Piqua Community Foundation’s grant competition culminates at March 2 event
Edison State Community College is proud to announce that it will compete as a finalist in The Piqua Community Foundation’s Pitch Piqua charitable grant pitch competition on Thursday, March 2, 2023. The initiative features a $50,000 top prize for the finalist nonprofit organization with the highest scoring project benefiting Piqua.
“Pitch Piqua is a great opportunity to showcase project ideas that can benefit the Piqua community,” said Dr. Andy Runyan, Dean of Professional & Technical Programs at Edison State. “The Piqua Community Foundation has put together a thorough process for reviewing and promoting innovative projects, not to mention a fun event to share those projects and support the organizations proposing them! It’s been great to get to know past and current participants from the community. Edison State is honored to be able to share our project, ‘Prepared,’ in this year’s event.”
Three finalists were selected by a committee of Foundation board members and donors through a written application and semi-finalist interview process. The finalist teams have been developing their concepts alongside The Foundation since the summer of 2022. Topics covered include project scope, budgeting, capacity-building, and storytelling presentation skills.
The finalist teams are now ready to present their concepts at a community event from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on March 2 at the Fort Piqua Plaza Banquet Center. Event tickets are $20 and include event entry, hors d’oeuvres, and two drink tickets for the cash bar.
“We hope to fill Fort Piqua Plaza with community members who support these organizations and our community for Pitch Piqua’s second year,” said Emily Shawler, Foundation president and Resource Committee chairwoman. “Pitch Piqua is all about building capacity within our nonprofit community, making a huge impact with Foundation assets, and engaging the community around local philanthropy. You don’t want to miss it!”
The teams will present to a crowd of supportive community members as well as a panel of four in-person judges representing various sectors of our community. All finalists will also be eligible for pass-through designated donations made by community members, who collectively act as the fifth judge.
“The three finalist teams have been hard at work since last summer on their project concepts and are ready to share their big ideas with our community,” said Foundation Executive Director Michelle Perry. “And while there are big dollars at stake in this competition, we know that local philanthropy is for everyone. Any pass-through donation of $10 or more to the finalist organization of your choice counts as a vote for their success. You can help decide who wins the $50,000 grant award.”
The judges will evaluate the project concepts on their impact on Piqua residents, evidence of a demonstrated community need, readiness for launch, sustainability of the project, and quality of the presentation.
The top-scoring organization will secure the $50,000 grant award for its proposed project. The other two finalist organizations will each be awarded a $5,000 unrestricted award. The funding for the grant awards is supplied by the fundholders of The Foundation.
To purchase event tickets, vote for Edison State, and learn more about how Pitch Piqua and The Piqua Community Foundation benefit our community, visit piquacommunityfoundation.org/pitchpiqua.