Buffalo Next: WNY nonprofits get platform to pitch their importance to community

Pitch competitions aren’t just for startups.

Ten Western New York grassroots nonprofits competed Wednesday night for much needed funding to increase their trajectory as part of Shark Tank-style competition Pitch10.

But equally important was that participating nonprofits were provided a platform to increase awareness for their cause and talk about how their organizations and missions better the community.

Tiffany Lewis, whose nonprofit Confident Girl Mentoring works with girls living in marginalized communities who have been through trauma to help build their self-esteem, was invited to compete in Pitch10, but initially thought it would be better to remain in the background and let her work speak for itself.

But she changed her mind after realizing that opportunities such as this to further her effort to help the girls she works with do not happen every day. Preparing over the past month to pitch has been a difficult, but rewarding, process, she said.

The competition, in its sixth year hosted by the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County Next Generation United Advisory Board, was held in front of a live audience in the auditorium of Seneca One tower with $50,000 in grants on the line shared by the top 3 finishers.

“I had to practice what I preach,” said Lewis, whose organization won one of the three top prizes awarded. “There’s excitement in bringing this back to our community and being able to say that we did this and did this for you.”

Many of the past participants have used this competition to not only grow their organizations, but also go back and refine their missions, while recognizing that to solve their problems, it does take the help of the community. Some have called Pitch10 a mini 43North competition as it provides one of the biggest stages for local nonprofits.

“It’s about the person and the problem they’re solving,” said Sophia Marshall,…