Imagine you have just stepped onto the stage before some of the Valley's most influential leaders. A passionate social entrepreneur, you have built an innovative approach to tackling one of our toughest social issues. Your organization is on the verge of a breakthrough. The audience is bursting with other investors capable of bringing significant additional resources to fuel your expansion.

You step to the mic with three minutes to prove you are what today's donors most want nonprofits to be: focused, innovative, self-sustaining, and, above all, effective....It's SHOW TIME!

This is the exact scenario that eight finalists of the "Fast Pitch Social Innovation Expo" will face on March 2, but many nonprofit organizations face a similar situation all of the time. Phoenix is considered one of the most entrepreneurial communities in North America for business innovation and performance, and Valley nonprofits also are doing innovative and impactful work, creating significant social wealth. We aim to expand the network of individuals and organizations that value innovation, accountability and operational stability in top-performing nonprofits.

Social Venture Partners Arizona (SVPAZ), in partnership with ASU SkySong and the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Innovation, is excited to present the "Fast Pitch Social Innovation Expo." Eight Valley social entrepreneurs will present their "pitch" live to a panel of experts and the audience at ASU SkySong. One of the winners will become the newest Social Venture Partners Arizona Investee, earning up to $100,000 in funding over the next five years.

The eight finalists presenting on March 2 include the following:

Accept the Challenge
Arizona Quest for Kids
Back to School Clothing Drive
Ear Candy Charity
Helping Hands for Single Moms
P.O.P.S.I.C.L.E. Center
Teen Addiction Anonymous
Unlimited Potential

I hope to see you at the presentation!

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