The Prosperity Foundation Launches Inaugural Pitch Competition to Reimagine Black Philanthropy

New Haven (December 17, 2025) -- The Prosperity Foundation officially launched its inaugural Pitch Competition with a foundational pitch deck training led by Interim Chief Executive Officer Donna Lecky. Held on Friday, December 12, the session brought together nonprofit leaders from TPF’s first Incubator cohort, along with additional organizations interested in submitting a pitch.

During the training, Lecky walked participants through the essential components of a strong pitch deck, offering practical guidance on how to clearly communicate organizational mission, community impact, and funding needs. She also outlined the framework for the Pitch Competition, including this year’s theme, From Generosity to Legacy: Community Vision for Long-Term Impact, which centers on reimagining Black philanthropy to be more sustainable, community-rooted, and independent of traditional funding systems such as government grants.

Designed as a hybrid session, the training allowed both in-person and virtual participants to engage in real-time discussion and Q&A. The format reflected TPF’s commitment to accessibility and learning, ensuring nonprofits at varying stages of readiness could gain clarity and confidence as they prepare their submissions.

“We need to think outside of the box of the normal and come together collectively to solve the problem,” said Donna Lecky, Interim Chief Executive Officer of The Prosperity Foundation.

In response to participant feedback, The Prosperity Foundation will host a final open Q&A lunch session on Thursday, December 18, from 12:00–1:00 PM EST. This session is intended to address remaining questions about the Pitch Competition and submission process. Advance registration is required. Click here to register.

Nonprofits interested in participating are invited to submit a proposal aligned with this year’s theme. Applicants may revise and resubmit a previously shared concept or submit a new idea that responds directly to the competition framework.

Pitch submissions are due Friday, January 9, 2026, and must be submitted through this link. Selected applicants will be notified by Wednesday, January 14, 2026, with the Pitch Competition taking place virtually via Zoom on Friday, January 23, 2026.

During the training, Lecky emphasized that pitch presentations should clearly communicate an organization’s vision, impact, and funding request. Presenters will be allotted seven to ten minutes for their pitch, followed by three to five minutes of Q&A at the judges’ discretion. Each presentation should conclude with a one- to two-minute closing summary, ending with a clear and specific restatement of the funding ask.

The Pitch Competition theme, From Generosity to Legacy: Community Vision for Long-Term Impact, invites nonprofits to consider the question: How might we reimagine Black philanthropy to be more sustainable, community-rooted, and independent of traditional funding systems?

Proposals are encouraged to move beyond short-term solutions and instead focus on long-term infrastructure, resilience, and community-led sustainability. Click here to review key takeaways from the Pitch Training session.

For Additional Inquiries On the Pitch Competition: 

Natasha Noel

Prosperity Foundation Grants

tpfgrants@tpfct.org