In an effort to support social entrepreneurs tackling some of this city’s toughest problems, and to contribute to the innovative, vibrant culture in the Los Angeles area, Los Angeles Social Venture Partners (LASVP), the Academies for Social Entrepreneurship (ASE), and the University of Southern California have partnered to produce the annual “Social Innovation Fast Pitch.”

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 on October 21, 2010.

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. 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”. Through the process, they will also build valuable cross-sector relationships.

While all nonprofit organizations seek financial support, most could also use non-financial resources such as idle capacity; donated goods; board members; strategic advice; executive coaching; legal, accounting, marketing, or logistics assistance to build their skills and capacity.

Conversely, many in the business community would like to give more of their time and expertise, but don’t have a good outlet or haven’t been asked. Once engaged, they often become financial supporters as well.

The Social Innovation Fast Pitch bridges this gap by connecting and actively engaging members of the business community with nonprofits in a highly effective, programmatic manner. Members of the business community serve as coaches and mentors over a two-month period. Other business leaders, venture capitalists, and social investors are among the judges and audience members at the event. And nonprofits learn to tell their story and to engage the support of a diverse array of community members.

The evening event on October 21, 2010 at the University of Southern California will be comprised of a keynote session, fast pitch presentations by some of LA’s most innovative nonprofit organizations, and a networking reception where attendees can interact with the social entrepreneurs and nonprofit presenters. (To see a short highlight video from the 2009 Fast Pitch, click here.)

Anyone interested in learning about and supporting innovation in the social sector in Los Angeles. Our annual Fall event brings together almost 400 people from the business, government, academic and nonprofit worlds who want to support the development of a social enterprise culture in Los Angeles.

Through the program, we aim to expand the network of individuals and organizations that value innovation, accountability and operational stability in top-performing nonprofits. Anyone who seeks to contribute their skills, expertise, finances and connections in ways that contribute to building stronger organizations is encouraged to attend.

• Applications will be accepted until July 19th. If you would like to see the Call for Applications document, click here. 
• All applications must be submitted online through the website.
• The Selection Committee will review all submissions, and, based on the submissions and possible fact checking or other follow-up, will invite approximately twenty (20) semi-finalists to participate. 
• The semi-finalists will attend a presentation workshop and have approximately one week to prepare for the first coaching session. 
• The semi-finalists will participate in a series of group coaching and one-on-one mentoring sessions leading up to the event. This process will help them to distill the key elements of their mission, approach, impact, and needs into a three-minute presentation. They will have access to valuable strategic advice, resources, and the opportunity to cultivate ongoing relationships. It is highly recommended that participants attend all sessions, but in any event, participants must attend one of the first two group coaching sessions. 
• The Selection Committee and coaches will select 10 finalists to present at the event, showcase their nonprofit, and compete for cash grants.
• The finalists will have one additional coaching session before the event.

In 2009, 50 nonprofits submitted applications and 10 were selected as finalists. We expect the number of applications will increase each year, and the number of finalists to remain fairly constant.

The following criteria are considered for selecting the 20 program participants:

• Potential for tangible societal impact – Does this idea address an important social issue? Is it already having or likely to have a significant impact?
• Innovation – Is this approach or idea novel and unique?
• Sustainability – Has the organization determined how to create longevity and scalability for the mission?
• Understanding of market – Does the leadership of the organization understand the market dynamics, challenges, opportunities, and next steps?
• Entrepreneurial leadership – Is the team resourceful and results oriented? Are they bold, inspired and committed to making a difference?

1. Read the application thoroughly and familiarize yourself with the information requested.
2. Create a Word or pdf document with the requested information, including your responses to the narrative questions. You do not have to include the questions themselves in your application. The finished product should be 3-pages or less in total, and must be in no smaller than 12 point Arial font with margins of no less than 1 inch.
3. Then go back to the website. Enter all required fields and upload your application. Note that the website WILL ONLY ACCEPT .pdf, .doc, and .docx document formats (pdfs are preferred).
4. Completed applications must be submitted through our website by July 19. You are allowed and even encouraged to submit it early.
5. We will notify you by email as soon as possible that we have received your application after it has been submitted. However, please note that we expect to receive many applications, and it may take us a day or two to confirm with everyone.
6. We will let you know whether you’ve been selected into the program or not by August 20.
7. If you are accepted, you will be required to submit proof of tax-exempt status or fiscal sponsorship no later than August 31.
   

The formal training process is approximately two months long and culminates in the Social Innovation Fast Pitch on October 21, 2010. During this time, participants have access to valuable strategic advice to help them strengthen their organizations, and will have the opportunity to cultivate ongoing relationships and other resources.

There are three aspects to the training program:

• Presentation Workshop: Semi-finalists will participate in a workshop with USC Marshall School of Business professors to learn about the key elements of an effective presentation.
• Coaching Sessions: Semi-finalists practice their pitch in front of a group of volunteer coaches from the business community who will provide immediate feedback on their presentation.
• Mentoring & Presentation Development: Semi-finalists will also be assigned to work with one or more volunteer mentor(s) who will assist them in distilling the feedback and refining their pitch into a crisp three-minute presentation.
  
  

There are many ways to show your support of the Social Innovation Fast Pitch.

Sponsors: This event is not possible without the financial assistance of generous supporters. Donations and grants are tax-deductible and will go toward supporting the program, event, and awards. A variety of sponsor packages are available, and we are willing to be as creative and accommodating as possible with your sponsorship as long as the ask falls within the spirit of the Social Innovation Fast Pitch. If you are interested in sponsoring this high-profile and high-impact event, see our Sponsor page and please contact Diane Helfrey at diane.helfrey @ lasvp.org.

Participants: In order to be considered for selection, nonprofits must apply through our website. The application period for 2010 is now closed.  If you have additional questions, please contact Rob Biniaz at info @ lasvp.org.

Coaches: Coaches are an essential part of the training program. Coaches will attend the four coaching sessions to evaluate and give feedback to the nonprofits on their three-minute pitches. (Attendance at all four sessions is desirable, but not required.) In addition, they will mentor 1 or 2 nonprofits between sessions to refine their pitch. A training session will he held for Coaches on how to be effective in their volunteer role, and there will be additional support for volunteers throughout the process. If you are interested in participating as a volunteer Coach, please contact Ken Deemer at ken @ interven.com.

In-Kind Support: The Social Innovation Fast Pitch is specifically seeking business and professional communities to supply critical skills for the production of this event. In addition to our coaches, we are looking for printing and public relations support for the event. If you are interested in helping out, or have another idea for how you might get involved, please contact Elisa Schreiber at wiefel @ usc.edu. 

For more information click here.

Los Angeles Social Venture Partners (LASVP), the Academies for Social Entrepreneurship (ASE), and the University of Southern California (USC) collaborate to produce the Social Innovation Fast Pitch.

Los Angeles Social Venture Partners
LASVP (www.lasvp.org) is a diverse network of professionals who are pioneering a new model of giving - Venture Philanthropy. LASVP brings the collective expertise and resources of our members and their networks to innovative nonprofits in Los Angeles, collaborating with them to strengthen their organizations and expand their capacity to address major needs in our local communities. LASVP fosters a community of socially-conscious and well-informed donors through engagement with Investees, collaboration with other SVP Partners, and participation in educational events. As a result, LASVP partners and other community members become more informed and strategic in their philanthropic endeavors, and more actively committed to addressing the needs of Los Angeles. LASVP is a 501(c)3 public charity and an affiliate of Social Venture Partners International (www.svpi.org).

Academies for Social Entrepreneurship
The Academies for Social Entrepreneurship (www.academies-se.org) is a social business incubator that helps develop innovative solutions to social problems by providing rigorous training and mentoring for social entrepreneurs. ASE’s programs, which incorporate the best of business and venture practices, are designed to equip non-profit leaders with the skills they need to build and expand high performing, self-sustaining non-profit enterprises. They have expanded capacity in hundreds of non-profit organizations, catalyzing tens of thousands of dollars in new revenue.

University of Southern California
Located in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology and international trade, the University of Southern California is one of the world’s leading private research universities. USC enrolls more international students than any other U.S. university and offers extensive opportunities for internships and study abroad. With a strong tradition of integrating liberal and professional education, USC fosters a vibrant culture of public service and encourages students to cross academic as well as geographic boundaries in their pursuit of knowledge. Many of the departments at USC are working together to support the Social Innovation Fast Pitch program, including the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation (http://stevens.usc.edu) and the Society and Business LAB at the USC Marshall School of Business (www.marshall.usc.edu/sbl).