PitchFest
Congratulations 2025 PitchFest Awardees
1st Place, awarded $30,000
Its Seeds of Success initiative connects K–12 students in South Side Evansville to hands-on learning experiences in gardening, cooking, and entrepreneurship. The program builds essential skills and confidence while addressing food insecurity and educational gaps in the community.
2nd Place, awarded $25,000
The Career-Connected Learning Program empowers educators, schools, and communities across East Central Indiana with innovative solutions to support career exploration, post-secondary readiness, and workforce development aligned with regional economic priorities.
3rd Place, awarded $20,000
The Career Readiness Initiative serves 700 youth across all sites with 30 career-focused sessions designed to inspire young people to reach their full potential and see the value of completing high school.
Funders’ Choice Award, awarded $20,000
Its out-of-school programs turn afterschool time into a launchpad for K–8 students, offering hands-on STEM, enrichment, academic and wellness support, mentorship, and real-world experiences, Monday–Thursday, to help students envision and prepare for college and career success.
What is PitchFest?
A high-energy, Shark Tank-style event designed to spotlight innovative college and career-related programs and activities focused on K–8 kids. Youth-serving organizations are invited to pitch their most transformative approaches to a panel of stakeholders for real-time feedback, mentorship, and one-time funding opportunities.
The goal: spark early awareness, access, and excitement about future pathways — starting in elementary and middle school. This event encourages creativity, centers collaboration across sectors (schools, industry, nonprofits), and creates a powerful platform for youth-serving organizations shaping the next generation of leaders. It’s not just a pitch — it’s movement toward a future where every child can dream big and start early.
