Fast Pitch
About Fast Pitch
Annually since 2015, the Dallas Influencers in Sports and Entertainment (DISE) has held an event called Fast Pitch, where local DFW-area nonprofits “pitch” a panel of judges and the audience on why their organization deserves grant dollars to help them achieve their mission and goals, with each walking away with a portion of $100,000 in grants. These organizations have always been focused on youth heath, education, and sports.
The event not only allows us to support these organizations with much-needed funding, but also provides a spotlight and platform to recognize all the outstanding work that each nonprofit is doing right here in North Texas.
DISE also presents the Heart of Dallas Award during Fast Pitch. This community excellence award recognizes a celebrity who has made a big impact through their foundation or a charity they support. Previous recipients include Dirk Nowitzki, Jamie Benn, Emmitt and Pat Smith, Clayton Kershaw, Troy Aikman, and DeMarcus Lawrence.
Through Fast Pitch, DISE has donated more than $700,000 to local nonprofits to date, including a $10,000 grant to the nonprofits or foundations of local athletes.
Upcoming Fast Pitch Events
Fast Pitch 2021 tickets are on sale now! Please join us on November 11, 2021 and network with industry professionals while you support local nonprofits. We will be honoring Nancy Lieberman with the Heart of Dallas Award, presented by Southwest Airlines.
November 11, 2021 | 6:00pm - 10:00pm
On the Levee | 1108 Quaker Street, Dallas, TX 75207
How to Apply
Non-profit organizations with a mission that focuses on Youth Sports (with physical activity programs in an effort to encourage a healthy lifestyle), Youth Health (support children in health and medical crisis), or Youth Education (dedicated to enriching children’s lives and equipping them for the future by promoting literacy and educational opportunities) are encouraged to apply. Applications for Fast Pitch may be submitted via our website during the Letter of Inquiry (LOI) application period.
August 9th: Call for applications (LOI)
August 30th: Application (LOI) period closes
September 7th: Semi-finalists notified and given 30 days to submit formal Grant Application
October 7th: Formal Grant Applications due
October 26th: Fast Pitch Finalists notified
Our LOI period is officially closed for 2021. Thank you to all the organizations that have submitted applications. Our team is in the process of reviewing and will be notifying all LOI recipients by September 7, 2021.
Local nonprofits will be notified by our philanthropy team and via DISE social media and e-mail newsletters when the grant application window opens for the 2022 event. If you missed this application period and wish to apply for 2022 funding, please fill out our contact form and we will notify you when this grant process opens up again next year.
Past Events
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2020 Heart of Dallas Award Recipient
DeMarcus Lawrence was the 2020 recipient of the Heart of Dallas Award, sponsored by Southwest Airlines. It is given to a local athlete who goes beyond making an impact on the field and also makes a positive difference in our community. A local charitable beneficiary received a $10,000 grant in his name.
HEART OF DALLAS AWARD Presented by:
Virtual event, real impact
While Fast Pitch looked different in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic - the event was held virtually, with nonprofits featured on digital and social ahead of the live event - but the very real impact of both the grants and the awareness for these organizations has never been more important.
In light of the racial justice movement and civil unrest that has become a hallmark of 2020, the DISE board of directors wanted to further target the featured nonprofits to those making an impact not only with youth causes and initiatives, but also in social justice reform or diversity and inclusion.
DISE has been proactive in addressing the issues that affect both the sports industry and the Dallas community in the past, and in 2020, held eight virtual webinars with local sports leaders surrounding the impact of the pandemic and co-hosted a virtual speakers series with Black Sports Professionals - North Texas and Women in Sports and Events - DFW called DFW Sports United in Action: A Roadmap for Change, which talked about racial unrest, diversity in sports, racial and gender equality, and inclusion in a way that created lists of action items to fuel real change and spurned the creation of dfwsportsunitedinaction.com.
2020 GRANT RECIPIENTS
After8toEducate’s mission is to improve life outcomes and promote self-sufficiency by giving unsheltered high school students a safe place and offering education as a pathway out of homelessness and poverty.
Youth With Faces helps young men and women in the juvenile justice system. By giving them employable skills and a network of support, the organization helps them visualize their capabilities and realize they can contribute to the community.
EMBRACE Action is an inclusive grassroots organization that partners with families and groups to develop and strengthen the skills and resources needed to effectively advocate for racial equity.
EMBRACE Action received an additional grant by winning the People’s Choice Award, presented by MVP. Supporters had the opportunity to vote for the organization in the days leading up to the virtual event.
Partners
Thank you to all of our partners who made this event possible!
