It’s the 10th Anniversary of Social Venture Partners ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Fast Pitch, a community-building event has evolved into the epitome of philanthropic storytelling in the Old Pueblo.
“We have dedicated Fast Pitch to helping nonprofit organizations tell their stories to garner support and spread awareness and we are celebrating our story and the impact we have had over the last 10 years. We have served more than 100 nonprofits and directed more than $1.8 million directly as a result of the FP program and the magnetite continues to have a ripple effect on individuals and organizations that uplift our community,†said Brittany Battle, Fast Pitch director and master of ceremonies for the upcoming event.
Fast Pitch, named for its showcase of three-minute presentations by eight local nonprofits, begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 3 at Fox ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Theatre, 17 W. Congress.
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While on-stage prizes at the event can net $125,500-plus for participating nonprofits, Battle said the public awareness is priceless.Â
“We have found that those who attend the event are truth-seekers who care deeply about our community. They want to understand the critical issues faced by nonprofits on the front lines and help solve those issues. They want to be deeply empowered and have their giving spirits activated,†said Battle.
The event was designed to build the capacity of nonprofits and ultimately boost the entire community, according to Anne Miskey, president and CEO of SVP ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
“Fast Pitch highlights the tremendous work these nonprofits do which can sometimes be invisible to the broader community. Shining a spotlight on their work is a wonderful way, again, to support the broader community,†Miskey said.
The publicity can net both financial and volunteer support for the diverse 2025 cohort of nonprofits, which includes Amphi Foundation; Borderlands Theater; Compass Affordable Housing, Inc.; El Grupo Youth Cycling; El Rio Health Center Foundation; Greater Vail Community ReSources; Intermountain Centers for Human Development; and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Juneteenth Festival, Inc.
“This is about marketing to the community so we help people to understand what we do. It is a different audience than we normally have and this exposure on an elevated level is more important than possible prizes or sponsorships,†said Larry Starks, president of the board of directors for .
Starks has been involved with Fast Pitch for the past few years on various levels and is gratified to see the growth of the program and the collective benefit to nonprofits. He hopes that his pitch will promote the idea that Juneteenth, which has been rooted in the community for 55 years, is expanding beyond an annual celebration as “A Movement, Not a Moment.â€
“Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, and in that celebration we want everyone to enjoy that, not just one section of the Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ community. There is a need for expansion through education and strength to create other spaces in the community for people of color. We want to promote unity, education, freedom and self-preservation and personal responsibility. Really, it is just community integration,†said Starks.
The community connections built between nonprofits participating in the Fast Pitch program are incredible, according to Royce Sparks, director of communications and philanthropy for .
Sparks said the cohort has become a support system that will extend beyond the upcoming event for Intermountain Centers, which serves nearly 10,000 low-income individuals and families in Pima County (and 20,000 statewide) with health needs including primary care, mental health, autism, substance use, homelessness, foster care, youth development and more.
“On day one, they said, ‘You might feel like you are competing, but you are all in this together and you will grow as a team.’ They foster this environment of caring that sets a great example. As we are all learning, the nonprofit landscape is a fragile ecosystem, and the SVP process is a deep and powerful lens for how we, as nonprofits, need to work together to make sure everyone is taken care of in our community,†said Sparks.
He is grateful for the opportunities for growth that the Fast Pitch experience — which also provides five months of free marketing, public speaking and leadership training to a representative of each organization — has provided.
“The most exciting thing is the opportunity for you to grow your organization’s presence and impact in the community. I have learned this great set of tools that can help us as an organization to navigate these challenging times,†Sparks said.
Ultimately, Battle said the upcoming Fast Pitch event will serve as a celebration of hope for individuals, businesses and nonprofits.
“We are aware that this is a tender time in the community and the country and the world, and this is a place of hope. You will see the work we have done with 100 nonprofits in Pima County and help support that work. It is a spectacular opportunity for people to be soul-filled,†said Battle.
