Fast Pitch event showcases local nonprofits

Four local nonprofits won cash prizes at Monday night’s Fast Pitch, an annual event that’s the culmination of a months-long capacity-building program.

The event, held at the Tampa Theatre, is hosted by Social Venture Partners (SVP), an organization with a mission to bolster the growth and sustainability of regional nonprofits by utilizing its members’ expertise and resources. Seven nonprofit leaders competed for unrestricted grant funding by delivering their best elevator pitch in front of a live audience.

Of the seven nonprofits that competed, these four took home top prizes:

• 1st Place: WellFed Community
• 2nd Place: New Tampa Players
• 3rd Place: EmpowHERment
• Audience Choice: Girls Rock St. Pete

Winners of the 2024 Fast Pitch competition took home unrestricted grant funding ranging from $15,000 to $5,000. Photos provided.

The Florida Dream Center, NAMI Pinellas County and the Water Smart Tots Foundation also took part in Monday’s event. Before getting on the Fast Pitch stage, the nonprofit leaders participate in a rigorous four-month business accelerator class. SVP mentors volunteer their time to give participants lessons on operations, marketing, finance and properly communicating their mission.

“This was another great year of nonprofit presentations. It’s exciting to see the pitches and all the progress the nonprofit leaders have made with their Social Venture Partners mentoring,” said Mike Lally, SVP Co-Chair. “While the prize money certainly makes the event exciting, I’m convinced the biggest return on investment for each of the nonprofits is the strategy and skills they develop over the 16-month program.”

The goal of the program is to provide funding and strategic consulting to innovative nonprofits addressing critical issues in the Tampa Bay region. The business accelerator classes and Fast Pitch event are made possible with the help of SVP partners and Community Foundation Tampa Bay. CFTB has been the title sponsor of Fast Pitch since its inception in 2016. Dr. Jesse Coraggio, CFTB’s Senior Vice President of Community Impact, said organizers carefully selected this year’s seven participants from more than 50 applicants.

“You hear about the big nonprofits on a regular basis, but this event is really a good showcase of medium to small nonprofits that are doing boots-on-the-ground work to uplift our community,” Corragio said.

While the ultimate goal is to win the pitch competition and take home an unrestricted grant, program organizers and participants laud the skill gained by participating in the accelerator course, which is developed and led by some of the region’s top educators and business professionals.

“A social enterprise is successful based on the presence of three things: Personnel capacity, strategic capacity and financial capacity. Participating in SVP’s Fast Pitch gave WellFed Community all three,” said Dhalia Bumbaca, co-founder of first-place winner WellFed Community. “I am so grateful to have gained a group of mentors and partners to depend on, the time and place to develop ideas and the financial investment to make it all happen.”

Program organizers said the Fast Pitch initiative is a testament to what can be achieved when the nonprofit sector and business community come together; a prime example of “philanthropy in action,” where generous donations pave the way for tangible change.

“I was in awe. Every speech at Fast Pitch reminded me of the important work happening in Tampa Bay to uplift and heal our community,” said Jesse Miller, executive director of Girls Rock St. Pete, the 2024 audience choice winner. “SVP values the innovation and passion we have as leaders: Not just as charity workers, but as change-makers invested in the quality of life of all citizens.”