By Val Elefante
On October 18, Andrea Sampson presented Art of the Impact Pitch: How to Craft Your Narrative for Funders and Nonprofits. As a former strategist with 25 years working in marketing and advertising with Fortune 100 companies, Andrea has developed a talent for persuasive and compelling storytelling.
In her presentation, Andrea delivers practical guidance for capturing your audience’s attention in your pitch. Whether you are a nonprofit or a Maker looking for support, telling your story is a crucial skill that can help you stand out and make funders feel excited to go on the journey with you.
One of the first insights Andrea offers is about self-perception. She believes that everyone needs to see themselves as a thought leader. Thought leadership means recognizing the value of your own unique perspective and actively sharing your ideas and insights with others in your field. It is not something reserved for those who have been recognized as such or people with a specific title or position, but rather thought leadership can be everyday individuals within their families, communities, or professional networks who are simply passionate about making a difference and sharing their ideas.
Self-perception is everything when it comes to pitching. Andrea stresses that how you perceive yourself plays a critical role in how you present yourself to others. It influences your confidence, mindset, and the way you communicate your ideas. It's important to have a positive and aligned self-perception to effectively convey your message. One level deeper is the idea that your perception of how others see you is just as critical. In other words, if you think that others see you as less competent or as an imposter, it can create doubt and affect your ability to engage and connect with your audience.
When it comes to practical tips, Andrea provides a framework for constructing a one-sentence statement at the core of your presentation. The three key elements for the statement are: "what,” representing the topic or context; "how," your unique perspective or lens on that topic; and "why,” the emotional or passionate aspect that connects with your audience. Putting them together, you have your core statement, which serves as the foundation for your entire presentation. For example, "Today I'm going to talk to you about [what] and I'll show you how [how] because [why]." However, when you actually deliver your presentation, Andrea suggests you deliver it in your own unique style and voice to add depth and authenticity to the core message.
Be sure to watch the session replay for more useful tips and insights — plus a rich Q&A where Andrea addresses how to maintain freshness with repeat funders, address sensitive topics in your pitch, and encourage audience participation.
Thank you, Andrea, for sharing all your expertise and for facilitating this lively discussion! Be sure to check out more of Andrea’s work on her website: https://talkboutique.com.