2025 Summit Pitch Competition Overview
Welcome to the Inaugural Fellows Fast-Pitch Competition!
Pitch with Purpose. Lead with Impact. Win for Real!

Real Vision. Real Voice. Real Victory…
Are you ready to amplify your organization’s story, sharpen your pitch, and secure funding to advance your work? The Gratitude Network Pitch Competition is your opportunity to step into the spotlight, strengthen your skills, and connect with our vibrant global community of changemakers.
The Gratitude Network Pitch Competition offers a dynamic opportunity for Fellows and Alumni to practice, refine, and apply critical skills related to pitching, strategic planning, and storytelling. It is intentionally designed as a learning laboratory for nonprofit leaders to gain feedback, visibility, and modest but meaningful funding—while further cultivating Gratitude Network’s community and donor engagement.
Why Participate?
Here’s your chance as a Gratitude Fellow or Alum to showcase your vision, build your skills, and win funding.
Eligibility & Application Guidelines
All cohort years 2014–2025, including current 2025 Fellows, who are registered and attending the Summit, are eligible to compete.
Fellows or Alumni Organizations who completed a Gratitude Network Fellowship between the years of 2014 and 2025 are eligible to participate.
Staff members of Fellow organizations may pitch on behalf of or in collaboration with the Fellow or Alumni.
The Scaling & Growth Competition is open only to 2025 Cohort members. All other competitions are open to everyone.
How It Works
Participants can submit applications for up to two [2] competitions, but will only advance in one competition.
Compete to showcase how your organization is tackling the integration of technology into your impact. Applicants will need to create a 5-minute pitch that addresses the following prompt: How can technology be leveraged to create scalable, impactful, and operationally excellent solutions that drive social change? Present a tech-driven solution to help you maximize resources and expand impact (examples: operational efficiency, donor engagement, program management, volunteer coordination). In your pitch, clearly outline the pitch components listed below.
Pitch components:
– Pitch must be something that is able to be put into action, but lacking the current bandwidth/ resources to actually implement
– Pitch needs to outline why this innovation would work and whether there are any tools already in place to support or not
– Pitch needs to include how the solution is sustainable or maintained
Compete to showcase how your organization is innovatively telling its story to enhance impact. Applicants will need to create a 5-minute pitch that addresses the following prompt: Non-profits rely on compelling storytelling and effective marketing to engage donors, attract volunteers, and amplify their mission. Showcase how your non-profit is telling impactful stories, increase brand awareness, or drive donor and community engagement. In your pitch, clearly outline the pitch components listed below.
Pitch components:
– Pitch needs to include your target audience, the social channels in place, and data to measure the impact, such as KPIs
Compete to showcase how your organization is strategizing and innovating for sustainability and long-term impact. Applicants will need to create a 5-minute pitch that addresses the following prompt: Non-profits must balance mission and sustainability to drive long-term impact. What is your organization’s optimal financially sustainable business model that ensures your organization can scale and thrive? In your pitch, clearly outline the pitch components listed below.
Pitch components:
– Pitch must include your financial model, projections, and ROI
**Please note, only 2025 Fellows are eligible to compete in the Scaling & Growth Competition**
Compete to showcase how your organization is thinking about scaling and growth for your operations and impact. Applicants will need to create a 5-minute pitch that addresses the following prompt: How can your non-profit scale its impact to reach more people and create sustainable, long-term change? In your pitch, clearly outline the pitch components listed below.
Pitch components:
– Pitch needs to include who you/ your organization is (mission and key focus areas), the problem you are solving (what your nonprofit addresses and why it’s a problem), your solution, and your scaling strategy
– Pitch should demonstrate how your nonprofit is poised for growth and how additional resources will help you reach the next level impact
The Process
- Apply: Submit your application by August 18.
- Prepare: Join optional prep sessions to strengthen your pitch.
- Semi-Finals (Gallery Walk Style): Deliver a fast, 2-minute pitch with a visual display.
- Finals (Live Stage): Finalists present a 5-minute pitch for expert judges—no Q&A.
Planning to Submit Your Pitch? Applications are due in…
The Prizes
- Grand Prize Winners (1 per competition = 4 Total)
- People’s Choice Awards (2 winners chosen by live audience)
- Superlative Awards
- Over $6,000 in Prize Money to be awarded
- All Finalists Receive Certificates of Recognition
Important Dates
🗓 Applications Open: July 25, 2025
🗓 Applications Close: August 18, 2025
🗓 Semi-Finals: October 9, 2025 (Summit, In-Person)
🗓 Finals: October 10, 2025 (Summit, In-Person)
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application by August 18. Click the ‘Apply Now’ button for the applications you wish to apply for…
Technology
Present a tech-driven solution for your organization
Technology Competition
Compete to showcase how your organization is tackling the integration of technology into your impact.
Finance
Present your financially sustainable business model
Finance Competition
Compete to showcase how your organization is strategizing and innovating for sustainability and long-term impact
Marketing
Showcase your compelling storytelling and effective marketing
Marketing Competition
Compete to showcase how your organization is innovatively telling its story to enhance impact.
Scaling & Growth
Showcase your organization’s scalability
**Only 2025 Fellows are eligible**
Scaling & Growth Competition
Compete to showcase how your organization is thinking about scaling and growth for your operations and impact
Not a fellow, but want to see all the action? Check out these options to get involved…
Channel your inner “Shark” and be a judge in our ‘Shark Tank’-style pitch competition!
Are you a Tech, Finance, or Marketing Pro? Join us on October 10th for the ultimate nonprofit pitch competition as an expert judge. Here’s your chance to show up, hear powerful pitches from world-changing nonprofits, give great feedback, and help crown a winner who gets funding to impact more kids! This is the perfect opportunity to look sharp, think big, let your company shine, and connect while doing good! Because when you do good, you feel good!
Sponsor the Summit!
Support Gratitude Network today by exploring our diverse Partnership opportunities. Engage your employees, strengthen local and global nonprofits, and help uplift organizations serving underserved, underresourced, and underrepresented communities both in your backyard and around the world.
To learn more about this opportunity, set up a call with our Director of Impact & Engagement, Erica Jeffries.
Empowerment Day Passes Available Now!
Changemaker Pass
Be a cataylst of change and engage with leaders, innovators, trailblazers, and supporters from around the world for an amazing day of engaging empowerment
Changemaker Pass
Step into your power with our Changemaker Ticket! This individual pass grants you full access to our Empowerment Breakfast, morning Pitch Competition, and Networking Activity: Cause Circles! And if you have time, stay for the entire day and see more innovative leaders in our Pitch Day Competition. Join fellow changemakers, fuel your passion, and make a tangible impact—one connection at a time!
EmpowerHouse Table Pass
Grab six (6) of your favorite changemakers and engage in an amazing day of empowerment with other leaders, innovators, and trailblazers.
EmpowerHouse Table
Gather six (6) of your crew and amplify your day of engaging empowerment with prime seating for all breakfast, pitches, and networking activities! Showcase your support with collective visbility by bringing your team, sparking collective inspiration, and powering up our community in style!
