Be a Coach
Volunteer 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. 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 coach, please contact Ken Deemer at ken @ interven.com for more details.
“The progression was astonishing from unpolished, unfocused to smooth, crisp concepts in three minutes.
I do hope to be involved as a coach again next year - it is always the case that the coaches learn the most.”
- 2008 Volunteer Coach
Be a Judge
Judges are an important part of the Social Innovation Fast Pitch event. Some might say they have the toughest job in the house – to review all the three minute pitches and determine which ideas are the most innovative and have the maximum potential for societal impact. Past judges include leaders in their fields, such as Kafi D. Blumenfield, President & Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Hill Foundation; Christine Hershey, President and Founder, Hershey|Cause; William Quigley, co-Founder and Managing Director, Clearstone Venture Partners; Beatriz Solís, Director, Healthy Communities, South Region, The California Endowment; and Adlai Wertman, Professor and Director of the Society and Business Lab, USC Marshall School of Business. If you know someone who would make a great judge, please contact Betsy Densmore at betsy @ academies-se.org for more details.
“[I] was impressed with the quality of the presenters. Their three minute remarks were far more cogent
than the entrepreneurs I typically meet with.”
- 2008 Judge
Support the Program
The Social Innovation Fast Pitch is made possible by the support from corporate, foundation and individual donors. Support is used for grants awarded at the competition as well as to cover a portion of the programs's direct costs. Additionally, the value of contributions is leveraged significantly by the hundreds of volunteer hours contributed by Coaches and other volunteers over the course of the program. For more information, please click here or contact Diane Helfrey at diane.helfrey @ lasvp.org for more details.
Apply for the Program
The Social Innovation Fast Pitch has a competitive application process. The application period opened on June 21, 2010 and all applications were be submitted through this website by July 19, 2010. While we are no longer accepting applications, you can still view the Call for Applications document here. If you have additional questions, please contact Rob Biniaz at info @ lasvp.org.
"The Fast Pitch experience is the most unique professional development I have ever completed.
Fast Pitch is a crash course in good business sense, and is a timely reminder
that non-profits play by the same rules of any well-run company."
- 2008 Nonprofit Participant
Offer In-Kind Support
Do you have a unique skill or a trade that you think would help make the Social Innovation Fast Pitch a success? We would love to hear from you. We’re specifically seeking business professionals to supply critical skills for the production of this event. In addition to our coaches, we are looking for graphic designers to help design and create the materials for the event, printers who can help us produce the programs, 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 Wiefel Schreiber at wiefel @ usc.edu.
“... a splendid evening that reminded me just how much mattering truly matters.
The room at USC was filled with amazing people doing incredible work to change the world."
- 2008 Attendee |
For more information please call 310.281.7509 or email: info @ lasvp.org
