Social Venture Partners Arizona (SVPAZ) hosted its sixth annual Fast Pitch on March 1, attracting a record 600 attendees to an event where social entrepreneurs compete in front of a live audience to “pitch” grant funders and donors so they can better fulfill their missions and grow their reach.

Held at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, eight Phoenix-area nonprofits and one student group from Arizona State University competed for $60,000 in cash awards and grants. Further, community leaders, business executives and philanthropists in attendance donated an additional $40,000 after hearing the pitches.

“This event is exhilarating and inspiring. It’s a wonderful example of how just a few members of our community are capable of effecting change on such a large, powerful scale,” said Terry Wogan-Calderón, SVPAZ executive director. “Each year, the nonprofit leaders raise the bar, and this year was no different. Our winners are creative, cunning and will no doubt make a life-altering impact in Arizona and beyond.”

Winners of the 2016 Fast Pitch include:

  • SVPAZ Award, which includes a year of business mentorship from SVP partners ($25,000) – ONe TRUe LOVe
  • Judge’s Award ($10,000) – Homeless ID Project
  • Kiita “Get Up & Go” Award ($7,500) – Resilient Me
  • Audience Choice Award ($2,500) – Homeless ID Project
  • Mentor’s Choice Award ($2,500) – Resilient Me
  • ASU Rob & Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Award ($2,500) – ONe TRUe LOVe
  • ASU Student Award ($2,000) – Literacy For All, Inc.

The live event is a culmination of an eight-week program in which 20 nonprofits received coaching and technical expertise from the business and philanthropic community to help hone their message and build a foundation for future success.

The finalists each had three minutes to pitch a panel of judges. Fast Pitch dares to ask the question: “How can you change the world in three minutes?” The eight finalists who competed for funding on stage included leaders from the following nonprofits: