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\n $\"Learning$ \n

Pitch Your First Project

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Get your first ID project, volunteer or paid

You do not need a portfolio full of experience yet. Pick where you are, and get customized help for that exact step.

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Where are you right now?

Pick the option that sounds most like you. You can always come back and choose another one.

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Find your first opportunity

Two ways to identify a target to pitch when you don't have one yet. Direct outreach to an org you've spotted, or someone already in your network.

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\n Before you scroll\n Pick one nonprofit or organization you'd actually care about. Motivation matters more than the perfect project. A cause you're excited about carries you through the hard part.\n

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\n Path 1\n

Direct outreach to nonprofits and organizations

Not centralized, but often the best portfolio pieces. Pick a target and pitch them directly.

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Good direct-outreach targets

Local nonprofits whose cause matters to you (search \"nonprofits + your city\")
Small museums and historical societies (they usually need docent training or tour scripts)
Nonprofits with a volunteer program (they almost always need better onboarding materials)
Open source projects that need training or user documentation
Your current employer, if you're still in a job (tell your supervisor you're transitioning, ask what training projects you could take on)

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\n Ready to pitch one?\n Once you have a target in mind, click \"Back to options\" and pick \"I have a target and need to pitch.\" The tool will help you write the outreach email.\n

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\n Path 2\n

Your warm network

Every source says this is the strongest way to find real work. Family, friends, former coworkers.

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Where to look in your network

Friends or family who own a business (they almost always have a training or onboarding gap)
Former coworkers, especially in HR, L&D, or people-manager roles
Coaches, course creators, or consultants you know (they need help turning content into structured learning and rarely think to hire \"an ID\")
Your kids' school, sports team, or community group if you have an in there

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How to pick a good target (in any path)

They have a training-shaped hole. Onboarding that doesn't exist, an outdated course, a compliance training everyone complains about.
They can decide fast. One decision-maker is easier than a committee.
You care about what they do. This gets you through the messy middle.
The project fits your bandwidth. Think a 5 to 10 minute module, or a single job aid. A full 60-minute course is too big for a first project.

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Write your pitch

Answer a few short questions about your target and the angle you've spotted. The tool will draft a pitch email tailored to what you've told it, built from your details start to finish.

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\n Step 1\n

Volunteer or paid?

This changes the framing of the pitch. Volunteer leads with mission fit. Paid leads with the value you deliver.

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\n Step 2\n

Who are you pitching?

\n Organization or person's name *\n \n

\n What kind of target is this? *\n

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\n What do they do? (One or two sentences)\n \n

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\n Step 3\n

The angle

The best pitches name a specific problem you can solve. Offering broad \"instructional design services\" is easy to ignore. What have you spotted?

\n What training-shaped hole did you spot? *\n \n

If you're not sure yet, look at their website, their volunteer page, their FAQs, or a job listing they've posted. The gap is usually there.

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\n Step 4\n

What can you deliver?

Scope this SMALL. A 5 to 10 minute module, a job aid, or a short guide is enough. Full courses are the wrong ask.

\n What specifically would you build for them? *\n \n

\n How long will it take you?\n \n

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\n Step 5\n

About you (briefly)

Two sentences on your background. This makes the pitch personal, so it doesn't read like a form letter.

\n Your background *\n \n

\n Your name and how they can reach you\n \n

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Writing your pitch email

This can take up to 30 seconds. Hang tight.

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Your pitch email

Review it, tweak it to sound like you, then send. Short and specific beats long and polished.

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\n Draft Pitch Email\n

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\n Before you send\n Read it out loud. If a sentence sounds like a corporate pitch deck, rewrite it in your own words. Send from your regular email. Skip the business address. Follow up once after 5 business days if you don't hear back.\n

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They said yes. Now what?

Two things happen here. First, download the scoping worksheet and walk through it with your client at your kickoff conversation. Once you know what you're building, come back and the tool will draft the agreement email you send now and the closeout email you'll send when the project wraps.

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\n Step 0 · Before you fill anything out\n

Scoping worksheet

A 12-section worksheet to walk through with your client at kickoff. Covers the deliverables, timeline, review process, payment terms, scope changes, portfolio permissions. Save it, print it, take notes on it, share it back.

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\n Step 1\n

Volunteer or paid?

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\n Step 2\n

The client and the project

\n Client name *\n \n

\n Your main point of contact\n \n

\n What was agreed to? *\n \n

Write down what was actually agreed to. Leave out what you hope to build. Specifics only.

\n Timeline *\n \n

\n If paid, what's the fee?\n \n

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\n Step 3\n

Your name (for the agreement)

\n Your name and email *\n \n

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Drafting your emails

Agreement email and closeout email. Up to 30 seconds.

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Your launch kit

Two emails. Send the agreement now to confirm scope in writing. Save the closeout email for when the project wraps.

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\n Piece 1\n Agreement email (send this now)\n

Sends the agreed scope back in writing so nobody's guessing. It's a simple paper trail, and it doesn't need to be a legal contract.

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\n Piece 2\n Closeout email (save for later)\n

Send this when the project wraps. The three asks that most new IDs forget: portfolio permission, a written testimonial, and a referral.

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\n Two rules for the next four weeks\n Deliver faster than they expect. And say no to anything that shows up outside the agreed scope. Scope creep is what turns a 4-week project into a 6-month one.\n

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Pitch Your First Project

Get your first ID project, volunteer or paid

Where are you right now?

I need to identify a target to pitch

I have a target and need to pitch

They said yes, now what

Find your first opportunity

Direct outreach to nonprofits and organizations

Good direct-outreach targets

Your warm network

Where to look in your network

How to pick a good target (in any path)

Write your pitch

Volunteer or paid?

Who are you pitching?

The angle

What can you deliver?

About you (briefly)

Your pitch email

They said yes. Now what?

Scoping worksheet

Volunteer or paid?

The client and the project

Your name (for the agreement)

Your launch kit