Make a Compelling Pitch

AKSHAYA PATRA ACADEMY

The 3 Parts of a Strong Pitch

PART ONE: Make “the argument” for Akshaya Patra’s work Summarize the challenge Discuss the solution Explain Akshaya Patra’s role Show the impact of the intervention

PART TWO: Make the person feel that he or she can play a large and meaningful role in the solution Power of One Campaign

PART THREE: Use strong stories to connect the reader to the problem and the solution Highlight the successes of the program Share why you became involved in Akshaya Patra Share the stories of Akshaya Patra Beneficiaries

Part One: Make the Argument

Challenge Solution Our Role Impact

Make “the argument” for Akshaya Patra’s work

CHALLENGEIndia has 40% of

the world’s malnourished

children!

SOLUTIONSchool meals in government

schools help fight poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition.

OUR ROLEWe serve hot, school meals to give families an incentive to send their children to school where they have access to life-changing education

IMPACTThe enrollment of students and attendance has increased significantly.

Part Two: Connect the Donor

Make the person feel that he or she can play a large and meaningful role in the solution

$15 and Akshaya Patra Power of One Campaign

$15 and Akshaya Patra Akshaya Patra’s partners with the government

to receive cash and grain subsidies that reduce cost per meal by 60%.

Akshaya Patra’s innovative kitchen technology reduces cost

It costs just $15 to feed one child for an entire year with Akshaya Patra.

Every donor has a huge impact in the lives of the children we serve –whether a one-time gift or renewing commitment.

$15 feeds 1 child for a year $30 feeds 2 children for a year $60 feeds 4 children for a year $100 feeds 7 children for a year $180 feeds 12 children for a year

Power of One Campaign

“As ONE person, you can change the

world!”

With an renewing gift of just $15 a month, a donor can transform the life of one child

every month by providing them with food for education!

Part Three: Tell Strong Stories

Use strong stories to connect the reader to the problem and the solution

Highlight the successes of the program

Share why you became involved in Akshaya Patra

Share the stories of Akshaya Patra Beneficiaries

The Program’s Success

• Feeding 1.4 million students in 10,661 schools in 9 states

• Goal is to feed 5 million students daily by 2020

• Students who previously were not going to school have not only started attending, some have become university graduates!

Share Your Story Discuss and explain:

Why the issue of child hunger in India motivates you and inspires you to act

How you learned about Akshaya Patra, and why you believe in the work that the organization is doing

Be sure to highlight: Any trips you have taken to India where you

have seen children and/or the foundation’s work

Any direct contact you have had with people in India

Share Their Stories

Some Final Tips

DO• Draft and rehearse

your presentation

• Educate your audience

• Follow up on questions you can’t answer

• Show your energy and enthusiasm

DON’Ts• Attempt the

presentation on the fly (“wing it”)

• Aggressively sell to them

• Attempt an answer you are unsure of

• Be overly pushy or argumentative

Pitch Workshop

• Write a short paragraph about why hunger, malnutrition, and lack of access to education is an important challenge to solve. Include an explanation of how school meals can help solve these problems.

• List 2 compelling facts about Akshaya Patra’s impact that explain why Akshaya Patra is the solution.

• Write 3 sentences about how a donor can make a difference.

• Write a brief paragraph about your own passion for the cause: – Passionate about the issues of hunger/lack of

education?– Inspired by your own experiences in India or with those

that are hungry?– Touched by the story of Akshaya Patra beneficiaries?– Inspired by an aspect of Akshaya Patra’s school meal

program?• Breakdown into groups and practice your pitch! Give

constructive feedback.

CONVEY YOUR PASSION IN YOUR PITCH, IT IS INFECTIOUS!