Fast Pitch

Save the date! Fast Pitch ‘26 — our 10th Anniversary Showcase — is Wednesday, April 15th at Malcolm X College. Doors open at 5, showcase begins at 6 pm. Stay tuned for more information about our spectacular community-based nonprofit leaders representing organizations from Chicago’s South and West Sides in Fast Pitch ‘26 (and scroll down to meet the cohort!)

Chicago Youth Boxing Club ● Fields of Dreams ● Girls Like Me Project ● Hustle Mommies ● Lifeline to Hope ● Raw Talent Performing Arts ● The Roots Initiative ● Shoe Heals ● STEAM & Dream Liberation Labs ● Think B.L.U.E. Foundation

FAQs
Testimonials
Fast Pitch Videos

Meet the Cohort

  • Noah Pickens

    Executive Director
    Chicago Youth Boxing Club

  • James "Jay" Fields

    Founder/Executive Director
    Fields of Dreams

  • La'Keisha Gray-Sewell

    Executive Director

    Girls Like Me Project

  • Ariel DeNey Rainey

    CEO

    Hustle Mommies

  • Autry Phillips

    Executive Director

    Lifeline to Hope

  • Omouzuwa A. Seymour-EL

    Executive Director

    Raw Talent Performing Arts

  • Tanesha Peeples

    Founder

    The Roots Initiative

  • Charisma Cannon

    Founder/Executive Director

    ShoeHeals

  • Scott Tillman

    Executive Director and Founder

    STEAM & Dream Liberation Labs

  • Blue Pacheco-Cornejo

    CEO, President, Founder

    Think B.L.U.E. Foundation

Fast Pitch FAQ

  • Fast Pitch is a free, two-month communications training and mentoring program for innovative nonprofits that are effecting social change in Chicago. Nonprofit leaders are selected from a pool of candidates recommended by community leaders.

    Each nonprofit leader receives training and mentoring from a team of two SVP Chicago partners who help them refine their messaging and develop a three-minute pitch to tell their story in a powerful and compelling way.

    The program culminates in a high energy, rapid-fire showcase event during which the nonprofit leaders share the mission, vision, and impact of their organization with an in-person and virtual audience to fundraise and friendraise.

  • We know from past participants that the program is about so much more than the pitch:

    • The refined messaging can transform how you talk about your organization across communications platforms.

    • You can make connections with other nonprofit leaders that last beyond the two-month program.

    • The showcase leads to more donations, potential volunteers and board members, and broader exposure for you and your organization.

    • Program alumni join our network of nonprofits we support with our organization-building help.

    • It is important to us that all organizations who are accepted into the program are compensated for their time. As such, SVP Chicago gives each nonprofit leader who completes the program a small, unrestricted grant.

  • Participants are expected to attend three practice pitches and the showcase event. You can anticipate a weekly commitment of approximately 4-5 hours to practice with your coaches and prepare for each pitch.

    Orientation: January 29

    First Practice Pitch: February 17

    Second Practice Pitch: March 5

    Third Practice Pitch: Wednesday, March 18

    Main Event: Wednesday, April 15

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Quilen Blackwell, President & Co-founder, Chicago Eco House –Fast Pitch 2021

“Participating in SVP Chicago’s Fast Pitch changed how we talk about our organization. Working with my coaches, I was able to crystalize our messaging to go beyond talking about the programs and, instead, focus on telling our story more broadly.

The program also gave me access to SVP’s network of partners which has led to pro bono organization building support and more. This helped us to gain national media coverage on the Today Show, 60 Second Docs, Steve Harvey on Watch, New York Times, Forbes, and many others. Furthermore, our revenue has grown significantly from the time we started the program to now, which I attribute to our improved messaging. While the program is a time commitment, the value I received and continue to receive was well worth it.”

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To view our previous Fast Pitch showcases, click below.

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