Social Venture Partners Santa Barbara Joins Growing Network of Innovative Philanthropists

Social Venture Partners International Welcomes New Affiliate in Southern California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Cara Lewis, Communications Manager

Social Venture Partners International

(919) 481-9151 / cara@svpi.org

SEATTLE (March 24, 2009) – Social Venture Partners International (SVPI) announced today that SVP Santa Barbara is the latest affiliate to join the SVP movement in contemporary philanthropy. Today, there are 25 SVP organizations and more than 2,000 SVP Partners throughout North America and Japan. 

Launched through the Santa Barbara Foundation, SVP Santa Barbara is a Field of Interest Fund within the Foundation’s family of funds. The founders of SVP Santa Barbara bring experience from other SVPs: Claude and Susan Case (SVP Phoenix), John and Christie Glanville (SVP Los Angeles) and Larry Wallach and Jo Viney (SVP Seattle). Other founding members include Laurie Ashton and Lynn L. Sarko.

“We are thrilled to bring SVP to Santa Barbara,” said Claude Case. “We recognize the long standing tradition of support and engagement in Santa Barbara and will be sharing our know-how, creativity, and time, as well as financial resources, for the benefit of local nonprofits. And throughout this process, we are looking forward to becoming and nurturing well-informed, effective and engaged philanthropists.”

“SVP Santa Barbara is an exciting addition to the SVP network,” said Ruth Jones, Executive Director for Social Venture Partners International. “We are also very proud to see SVP partners collaborating within the network to bring engaged philanthropy to other cities and regions.”

SVP “Partners” are individuals who combine financial contributions and professional skills with a passion for philanthropy. By leveraging their collective expertise and resources, SVP Partners work to build the capacity of local nonprofits, which in turn helps those organizations better serve their communities.

Fundamental to the SVP model is engagement. Partners give of their time, professional experience and creativity to work in partnership with nonprofits and local leaders. Since its formation in 1997, the Social Venture Partners network has contributed more than $26.5 million in grant investments to more than 300 nonprofit organizations. In 2008, SVP partners gave more than 14,000 hours of volunteer time for strategic projects ranging from Program Evaluation to Legal Affairs to Information Technology.

About Social Venture Partners Santa Barbara

Social Venture Partners Santa Barbara is a Field of Interest Fund of the Santa Barbara Foundation and an affiliate of Social Venture Partners International.  Founding partners include experienced SVP partners from other affiliates which facilitates the start and engagement in the local community.  SVPSB current focus is on capacity building for local nonprofits engaged in the critical needs (health, housing, food) of our community.  For more information, please visit www.svpsb.org.

About the Santa Barbara Foundation

The Santa Barbara Foundation is a community foundation established in 1928 to enrich the lives of the people of Santa Barbara County through philanthropy. With an 80-year legacy of strategic philanthropy throughout Santa Barbara County, the Foundation is one of the oldest and largest of the more than 700 community foundations in the United States. The foundation invests in programs that enhance the community in the areas of education, personal development, health, human services, culture, recreation, community enhancement, and the environment. For more information, please visit www.sbfoundation.org.

About Social Venture Partners International

Social Venture Partners International (SVPI) is the membership association for Social Venture Partners – an international network comprised of more than 2,000 accomplished individuals who combine their professional skills and financial contributions with a passion for philanthropy. Partners belong to local SVP affiliates and SVPI supports each affiliate by providing technology, professional development, an annual conference and peer networking opportunities designed to share knowledge and promote best practices throughout the network. The Social Venture Partners network currently has 24 affiliates located throughout the United States, Canada and Tokyo. To learn about starting an SVP affiliate in your city or for more information on Social Venture Partners, please visit www.svpi.org.