Stop Watching Critical Conversations Lead Nowhere

Stop These Costly Communication Failures

Funders Who Don't Follow Up

Your development team makes great connections at events, but nothing converts to actual meetings or funding commitments.

Partners Who Stay Uncommitted

You pitch potential collaborators who express interest but never move beyond exploratory conversations to actual partnerships.

Wasted High-Stakes Moments

You meet the right people but can't articulate your value in brief encounters when it matters most.

Concrete Training Outcomes

What Leaders Are Saying

From Fortune 500 executives, nonprofit leaders to politicians, see how our training transforms communication capabilities in just 60-90 minutes.

"Miraculous improvements in one fast-paced hour."

Dr Roz Savage MBE MP

Member of UK Parliament, Ocean Rower & Environmental Advocate

"I greatly appreciate Marc's patience, guidance, and most of all knowledge."

Cheryl Blakemore

VP Narrative / Communications / Storytelling, Race Forward

"Why didn't I do this sooner? My time with Marc opened my eyes to a more compelling, robust and untapped asset: My story!"

Michael Pettry

Principal, Cape Fletcher

"I found it extremely helpful to hear his 'smart external' perspective on what makes our work unique."

Rebecca Neuwirth

Chief Strategy Officer, Documented

"Marc does an exceptional job in helping founders focus their messaging and fine tune their pitch in a short amount of time."

Nouhaila Chelkhaoui

Founder & CEO, Scale Without Borders

"Marc is a brilliant teacher. The tools he provided I will return to again and again."

Lauren Jacobs

Executive Director, PowerSwitch Action

"Marc taught me in two hours a whole new way of communicating from which I and my listeners will forever benefit."

Rose Harvey

Founder and Executive Director, New City Parks

"Marc did his research and came to our meeting fully prepared. I got so much out of our one hour together."

Scott Kratz

Senior Vice President, Building Bridges Across the River

"Marc quickly brought into focus how I could be more effective in delivering the importance of my work."

Ruth Ann Norton

President & CEO, Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

"In just one training session Marc helped me uncover the important WHY of my life work!"

Kim Gattle

Interim Vice President of Advancement, Newfields

"Marc provided me with tangible ways to take people from strangers to supporters in a short amount of time."

Peter Kleinhenz

Executive Director, Aiken Land Conservancy

"This was a well-used hour to step back and make sure that our most basic communication reflects the current needs."

Andrea Ponsor

Executive Director, Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future

"Marc has energized and inspired me to be an more effective communicator in all areas of my life."

Jon Fiume

Executive Director, Akron Art Museum

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Meet Your Trainer

Book a training

Get a taste of the training

Marc Fest

Former VP of Communications, Knight Foundation & New World Symphony

Clients consistently praise Marc Fest's Elevator Speech Training with comments such as "total game-changing work" and "seriously one of the best trainings I have ever received" (browse the over 500 similar testimonials). Marc helps professionals excel in fundraising, partnership building, idea pitching, and other goals.

He is the founder of ElevatorSpeechTraining.com, MessageHouse.org, and Elvay. He is a former vice president of communications for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the New World Symphony. Marc is the author of "Elevator Speech Training" and "The Message House Method".

2,000+ Leaders Trained

100+ CEO Endorsements

99.99% Satisfaction Rate

Why Leaders Love Working with Marc

Uniquely Insightful

"Marc has a unique ability to tweeze out clarity from chaos."

Hetal Jani, Founder and Executive Director, SPEAKHIRE

Confidence Building

"His confidence in you is infectious, and I now feel much more prepared to pitch my project!"

Falon Smith, Managing Director of Research Dissemination, Children's Healthy Weight Research Group

Makes It Fun & Easy

"Great guy, great personality. Puts you on the spot in a good way. Makes it fun and easy to learn from."

Faron Mclurkin, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Race Forward

This Works for Everyone

Including People Who Think It Won't

The biggest transformations come from leaders who initially thought "this isn't for someone like me." Here's why our approach works regardless of your personality, field, or communication style.

Even Experienced Speakers Get Better

"I thought I was a good quick pitch but Marc made me better."

Robert Hammond, Executive Director, The High Line

"I am a seasoned public speaker and generally pretty confident in my messaging. However, in just one hour Marc helped me greatly improve the quality of my elevator speech."

Nancy Parrish, Executive Director, Women's Action for New Directions (WAND)

Works for Introverts

"As an introvert, I have been dreading this meeting... But, Marc's overall demeanour and presence gave me a sense of comfort and calm."

Angel Datu, Program Director, National Immigration Law Center

"These sorts of trainings always make me nervous but Marc was able to instantly put me at ease."

Sarah Treuhaft, Vice President, PolicyLink

Works for Complex Fields

"In one short session, Marc was able to get me to explain in plain terms the importance of my medical research."

Cynthia Harper, Professor of Epidemiology, UCSF

"We always say our work is too complex... Marc proved us wrong."

Kim Latimer-Nelligan, Vice President, Low Income Investment Fund

Trusted by Leading Organizations

From major foundations to Fortune 500 companies, our training has been validated by organizations that demand excellence in communication.

Foundation-Tested Methodology

Our approach isn't theoretical—it's battle-tested through thousands of real coaching sessions and continuously refined based on client feedback.

Take the Framework With You

Elevator Speech Training

Elevator Speech Training by Marc Fest distills insights from thousands of Elevator Speech Training sessions into a 60-minute read.

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Choose Your Training Format

Team Transformation

$2,400 / Up to 300 people

Give your entire team an immediate capability upgrade in persuasive communication. In 90 minutes of interactive breakout coaching, participants master our 4-step framework and walk out ready to turn brief encounters into breakthrough opportunities—whether with funders, partners, or stakeholders.

Book Workshop Learn More

Personal Breakthrough

$450 / 60 minutes

Master your unique "secret sauce" in a laser-focused private one-on-one session. Get personalized coaching to transform your most challenging communication moments—from boardroom presentations to donor or investor asks—into confident, compelling conversations that open doors and secure commitments.

Book 1-on-1 Learn More

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Ready to Transform How You Persuade in Critical Moments?

Join 2,000+ leaders who've mastered the art of fact-based persuasion. Your mission deserves advocates who can articulate its importance with confidence and clarity—whether speaking to funders, policy makers, partners, or the public.