The best thing you can do to prepare for your presentation is complete the Charity Nomination Form. If your organization is chosen your presentation should be simple and not overly formal. In a matter of 5 minutes you’ve got to be able to tell what you do, what kind of impact you make and what you will specifically do with the money given to you. The women sitting in this room have come and are committed to 100+ Women Who Care BECAUSE of the simplicity, the quick decisiveness and the camaraderie of seeing all the great work in Will County. Use the time you have given to make a huge impact. Even if you aren’t chosen as the benefactor for the night, you have had the audience of change makers in Will County…..use it wisely.

 

1) Know the facts!
You need to be able to tell the story of the work your organization does in under 1 minute. People get lost easily by drawn out explanations. Write down what you do, how you do it and who is affected. Then wrap that around a few sentences and voila you’ve got your pitch. 

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2) Tell the HEART story!
Be sure to think of a way to tie in a personal story of those you impact with the work you do so that the group has a very clear understanding and then connection to that work. As you prepare, write down WHY you are involved? Why does it matter to you and who/what have you seen change in the times you have been involved that have mattered to you? If it matters to you, it will probably matter to someone else. 

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3) Show them the MONEY!
Where will the money go! The people in the room are ready to make a wise choice about where they donate. Those that struggle to define where the folks hard earned money will go once they write that check will find they struggle to get those checks written at all. I’m not talking about detailed financial statements here, what I am talking about is a strong description of what the funds will be supporting. 

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Talking Points 

• Start with a compelling opening statement ... 

• Introduce yourself and the name of the organization you would like to receive the funding

• Share the organization's mission

• Describe the program that you would like funded, and provide some background information, if possible

• Identify who the funds will impact, and how many people it has served, and how many will be served by this donation

• Tell how essential this program is, and what our community will miss if this program does not get funded

• Share what this donation will “buy” for our community

• Explain the measurements that will be used by the charity to ensure the success of this program, and make the best use of the donation

• End with a heartfelt request and a thank you to your fellow members for their consideration

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Q&A Tips
When you are chosen to present you organization here is a list of questions that you should be prepared to discuss.  

• What is the name of the organization?

• Where is it located?

• What is the mission of the organization?

• Who comprises the organization? What does the organization do? How? For whom?

• How is the organization currently funded?

• How will the funds be used?

• Would any of the funds go to administrative costs? (They shouldn’t!)

• How would the organization benefit from receiving the donation?

• Who is responsible for discharging the funds?

• Is the organization a recognized 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization?

• If chosen, to whom would the group make their checks payable to?

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