The Elevator Pitch – “Be clear. Be brief. Be seated.” – Winston Churchill
“What’s in it for me?” That’s the question most executives from corporate business culture will be thinking when you call them looking for support or a partnership. Answer that question in 30 seconds by getting straight to the point – a trait business types love and expect from everyone they speak to – and you might have a chance!
An “elevator pitch” is a concise summary of what your non-profit does that lasts no longer than an average elevator ride. The thought and effort behind a good elevator pitch, however, takes much longer. Whether in a sit-down meeting, a networking event over drinks, or in an actual elevator, if you have your elevator pitch ready and scripted in your head, you should be able to tell anyone about your organization and cause and get them excited about it!
Your pitch is about what you can bring to them, it’s not really about you. So, tailor your pitch to the listener’s needs and script it to avoid the risk of getting carried away and giving a passionate monologue about your cause or social issue that will go in one corporate ear and out the other. Fresh and concise ideas mean clear and organized thinking and a real opportunity to the business type.
- Don’t forget to include a few examples of social proofs establishing your credibility.
- Be clear about why you’re calling making sure NOT to ask for money directly.
- Don’t speed talk! Slow and steady wins the race!
- End with something – a fun and/or odd fact – about you personally or your organization that will stick. For example: “Just so you remember me, as I know you meet hundreds of people each day, YoYo Ma is our biggest fan.” – John Haydon with StringPeace
- Follow up after a week with that memorable fact and schedule a meeting!
CREDITS: Blog post content compiled from “Social Media and Inbound Marketing for Non-Profits” on John Haydon’s Blog and “The Perfect (Elevator) Pitch” from Business Week. Also, check out the CBC Video: “The Elevator Pitch”