitch competition and showcase on November 11, 2009.

The goal of the Social Innovation Fast Pitch program is to build the capacity of and create visibility for innovative local nonprofits and the social entrepreneurs who lead them. Nonprofits are nominated and selected to participate based on their innovative approaches to creating social change and their potential for significant positive community impact. Leaders from 20 organizations will participate in the program, where they will receive training, feedback and mentoring on how to succinctly and powerfully “tell their story”. Past participants have stated that the program was invaluable, resulting in greater confidence and effectiveness when making presentations, increased exposure for their organization, and additional support from new donors and volunteers.

2009 Program Participants include:

A Window Between Worlds

Community Advocates for People's Choice

Center for Nonviolent Education and Parenting

Circle of Friends

City Hall Fellows

Compton Jr. Posse Foundation

Free Arts for Abused Children

Get Lit - Words Ignite, Inc.

Girls and Gangs

Giving Children Hope

Growing Great

Harmony Project

Imagine LA

Infrastructure Academy

Inside Out Writers

New City Public Schools

Proyecto Pastoral

Reef Check Foundation

Shanes Inspiration

The Learning Garden

The Posse Foundation, Inc.

Whole Child Foundation

After several coaching sessions, 10 finalists will be selected make three-minute “pitches” to a panel of judges and an audience of more than 300 investors, business and nonprofit leaders, and other members of Southern California's entrepreneurial community at the event on November 11. Participating nonprofits will compete to win up to a total of $20,000 in grants. Last year’s prize winners include Everyone Deserves a Roof, Environmental Charter High School and Saint Barnabus Senior Services. (To watch a highlight reel of last year’s event, see www.socialinnovationpitch.org.)

Event registration is open, and early registration deadline is October 31! To register, click here.

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