Introducing...Turtle Tank!
The ultimate nonprofit storytelling competition.
What is Turtle Tank?
What is the GIVE Fellowship?
The Turtle Tank competition was founded by Alum of the Business Volunteers GIVE Fellowship as a fun, engaging way to provide monetary support to select group Baltimore nonprofits participating in GIVE Advisory Projects. Each Fellowship year, nonprofits apply to be part of the GIVE Advisory Projects.
Since 2010, The GIVE Fellowship has engaged a cohort of professionals dedicated to personal growth and civic leadership in a seven month intensive program. As a component to the Fellowship, each year 40 to 50 GIVE Fellows work on Advisory Project teams to consult one of 7 or 8 Baltimore based nonprofits on a business challenge the nonprofits are facing.
Now in its second year, Turtle Tank is an opportunity for Advisory Project teams to demonstrate their storytelling skills by producing a video about the incredible impact of their nonprofit partners in the Baltimore Region. The videos are shared at GIVE Graduation in November.
Teams who produce the most compelling videos can win the vote of our judges, the audience at GIVE Graduation, and GIVE Alumni to secure prize money for their respective nonprofit partners! The more money raised, the more we can distribute back via Turtle Tank.
All nonprofits, whether winners of the cash prize or not, walk away with a video that can be further used for marketing purposes and a greater awareness of their mission – everyone’s a winner!
Please note, Turtle Tank is NOT a fundraiser for Business Volunteers. 100% of money raised in Turtle Tank will go directly to the nonprofits participating in GIVE Advisory Projects. More information on these nonprofits can be found below.
Help us reach our goal of $20,000!
The 2023 Turtle Tank Competition has a goal to raise $20,000 to be awarded at GIVE Graduation in November. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 teams as selected by the judges, as well as one additional prize to the crowd favorite video.
Donations will be awarded to the nonprofit partners of the GIVE Fellows that are best able to demonstrate their storytelling skills and produce a powerful and informational commercial on the nonprofit organizations who are doing good, better in our community every day!
Where do your Donations go?
Recipients of prize money will be local nonprofit organizations who are doing good, better in our community. The seven possible 2023 recipients are detailed below. Donations may be made via check, payable to Business Volunteers Maryland (1201 S. Sharp St, #302, Baltimore MD 21230, please write “Turtle Tank” in the memo line) OR by clicking the “Donate Here” button above to contribute via credit card. Business Volunteers will consolidate the donations and allocate prizes via check to the successful nonprofits who win the Turtle Tank competition. ALL PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO OUR NONPROFITS INVOLVED IN THE GIVE FELLOWSHIP THIS YEAR.
Who are the 6 nonprofits hosting a GIVE Advisory Project this year?
(Click on the selection of nonprofits below to learn more).
Dent Education promotes equity by empowering under-resourced youth to discover and develop their innate creative potential to shape the world around them.
The Light of Truth Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing safe and supportive housing in an environment conducive to recovery, transition and restoration for women recovering from addictions. The Light of Truth Center facilitates education, empowerment, enlightenment, and healing for the women it serves.
The mission of Maestro Ensembles, Inc. is to reach a large, currently underserved population of students in Baltimore City, giving those children equal access to high-quality string education without respect to financial circumstances.
New Song Community Learning Center is building on its rich history as a community-based non-profit to create a dynamic community wellness hub through partnerships, collaborations and community engagement that focus on education, health and workforce development serving the children, youth and families of Sandtown-Winchester.
Our 2022 Turtle Tank Winners!
Our 2022 Turtle Tank first place winner was Camp Opportunity. They were awarded $5,450. Learn more about Camp Opportunity here
Our 2022 Turtle Tank second place winner was Parts of Peace. They were awarded $3,270. Learn more about Parts of Peace here
Our 2022 Turtle Tank third place winner was Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street. They were awarded $2,180. Learn more about Hamilton-Lauraville Main Street here
FAQ
It is preferred to donate through the link that can be found here. Alternatively, we can accept a check made out to Business Volunteers Maryland with “Turtle Tank” in the Memo line. Checks should be mailed to 1201 S. Sharp St., #302 Baltimore, MD 21230.
The 2023 judges will be a mix of returning judges from the inaugural 2022 panel, as well as some new faces coming from our GIVE community. YOU also have the chance to be an official judge during Graduation if your donation falls within one of the two giving levels tiers: Green Turtle or Leatherback Turtle.
These are the four giving levels for Turtle Tank. Please ready below the incentives for each giving level:
Leatherback Turtle Level: $5,000
- You will be the official sponsorship for the Turtle Tank during this year’s GIVE Graduation.
- Name/logo on Winner’s checks
- You will have the opportunity to be a judge, or appoint someone as one.
- Social Media spotlight
- Premium Bar Access during GIVE Graduation
- An invitation to an exclusive meet and greet to interact with the 7 Nonprofits involved in the Fellowship this year, the Turtle Tank Committee and BVM staff
- Thank you spotlight on Graduation Day
Green Turtle Level: $1,500-$4,999
- You will have the opportunity to be a judge, or appoint someone as one.
- Social Media spotlight
- Premium Bar Access during GIVE Graduation
- An invitation to an exclusive meet and greet to interact with the 7 Nonprofits involved in the Fellowship this year, the Turtle Tank Committee and BVM staff
- Thank you spotlight on Graduation Day
Loggerhead Turtle Level: $200-$1,499
- Premium Bar Access during GIVE Graduation
- An invitation to an exclusive meet and greet to interact with the 7 Nonprofits involved in the Fellowship this year, the Turtle Tank Committee and BVM staff
- Thank you spotlight on Graduation Day
Snapping Turtle Level: $0-$199
- Thank you spotlight on Graduation Day
Please donate NOW! Donations will be collected until November 7th, the day prior to 2023 GIVE Fellowship graduation and presentations.
If you have already donated or cannot donate at this time, share with your network to spread the word. Stay tuned for fundraising events where you can socialize, network and give back all at the same time. Also, save the date for November 8, 2023 and join us for the in person Graduation, video presentations, and the awards ceremony!
2023 GIVE Fellowship graduation will be November 8, 2023 from 3:00-5:00 PM at Brown Advisory (901 S. Bond St, #400, Baltimore, MD 21231). Attendees MUST RSVP. Contact [email protected] if you’d like to attend.
