Storytelling for Grantseekers: A Guide to Creative Nonprofit Fundraising

ELEVATOR SPEECH

An elevator speech is a brief pitch, sixty seconds or so, in which you verbally present your agency’s case for support. You and all other ambassadors of your agency (namely, board members, volunteers, staff) need a succinct speech for those short encounters with someone who is unfamiliar with your agency. It doesn’t matter whether these encounters take place in an actual elevator, at a cocktail party, or in an airport lounge. An elevator speech answers the questions, What does your agency do and Why is this important? Your response is a supercondensed version of your story. Recall Chapter Four’s discussion on opening your proposal story with a hook. Think about how a strong, snappy opening sentence applies when crafting your ...