Dear Social Venture Partners & Friends,

As we move further into 2009, the SVP mission is more critical than ever.  As you know, the nonprofit sector is working hard to continue providing programs and critical resources for communities in need during this period of global economic uncertainty. 

More than 2,000 SVP partners are working with nonprofit organizations in 25 cities in the US, Canada and Japan to help local agencies deliver valued programs and services for their communities. Thank you all for your steadfast support and dedication to Social Venture Partners.

At Social Venture Partners International, we continue to hear from prospective partners in various cities who would like to start an SVP in their community. Currently, I am discussing the SVP model and start-up process with interested parties in Singapore, Sacramento, California, Charleston, South Carolina and Kitchener-Waterloo in Ontario. It’s inspiring to see people stepping up to serve their communities and SVP partners are particularly well suited to helping nonprofits navigate a tough economy.

Leading in Tough Times April 23, 2009 Firesky Resort Phoenix, Arizona

Good judgment, critical thinking and leading by example and inclusion are crucial skills in ensuring the sustainability of nonprofit organizations - including Social Venture Partners. With these talents and tools in mind, I hope you will join SVP partners from around the network for Leading in Tough Times: An SVP Peer Learning Session in Phoenix this April. An exploration of contemporary leadership and convening practices, this session will help provide timely ideas for how to strengthen your SVP and enrich the work you do with nonprofit organizations.

April also marks a major milestone for SVP Arizona. They will celebrate their 10th year anniversary! Since its inception in 1999, SVP Arizona has invested more than $3 million in nonprofit organizations that support positive outcomes for kids including educational scholarship programs for under-privileged children; computer centers for at-risk kids; and a peer-operated teen suicide/crisis hotline. SVPI salutes all of the generous and dedicated SVP partners in Arizona!

In closing, I invite you to check out the upcoming SVP Peer Gatherings in March:

• March 10: SVP Affiliate Chairs will come together via telesession to share thoughts and ideas and discuss key issues they see in responding to today’s difficult economic times. Click here to register and for more information.
• March 19: SVP Communication Peer Group begins with SVPI Communications Manager, Cara Lewis. Anyone charged with creating communications for SVP is invited to participate in these quarterly conference calls. Click here to register and for more information.

SVPI is proud to provide ongoing opportunities for SVP partners to connect, learn and build community with philanthropists from around the world.

My best to you in 2009,

Ruth Jones, Executive Director
Social Venture Partners International

SVP Network News

Delaware Partners Meet Delegates in Washington

SVP Delaware is part of a growing coalition of non-profit organizations in the state that are joining together to advocate on behalf of quality early childhood education at the state legislature. Thanks to the efforts of the Coalition for Early Learning, state legislators were persuaded to increase the child care subsidy for low income families, called Purchase of Care, by $3.5 million in 2007 and by an additional $1.65 million the following year. As state leaders continue to make difficult budget decisions in the future, the Coalition will be a strong voice upholding the interests of young children and those who care for them.  SVP DE also joined with other non-profits affiliated with the Delaware Children's Campaign to sponsor a debate to explore the issues facing Delaware's children between last year's gubernatorial candidates. On February 11, three partners from Delaware (Valerie Martin, Terry Murphy and Ed Murphy) traveled to Washington, DC to meet delegates and promote collaboration for education throughout the state.

SVP Charlotte Helps Local Businesses Partner with Public Schools

Partners at SVP Charlotte have funded a three-year grant to underwrite a CIS Resource Coordinator who will run a program called Partners for Success. A collaborative effort with Communities in Schools (CIS) and Social Venture Partners Charlotte, Partners for Success helps connect area businesses, faith communities, civic groups and other organizations to at-risk students at targeted Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. The ultimate goal is to help young people stay in school, successfully learn and prepare for life. As members of the Advisory Board, SVPC will assist in identifying matching funds establishing partnerships with community businesses and organizations and assessing the progress of the program.

“We hope by partnering with Communities In School and funding this new position, we will be able to take this model to scale and help establish many more partnerships between the business and faith community and the many elementary schools in Charlotte that are in need of so much,” said Mike Harrell, Partner with SVP Charlotte.

Cross-Over Leaders Emerge from Boulder and Delaware

Jared Polis

More than 2,000 SVP partners are working with nonprofit organizations in cities throughout the network. Many partners, influenced by their involvement with SVP, are moving from the private to the public and nonprofit sectors, and becoming highly respected change makers in communities across North America and Japan.

Consider Jared Polis, an SVP Partner in Boulder County. Jared is not only active in his local SVP, he is also the representative for Colorado's 2nd Congressional District. In November 2008, Jared was appointed as the freshman representative on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.

Partners in Delaware are not only making a difference in their community; they are committed to bringing about social change by getting directly involved in public affairs. SVP Partner, Paul Harrell, has recently been asked by Governor Jack Markell and Secretary of Education Lillian Lowery to join the Department of Education. He will be responsible for building and expanding public and private partnerships, both in Delaware and nationally in support of the Governor’s new education reform agenda. Paul will also advise the Secretary of Education in reorganizing the structure of DOE to make it more efficient and responsive to the districts.

Tokyo Partner Recognized by World Economic Forum

Hideyuki Inouye, a founding partner of SVP Tokyo, was recently chosen by The World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader (YGL) in 2009. Announced on Feb 25, 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland, the YGL honor is bestowed each year by the Forum to recognize between 200 and 300 outstanding young leaders from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world. Drawn from a pool of almost 5,000 candidates, the Young Global Leaders 2009 were chosen by a selection committee, chaired by H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, comprising 31 eminent international media leaders. Hide, once a Fellow with Social Venture Partners International, was chose among an impressive list of nominees including golf legend, Tiger Woods and Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg. You can learn more about the award here. Hide joined ETIC (Entrepreneurial Training for Innovative Communities), which fosters entrepreneurship among people in their 20s, in 2001 and  founded the Social Venture Center within ETIC in 2004. He went on to established a fund called the “Tokyo Social Ventures,” which became Social Venture Partner's first affiliate outside of North America in October, 2006. He is a graduate of Keio University and received his master’s degree in international affairs from George Washington University and is also an assistant professor at Keio University where he teaches classes on social entrepreneurship, social enterprise and investment, and public management.

SVP Portland Helps Families Receive Earned Income Tax Credits

In 2005, SVP Portland helped launch CASH Oregon (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) Oregon, an organization dedicated to getting money back into the pockets of the working families who need it. Low-income working parents often have to commute more than an hour by bus, put their children in sub-standard care, and show up when sick in order to keep their jobs and provide for their families. And because household income higher than $22,000 a year for a family of four is “too much” to qualify for many types of assistance, the federal government created the Earned Income Tax Credit to boost the take-home pay of our nation’s working poor. Yet each year, millions of dollars in tax credits designated for low and moderate-income working families in the Portland area go unclaimed. In 2008, qualified Portland families have received approximately $3.9 million in Earned Income Tax Credits and more than $12.4 million in other federal tax refunds.

The Second Wave of Giving Will Roll On

Financial Times philanthropy columnist and Tactical Philanthropy blogger Sean Stannard-Stockton recently cited Social Venture Partners as an example of the enduring strength of philanthropy, despite the dismal economy.  You can read more of Sean’s comments on philanthropy trends in challenging times here.

Save the Date: SVP 2009 Conference in Dallas

Featuring keynote speaker Andy Goodman, author of Storytelling as Best Practice, the SVP 2009 Conference takes place in Dallas: October 22-24, 2009. Andy Goodman will give you the specific tips, tools and insights you need to tell your organization's story and tell it well.

SESSION SURVEY: Please take a moment to let us know what sessions you would be interested in attending at the conference.

You don’t want to miss this opportunity to meet with SVP philanthropists from around the world.  Bring your cowboy boots and come on down to Texas for a lively exchange of ideas and innovations!

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Editor: Cara Lewis, SVPI Communications Manager, cara@svpi.org
Distribution: This update is sent to SVP partners, staff, board and friends on a quarterly basis.