Eligible graduates of The Greater Sum’s Virtual Incubator Program can participate in Greater Sum’s nonprofit Pitch Competition.
Founders submit a pitch for up to $10,000 in funding, receive expert feedback, and increase their visibility with funders—and certain Pitch Competition winners may be invited to join the Greater Sum’s Promising Practices Accelerator, which prepares alumni for real-world fundraising.
What are the top prizes?
$10,000 grant
FIRST PLACE
$3,000 grant
SECOND PLACE
$1,000 grant
THIRD PLACE
Finalists also receive:
A $250 mini-grant
Personalized pitch coaching
Support to develop a full pitch deck
A live Q&A session with a panel of judges
Select finalists are invited to participate in the Promising Practices Accelerator
Every pitch receives written feedback from multiple reviewers, including funders, nonprofit peers, and subject matter experts. Many alumni say the feedback is just as valuable as the funding.
Am I eligible for the Pitch Competition?
Only alumni of the Virtual Incubator Program who have not previously won a pitch prize or been selected for the Promising Practices accelerator are eligible to apply for the Pitch Competition. We want to expand opportunities to more alumni by prioritizing organizations that haven’t yet received post-incubator support from The Greater Sum.
If you’re an alum who has not yet won a pitch prize or been selected for the Promising Practices Accelerator, you're welcome to re-apply to the Pitch Competition with an updated pitch or new plans.
What’s the application process?
Phase One: The Fast Pitch
The first round of the Pitch Competition is a 2-minute, recorded video pitch, submitted asynchronously.
All Virtual Incubator alumni can find tips and examples, including how to structure your message and what reviewers look for, are available in the Pitching Module of the Virtual Incubator Course in The Foundry.
Don’t worry about creating a professionally-produced video. Clear, concise content is what matters most. Authenticity beats production value.
The Fast Pitch Round applicants are scored on clarity, mission alignment, and potential.
Phase Two: Final Round
In the Final Round, applicants are scored on pitch deck quality, Q&A performance, and alignment with follow-on opportunities. If you’d like to have multiple team members present the pitch, one person should lead the live Q&A, but collaboration is welcome. All applicants receive helpful feedback.
What’s the typical timeline?
The process typically begins in June and wraps up later in the year. Check your email for key dates and deadlines.