13 Feb 2013 2 Comments

How to craft your nonprofit’s elevator pitch in 4 simple steps


An elevator pitch is a bite sized description of your organization’s mission and plan. Developing one is a fantastic exercise in focus and concision. Your elevator pitch will serve as your nonprofit’s north star. All activity must steer the ship north. An effective pitch will more importantly describe your nonprofit’s work to others and get them to act. Here’s how to craft an effective elevator pitch for your nonprofit.

We’ll use FirstGiving as an example.

1. Start with WHY

Starting with why is critical. This messaging should speak to a truism that others can easily understand.

The elevator pitch’s first sentence should address your nonprofit’s purpose. What’s the core value? What do you believe in? Should no child go hungry? Should all animals be treated with respect?

FirstGiving’s Why: There should be no barrier to online charitable giving.

2. The problem – What is your nonprofit trying to solve?

How is this core belief being compromised? What’s the problem? Why does your organization need to exist? Are children in Kenya going hungry? Are we raising chickens in poor conditions?

The problem according to FirstGiving: Nonprofits and fundraisers don’t have all the necessary tools to fundraise online.

3. The solution – How will your nonprofit solve the problem?

How will your nonprofit solve the problem? What specific strategies do you have? Make sure you highlight key initiatives. Will your nonprofit be delivering food to Kenya? Are you building a better farm for chickens?

FirstGiving’s solution: FirstGiving offers nonprofits and individual fundraisers tools to raise donations online. We do this by providing users a secure, online donation platform, email/communication tools, branding options, data on your donors/fundraisers, event registration, and world class support.

4. The Request – What are you asking your listener to do?

Should they sign your petition? Subscribe to your blog? Donate to your food drive? Visit your chicken farm website? Make sure to include a task.

FirstGiving’s request: Sign up and begin fundraising for your cause today!

Make sure everyone in your organization can recite the elevator pitch

Remember, the elevator pitch serves as the north star. The ship won’t sail north if crew members are looking at the wrong stars.

The elevator pitch must be short and easy to understand

Grandparents and young children must be able to understand the words that are coming out of your mouth. The elevator pitch should be recited in layman’s terms. No fancy, technical mumbo jumbo, just plain and simple english.

Putting it all together: FirstGiving’s elevator pitch

There should be no barrier to online charitable giving. However, there isn’t an effective way for nonprofit’s and individuals to fundraise online. Fortunately, FirstGiving offers nonprofits and individual fundraisers tools to raise more donations than they ever thought possible. We provide users with a secure, online donation platform. Our easy-to-use product includes an email/communication tool, branding options, data on your donors/fundraisers, event registration, and world class support. Sign up and begin fundraising for your cause today!

Tell-the-Truth-Today,-Raise-More-Tomorrow--Assessing-your-Online-Fundraising-Capacity

Photo Courtesy NightRStar 2010

by Dan Fonseca in Nonprofit Resources Tags: