Fast Pitch is back for 2023!

SVP Calgary’s signature Fast Pitch Program offers nonprofit leaders six weeks of coaching to help them refine their ideas for social innovation into compelling three-minute pitches.

For many, the high energy Fast Pitch finale in November 2023 will just be the beginning of an impactful journey that includes project funding and ongoing support through our new Fast Pitch Accelerator.

Fast Pitch is Back for 2023!

SVP Calgary’s signature Fast Pitch Program offers nonprofit leaders a unique learning experience to help them refine their ideas for social innovation into compelling three-minute pitches.

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Grants and prizes

A quarter of a million dollars in grants and prizes dispersed to participating nonprofit organizations since 2000

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Volunteer coaches

Thousands of hours of coaching worth more than $450,000 given by over 225 local professional volunteers

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Insights gained

94% of coaches report gaining new insights into local nonprofits

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Impact achieved

Over 90% of participants felt the program enhanced communication skills and that they will use their pitch in the future

Past winner, Lourdes Juan

The Leftovers Foundation

The 2017 Fast Pitch program was an incredible journey for so many nonprofits, coaches, and members of the Calgary sector who had come together to see the work of so many nonprofits and choose a winning project.

Watch Lourdes Juan make the winning pitch for Leftovers, one of Canada’s largest tech-enabled food rescue charities that is reshaping how communities fight poverty, reduce food waste, and save the environment.

Thank you to our sponsors

Fast Pitch Sponsor
Fast Pitch Sponsor
Fast Pitch Website Sponsor

Be a part of the energy

Randy Paquette
Executive Director,
SVP Calgary

Through our Partner network, SVP Calgary builds social sector awareness and engagement. We transform ideas, talent, and funding into positive change in our community.

There’s no greater example of this than our flagship Fast Pitch Program. Through Fast Pitch, we not only help nonprofits strengthen their ideas and craft powerful stories, we celebrate the spirit of collaboration and mutual support that make our community great. Be a part of the energy and fun of Fast Pitch.

Connect with us today to become involved as a nonprofit participant, a coach or event volunteer, or sponsor.
Randy Paquette, Executive Director at SVP Calgary
Through our Partner network, SVP Calgary builds social sector awareness and engagement. We transform ideas, talent, and funding into positive change in our community.

There’s no greater example of this than our flagship Fast Pitch Program. Through Fast Pitch, we not only help nonprofits strengthen their ideas and craft powerful stories, we celebrate the spirit of collaboration and mutual support that make our community great. Be a part of the energy and fun of Fast Pitch.

Connect with us today to become involved as a nonprofit participant, a coach or event volunteer, or sponsor.
Randy Paquette, Executive Director, SVP Calgary

What to expect

Apr 2023

Applications open

Directly linked to any organization’s success is their ability to communicate in a compelling way. The Fast Pitch Program will take a select group of nonprofits there and beyond.

Space is limited. Fast Pitch takes a maximum of 10 nonprofits a year and applications open in April.

Applications are accepted until mid May on a rolling basis, so be sure to apply early.

Apr 2023
Jun

Nonprofits and coaches are announced

Nonprofits will be selected on the strength of their projects and commitment to the program. Coaches will be recruited based on their interests, experience, and willingness to deeply engage with the representatives for the duration.

Community building and preparation takes place in the months that follow, so that everyone is ready to hit the ground running when the program begins.

Key dates include:

June 14, 6:00-7:30 pm: Coach Orientation

Jun
Sep 1 – Oct 31

The Fast Pitch Experience

Fast Pitch is an engaging guided learning experience where the selected nonprofits receive professional training in guided workshops and one-on-one coaching over a period of several months.

Each participating nonprofit is assigned their own coaches who train them on how to succinctly and powerfully “tell their story.”

Invariably their projects improve too, as the exposure of their work increases.

Coaching sessions will be held Wednesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm. Tentative dates include:

Sep 6
Sep 13 (virtual)
Sep 27
Oct 4 (virtual)
Oct 18
Oct 25

Sep 1 – Oct 31
Nov 1

Fast Pitch Finals

The program culminates in a high energy “Fast Pitch” competition – where finalists share their stories in front of a live audience of 400+ people and a panel of discerning judges.

Since the program began in 2012, we have given away more than $250,000 to local nonprofits to support the most promising projects.

Nov 1
Starting in November

The Fast Pitch Accelerator

Starting this year, the Fast Pitch Accelerator will help selected nonprofits go deeper with their work, with the help of SVP’s Partners and others who wish to engage after having seen the Fast Pitch finals.

This will happen in a deeply supported way so that projects coming out of the Fast Pitch program have the best chance of success over the coming year.

Starting in November
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The winning pitch from 2017 by Lourdis Juan from The Leftovers Foundation

A recent Fast Pitch story including an introduction to the program