Dear Social Venture Partners and Friends,

On behalf of Social Venture Partners International and the SVP network, I would like to thank you for making a difference in your community by being an SVP partner or by supporting the SVP movement.

More than 2,000 SVP partners are working with nonprofit organizations in cities throughout the network and interest in the SVP model continues to grow.  Since the formation of the network in 1997, SVP organizations have contributed more than $26.5 million in grant investments and countless volunteer hours to more than 300 nonprofit organizations. Thank you!

Throughout 2008, I have had the honor of meeting with partners from many SVPs.  In Toronto, we discussed recruitment and partner education. In Singapore, individuals from the business and nonprofit sectors came together to plan the establishment of SVP Singapore. And in Cleveland, Ohio, we gathered for the network’s annual conference to learn and be inspired by fellow philanthropists.

I also attended the board retreat for the international grantmaker association network, Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS).  Board members from grantmaker organizations in North America, India, Africa, Europe and Asia came together to share best practices and ideas on how to support grantmakers responding to the current social and financial crisis. We all agreed that we must be passionate ambassadors for our work and the people that our organizations serve.

With this in mind, I wanted to share some of network highlights from 2008 and wish you and yours a happy holiday season!

Ruth Jones, Executive Director
Social Venture Partners International

A Growing Movement in Contemporary Philanthropy

SVP is garnering increased interest from potential partners and foundations in Canada. Seattle Partner and Executive Director, Paul Shoemaker and Brad Zumwalt, SVP Calgary Partner gave a presentation at the Community Foundations of Canada Conference in November. As a result, there is interest from several Canadian cities in establishing SVP in their communities.

There is also a great deal of city cross-recruiting in creating new SVP organizations. Claude and Susan Case from SVP Arizona got together with John and Christie Glanville in Los Angeles and Larry Wallach and Joan Viney in Seattle to launch our newest SVP, Santa Barbara.  We look forward to working with the partners as they embark on their grantmaking journey!

The Power of the Network

VP network organizations have access to a growing peer network of dedicated philanthropists, including the SVPI Board of Directors.  Members of this hard working group meet with SVPs each year to assist with strategic planning, develop recruiting, share lessons learned and inspire founding partners. Board members also attend launch celebrations and give educational presentations throughout the network.

Dawn Trudeau, Seattle Partner and SVPI Board Member, conducted a session on Advocacy in Phoenix this year and is frequently invited by SVPs to discuss how grantmakers can participate in advocacy and public policy. Dawn chairs the Board of the Economic Opportunity Institute - a public policy development organization based in Washington State – and is a member of the University of Washington Women’s Center Advisory Board. She serves on the Advisory Board of the Business Partnership for Early Learning and is part owner of the Seattle Storm, a women’s basketball professional sports team.

Partner recruiting is always top of mind for SVP organizations, particularly in this time of economic uncertainty. Alan Sorkin, San Diego Partner and SVPI Board Member provided recruiting consultation to Affiliate Boards in Los Angeles, Portland, Cincinnati, Toronto and Minneapolis. Alan is also an Advisory Board member to the San Diego Capital Collaborative, the Human Development Foundation and serves on numerous local, regional and national committees.

Creating Community in Cleveland: 2008 SVP Conference Recap

And Jerry Hirsch, Founder of SVP Arizona, received the Paul Shoemaker Leadership Award honoring an individual committed to meeting the needs of community through engaged philanthropy.

Jerry Hirsh is the founder and former Chairman of Social Venture Partners Arizona. A long time Phoenix resident, Jerry began his professional career in the aerospace industry, became a practicing attorney and then became involved in commercial real estate development and other entrepreneurial activities.  Since 1995, Jerry has spent most of his time in philanthropic pursuits, primarily through his foundation, The Lodestar Foundation which works to encourage philanthropy, public service and volunteerism. He is also a strong advocate for collaboration among non-profits working in the same area in order to increase efficiency and eliminate duplication of efforts.

Jerry is married with seven children and five grandchildren.  He has an undergraduate degree from Temple University and a law degree from Arizona State University.  He enjoys poetry, running, adventure travel and trying to improve the world.

Save the date for the 2009 SVP Annual Conference in Dallas: October 23-24, 2009!

And Looking Ahead to 2009...

SVPI will be putting the spotlight on leadership and working with SVP affiliates to support them as they weather the economic storm.

Please save the date, April 23 in Phoenix, for a special partner peer gathering on Leadership within the SVP Network.  Registration details will follow shortly.

Partners Nancy Cannon O’Connell (SV2), Bob Wright (Dallas SVP) and Paul Shoemaker (SVP Seattle) will facilitate the session, focused on supporting and developing SVP leaders, sharing innovation around leadership and acknowledging and exploring the cross-over leadership opportunities opening up for SVP Partners in the nonprofit and public spheres.  If there is interest, there will be a separate Affiliate Board Chairs’ breakout at this April meeting.

This is an opportunity to deepen relationships within the SVP network, share experiences and broaden our understanding of the leadership role that SVP Partners model in their communities. This face to face gathering will be followed by several online peer networking opportunities and a further in-person roundtable at the 2009 Dallas Conference.