Finalists, semi-finalists named for United Way of Central Indiana pitch contest

United Way of Central Indiana on Monday announced the finalists and semi-finalists for Propel, a live pitch contest scheduled for May.   

At least $60,000 in grants will be given out when finalists make their pitches live May 8 at Salesforce in Indianapolis.  

These four finalists will pitch their ideas on how to reduce barriers for those from under-resourced communities or asset-limited backgrounds:   

• Deeply Ingrained, Inc. 

• Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis 

• P30 Inc 

• reversebus foundation 

From March 31 through April 14, five other nonprofits – the semi-finalists – will compete for the remaining three spots in the live contest:   

• Coburn Place Safe Haven 

• Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center 

• Free Press Indiana/Mirror Indy 

• Horizon House 

• Pink-4-Ever Ending Disparities 

The five semi-finalists will compete for those remaining spots by fundraising online. One spot will go to the organization that raises the most dollars. Another will go to the organization with the most donors. And the final spot will go to the organization that garners the most engagement on a social media post shared from United Way's account.   

The money raised online will be given at the event to the winner of the People’s Choice award.  

This will be United Way’s fourth Propel. In the event’s inaugural year in 2022, five organizations pitched their ideas, winning $45,000. The competition has grown each year since, with more than $100,000 awarded at last year’s Propel. In all, more than $250,000 has been awarded through the event.   

Propel is made possible thanks to generous sponsorship from J.C. Hart Company and Resultant.