CHARLOTTE – Ten Charlotte-area nonprofits are set to pitch to a panel of judges and an online audience Tuesday evening during the SEED20 OnStage pitch competition, held virtually.

SEED20 OnStage is the culmination of a two-month program in which 20 social-impact nonprofits received coaching, mentorship and support from Social Venture Partners Charlotte, an organization that funds and supports nonprofits in the Charlotte area. The 10 finalists that will pitch on Tuesday were selected from the 2020 class of 20 nonprofits.

Earlier this month, just as COVID-19 social distancing recommendations started to ramp up, SVP announced it would modify SEED20 OnStage an online format, rather than an in-person gathering at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. A live celebration and reception will be scheduled sometime later this year, organizers said.

The nonprofits are competing for over $40,000 in prize money, plus a $1,000 audience choice award.

The 10 finalists are tackling a range of issues, from food insecurity to career training to youth engagement. Here’s a rundown:

  • Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation hosts educational programs, hiking, cleanups, paddling and other community engagement activities advocating for the Catawba-Wateree River Basin.
  • Feeding Charlotte redirects excess food to organizations that serve the food insecure and homeless populations in Charlotte.
  • iSpeak Now provides interactive skills-learning and public speaking opportunities for kids and young adults.
  • The Lotus Campaign partners with the local for-profit real estate community to lease housing units to homeless residents.
  • Mind Body Baby NC is a network of infant care and postpartum practitioners that provides support and education to new caregivers in Charlotte.
  • Mooresville Soup Kitchen (FeedNC) provides food to those who need it in the Moorseville area. The organization also hosts cooking classes and a culinary job placement program.
  • Project2Heal breeds and trains Labrador Retriever puppies to be service dogs. The dogs are then donated to service animal organizations.
  • She Built This City provides after-school programs, camps and workshops for young women interested in the construction trade.
  • Transforming Youth Movement partners with schools to provide tutoring, career prep, social support and civic engagement to local youth.
  • Vision To Learn supplies free eye exams and glasses to children in low-income communities.

The event will be livestreamed on Tuesday, March 31, from 7-8:30 p.m. Attendees can follow along on social media using the event hashtag, #SEED20. Tickets and more information here.

https://wraltechwire.com/event/seed20-onstage/