Pitch Perfect: Pro Tips for Compelling and Strategic Messaging to Potential Funders

Throughout implementation of their personalized learning initiatives, Race to the Top–District (RTT–D) grantees have been evaluating and reflecting on what worked—to increase student achievement, improve the quality of teaching and student-directed learning—and should be continued. They have considered the district conditions necessary to sustain and scale promising practices and the stakeholder engagement and support necessary to do so. In order to secure support for and investment in their programs, grantees must effectively communicate the success and value of their initiatives. 

In December 2016 and January 2017, Race to the Top–District grantees received guidance and insight from communications experts Daniel Kaufman, Senior Partner, Widmeyer Communications and Shaun Adamec, Director of Strategic Communications, Nellie Mae Education Foundation on crafting compelling pitches to funders. While the intended audience for the pitches was funders, the following Tips Sheet summarizes important strategies shared by these communication experts that can be useful in effectively engaging and galvanizing the cross-section of stakeholders necessary for school and community success.