How it works

Social Venture Partners brings together grant making, volunteerism, nonprofit capacity building, and philanthropic education.

Partners bring their collective expertise and resources to promising nonprofits (investees).  Investees are nonprofit organizations seeking new resources and approaches for addressing issues including environmental protection, youth development, and education.

Capacity building investments made by Social Venture Partners include unrestricted cash grants, skilled volunteers, professional consultants, leadership development and management training opportunities.  Partners make an annual contribution of at least $5,000, and together decide how to invest their shared resources.  Partners provide volunteer support in areas including marketing, finance, technology, strategic planning, and human resources management.

A transformative model

As a result of involvement with Social Venture Partners, Partners are:

• Increasing their giving: up to 25% median increase annually
  
• Giving more strategically: writing fewer, larger checks; funding nonprofit infrastructure; using formal processes and research; creating long-term and collaborative funding strategies
  
• Expanding significantly their volunteer commitment to community causes and programs
• Increasing their level of civic engagement: becoming members or leaders of local community groups; participating in legislative advocacy; contacting media; attending public meetings; leveraging resources or volunteers