Beyond the Pitch: 

What happens after SEED20 OnStage and how SVP Charlotte continues the work

For many people, SEED20 is experienced in a single moment. OnStage. The lights, the stories, the energy in the room. Nonprofit leaders step onto the stage and share work they’ve been building for years. But what happens beyond that night?

For the organizations involved, the SEED20 OnStage event is one point in a longer process. After the stage, they’re still navigating growth, refining their work, and building for what comes next. The visibility and momentum matter, and so do the weeks and months that follow.

This is where the SEED20 Alumni Enrichment program comes in.

That next chapter began this week at the annual SEED20 Alumni Celebration Luncheon, hosted at Galilee Ministries of East Charlotte (Class of 2020). It was a chance to reconnect and welcome the Class of 2026 into the broader alumni network. There was a natural mix of reflection and forward energy in the room, as alumni gathered around shared experiences and the opportunities ahead.

It also marked the introduction of this year’s SEED20 Alumni Enrichment curriculum. In the coming months, alumni organizations will come back together through a series of seven capacity building sessions focused on areas like board governance, financial practices, and fundraising, alongside opportunities for peer conversation and shared learning.

Behind the work are SVP Partners Christi Farr and Henry Lander, who help shape and guide the Alumni Enrichment experience. Christi’s leadership within the SEED20 Coaching Advisory Team carries through into this next phase, while Henry helps ensure that organizations remain connected to the broader support SVP offers through Spark Teams as new needs emerge.

SEED20 participants don’t often leave the stage with a clear path forward. In many cases, new ideas start to take shape. Growth brings added complexity. Opportunity brings new decisions. For organizations working to address social and economic challenges, evolution is ongoing. Continued connections to people, perspective, and support can make a significant difference.

SVP Charlotte’s SEED20 Alumni Enrichment program creates space for continued growth and connection to support the nonprofit heroes we heard on stage.

There’s more to how this important capacity building work continues. In the coming weeks, we’ll take a closer look at how SVP Charlotte’s Spark Teams and the Investee Grant program support organizations as they grow. 

Did the ideas presented at SEED20 OnStage resonate with you? Continue to support the innovative work by giving to the Class of 2026 through April 30. You can make a gift HERE or email kbeck@svpcharlotte.org to talk about corporate matching and ongoing support of SVP Charlotte. 

SEED20 OnStage 2026 was a Huge Success!

Last night, on March 31st, the greater Charlotte community came together to be inspired by and celebrate the work being done in our midst by our nonprofit heroes. Ten organizations took the stage for their well-rehearsed, passionate, 3-minute pitch to tell their story, each grounded in real challenges and a real commitment to their communities.

Behind what happened last night were teams of dedicated SVP Partners, coaches, volunteers, and supporters, all putting in many months of preparation. To them we owe depths of gratitude.

Volunteering with the nonprofit organizations that inspired you.  

Amplifying their reach by sharing social media posts.   

Leveraging your personal networks to provide connections.   

Continuing to make financial contributions to these organizations via our SEED20 donation page, open until April 30. (Note: donations $1,000 and under are not subject to service charges and tips can be reduced to $0.) 

SVP Charlotte wants to thank our community members for attending or streaming SEED20 OnStage, our many generous sponsors for financially supporting this program and our staff, coaches, and volunteers for putting together a night that inspired us all!  Because of YOU, these nonprofit heroes are able to grow, thrive and make our community a better place. 

Here’s where your support showed up:

Cash Awards

Fearless Brown Girls

Wells Fargo People’s Choice Grand Prize – $20,000

Path to Permanency

People’s Choice Second Place – $7,000 + Community Vote Award – $1,000

The Exposure Project

People’s Choice Third Place – $5,000

The Frankie Mae Foundation

Coaches Award – $2,000

All participants

Wells Fargo $20,000 donor match ($2000 each)

In-Kind Awards

ZEN (Zealous Empowering Nurturer)

GardHouse Financial Support Package ($8,800 value)

CLIMB (Charlotte Legal Initiative to Mobilize Businesses)

Brand Building Shop Narrative Package ($8,000 value)

Let’s Talk About It – The Autism Center

Croixstone Consulting AI Fluency Leadership Lab ($5,000 value)

Piper G. Amundson Foundation

Croixstone Consulting AI Fluency Leadership Lab ($5,000 value)

LiveLearnPlay

Angelbello Films Video Storytelling Package ($3,500 value)

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art: Art on Prescription

SVP Charlotte Spark Team Consulting Package ($3,000+ value)

Zealous Empowering Nurturer (ZEN)

April Booker

Zealous Empowering Nurturer (ZEN) is a Charlotte-based nonprofit strengthening communities by addressing food insecurity while nourishing minds for healthier living. Through community gardens, nutrition education, and hands-on learning, ZEN equips people to grow food, understand nourishment, and make confident lifestyle choices. ZEN doesn’t just talk about food insecurity; they grow solutions that create lasting wellness and community resilience.

Charlotte Ledger Features SVP Charlotte Executive Director

SEED20 Alumni Enrichment Webinar – Finance Best Practices

Despite rising temperatures and busy travel schedules, SVP Charlotte’s Alumni Enrichment Team is keeping the momentum blazing. Summer 2025 has brought a robust lineup of workshops that are not only attracting packed rooms but catalyzing action among nonprofit leaders.

The season launched with two in-person workshops hosted at TowneBank’s boardroom, welcoming both Executive Directors and board members. Attendees engaged in forward-thinking discussions and left with a renewed drive to assess and elevate their organizations.

On July 15, alumni gathered for Stronger Together: Assessing and Evaluating Your Board, a power-packed session focused on board performance and governance led by SVP Partners Cristy Travaglino and Mark Weber. Questions turned into action, and the ripple effect is already visible across our nonprofits.

Coming up this fall, our Alumni Enrichment Team will roll out three virtual workshops on nonprofit finance, board fundraising and potential donors, which will ensure broader access to more members of our alumni organization’s leadership team.  The season will also include a brand-new offering: an Executive Director peer panel that gives nonprofit leaders a dedicated space to discuss leadership topics, learn from one another, and build stronger community ties. The excitement is palpable, and the sign-ups are surging.

If you would like to expand your nonprofit knowledge by attending one of our upcoming virtual workshops or would like to plug into the Alumni Enrichment Team this season or next, please connect with Heather-Camille. Please Note: the Money & Mission finance webinar will also be offered again in October to our Partners and the public.

The growth is real, and so is our impact.

Celebrating Our Newest SEED20 Alumni

During the luncheon, Alumni Enrichment Co-Lead Christi Farr shared an overview of the seven capacity-building enrichment events planned for the year. These events are designed to be attended by each organization’s participant and/or Board Chair or another key leader, reinforcing the importance of collaborative growth and strategic alignment. Our three active SVP Investees will also receive priority access to these events. 

Henry Lander, Alumni Enrichment Co-Lead and Lead Partner for Spark Teams, introduced the Class of 2025 to Spark Team program, which provides a unique opportunity for tailored, expert support. These services are offered at no cost to participating nonprofits thanks to the generous contributions of SVP Partners. Similarly, the Alumni Enrichment workshops are made possible through SEED20 donations, including those from this year’s dedicated Cultivators who answered the call to support our region’s next generation of innovative nonprofits. 

Alumni in attendance shared how the connections they made and the visibility they gained during their SEED20 season continue to yield significant dividends for their organizations. Their stories served as both inspiration and affirmation for the Class of 2025. 

Congratulations to the SEED20 Class of 2025!

It might have been April 1, but there were no fools in Central Piedmont’s Parr Theater for SEED20 OnStage last night! Social Venture Partners Charlotte welcomed over 500 people including in-person audience members and livestream viewers so the SEED20 Class of 2025 could share their stories and grow their impact!  

As one audience member observed to an SVP Charlotte volunteer, “by putting these social entrepreneurs on stage, you are validating the work that they do and together, you and the nonprofits, are stitching together the fabric of our community. It is really meaningful to me to see this in Charlotte.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! 

We encourage you to engage with this year’s nonprofit participants in any capacity that your resources permit. Ways to get involved include:   

Volunteering with the nonprofit organizations that inspired you.  

Amplifying their reach by sharing social media posts.   

Leveraging your personal networks to provide connections.   

Continuing to make financial contributions to these organizations via our SEED20 donation page, open until April 30. (Note: donations $1,000 and under are not subject to service charges and tips can be reduced to $0.) 

SVP Charlotte wants to thank our community members for attending or streaming SEED20 OnStage, our many generous sponsors for financially supporting this program and our staff, coaches, and volunteers for putting together a night that inspired us all!  Because of YOU, these nonprofit heroes are able to grow, thrive and make our community a better place. 

Featured on WBTV: Nonprofit Competition to Win $20k

Jamie Boll presents a WBTV segment called “On Your Side” that explains the coaching process and the impact of Social Venture Partners Charlotte’s SEED20 program. The segment includes interviews with Social Venture Partners Charlotte’s coaching leader, Harrison Marshall, as well SEED20 coach Fran Marie. Watch the segment by clicking here.

Vote for the SEED20 Participants Who Inspire You!

Click here to learn more about our SEED20 class members.

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