Dear Social Venture Partners and Friends,

I have just returned from the Twin Cities, where SVP Minnesota recently hosted its third annual conference on engaged philanthropy. Congratulations to ED Brad Brown and the Minnesota partners for organizing such an exciting and inspirational event.

Partner engagement is fundamental to SVP: SVPI ensures that SVP partners can connect with and learn from the more than 1,900 philanthropists who are transforming communities throughout North America and Japan. The newest community where SVP has taken root is Waterloo, in Southern Ontario. SVP Waterloo is the network’s 26th and our fourth Canadian member!

As our network continues to grow in both numbers and influence, we are considering our evolution as a philanthropic network. How can we work together to address regional, national - even global - issues? Earlier this year, the SVPI Board of Directors kicked off a strategic planning process to explore these ideas and create opportunities for partners and stakeholders to participate in the conversation.

I am excited by the energy and spirit revealed in these conversations. There is much more discussion today about how ‘we’ can work together and how the SVP network brings value and critical resources to each SVP. Over the summer and fall, SVPI will conduct a variety of activities to collect your input and ideas about the future of SVP. Please let me know if you are interested in being part of these events.

In closing, please do note that we are accepting nominations for the SVPI Board of Directors. This group is passionate about developing philanthropists and creating influential citizens and agents of change in the communities we serve. If this sounds like you, please let me know! I’d love to tell you more about this incredible group of thinkers and doers.

I want to wish everyone a fun and safe summer. As you think about upcoming trips and vacations, put October's SVP Annual Conference in Long Beach, 'Beyond Boundaries,' on your calendar. We have a stellar line-up of speakers, sessions and fun networking opportunities. Early registration is open so “paddle out early” and secure your tickets today!

Thank you for all you do to support the Social Venture Partners movement.

Kind regards,

Ruth Jones, Executive Director
Social Venture Partners International

In this Issue:

• Unleashing Connected Philanthropy
• SVP Welcomes Waterloo!
• Paddle Out Early - SVP Conference Registration is OPEN
• Network Grows Despite Sluggish Economy
• Wanted: Philanthropic Leaders
• bigBANG!: An Explosive Success in Dallas
• Minneapolis Engages Philanthropists Three Years in a Row!
• Month of the Dragon in British Columbia
• Rhode Island Launches Change Accelerator in Rhode Island
• What We're Reading
  

Unleashing Connected Philanthropy

Paul Shoemaker, Executive Director for SVP Seattle, recently spoke about SVP’s unique assets and how SVP can be a leader in the decade ahead. He stressed the fact that Social Venture Partners is the only worldwide, network of philanthropists. Paul noted the timely convergence among the growth of the SVP network along with the explosion of social media and Web 2.0 technologies; the increasing emphasis on corporate social responsibility and the merging of for-profit, nonprofit and government sectors.

“It’s not a stretch to say we collectively possess enough human, intellectual, and financial capital to solve our world’s problems,” said Paul. “In recent years, some of the greatest breakthroughs have been when players cut across long-standing silos and focus more on the connections between and across those on the front lines, instead of funding one-by-one.”

You can catch Paul's talk on YouTube here: Part 1 and Part 2, or connect to his blog posting here.

SVP Welcomes Waterloo!

SVP Waterloo is the 26th city – and the fourth city in Canada -- to create an SVP in their community. The founding partners are Tim Jackson and Jacqui Murphy. Tim is a founder and Partner of Tech Capital Partners where he focuses on investment opportunities in the wireless, communications, new media, and internet sectors. Jacqui is a Partner at Tech Capital Partners where she focuses on investment opportunities in the new media, internet, wireless, and communications sectors. Jennifer King will be joining SVP Waterloo in September as the Executive Director. Meanwhile, SVPI is working with Tim and Jacqui to help them set up shop and tap into the talented people and rich resources throughout the SVP network.

Paddle Out Early – SVP Conference Registration is OPEN

Presented by Social Venture Partners International, the 2010 SVP Conference will provide an opportunity for you to look at the next steps in SVP’s evolution and explore how networks like ours are the wave of the future in networked philanthropy and social change.

We have a full line-up of A-List celebrities in the nonprofit sector so punch the dates into your various devices and start gearing up for Long Beach in October! Peter Diamandis will take us to a new ‘space’ when he kicks off the conference at a Fast Pitch gathering on Thursday evening in Los Angeles. On Friday morning, David Haskell will explain how networks trump organizations. On Saturday, Andy Goodman of storytelling fame will start the day by hosting "SVP Idol" and tactical philanthropist, Sean Stannard-Stockton will spark your imagination with stories of individuals catalyzing big changes.

SVPI invites you to register for the SVP Annual Conference in Long Beach today!

Network Grows Despite Sluggish Economy

Based on 2009 member data, the SVP network grew 2 percent in 2009. Our network of personal philanthropists contributed $3.16 million to 149 nonprofits last year and SVP partners also contributed thousands of hours of volunteer service to nonprofits in 25 cities throughout North America and Japan.

“Our partners continued to be highly engaged in their communities in 2009.” says Ruth Jones, Executive Director at Social Venture Partners International. “For the fifth year in a row, our partner satisfaction rate continues to grow. 77% of partners are involved with SVP beyond making an annual contribution and are active volunteers."

Sound Bites

• There are currently 25 member organizations in the SVP network.
• SVP gave away $3.16 million to 149 nonprofits in 2009.
• In 2009, partner units grew by 1.81% and the number individuals grew by 1.75%.
  
• In 2009, the partner unit growth rate grew by nearly 7 percentage points.  In 2008, the growth rate had taken a drop of 22 percentage points.
  
• The SVP network is projecting positive growth of 5% for 2010.
  
• The partner satisfaction rate continues to grow for the fifth year in a row.
• Since its inception in 1997, the SVP network has made $36.1 million in grant investments to 397 nonprofit organizations.

Wanted: Philanthropic Leaders

Since 1997, SVP has been building communities of inspired philanthropists – many of whom go on to become influential cross-over leaders and change makers in communities around the world. The SVPI Board of Directors is comprised of dedicated partners who often serve as a mentor/sounding board in helping SVP organizations implement the SVP model, leverage internal talents and address challenges and opportunities throughout each stage of development. The SVPI Board is also passionate about the future of the SVP network . If this sounds like you, please let us know. Nominations for the SVPI Board are open and we’re looking for philanthropic leaders.

bigBANG!: An Explosive Success in Dallas

Celebrating its 10-Year Anniversary, Dallas Social Venture Partners hosted the bigBANG! Social Innovation Conference on June 10, 2010. Presented by Dallas SVP and The Dallas Foundation, the event showcased seven area nonprofits competing for $25,000 in an American Idol-style competition.

Modeled after venture capital forums, where early-stage companies try to win over a panel of investors, the nonprofits presented their most compelling case for support to more than 300 philanthropists. Seven semifinalists — Big Brothers and Sisters of North Texas, Central Dallas Ministries, Dallas Concillo of Hispanic Service Organizations, the H.I.S. BridgeBuilders Training Program, Rainbow Days' Family Connections, The Shared Housing Center and Visitation Regeneration Inc. — were chosen from 60 applicants. Each group received advice from venture capitalists and speech coaches in developing their presentations.

In addition to the Pitch Room, participants were able to attend other breakouts such as the bigDANG! which featured entrepreneurial mistakes in a video produced by The Unreasonable Institute. In the Spark Lounge, a comfortable living room-like setup, attendees surfed the internet with “Techy” volunteers (many of whom were from The Spark Club and University of Texas Dallas) and participated in social media tutorials.

Omar Jahwar, Executive Director of Vision Regeneration, Inc. said the unique event format and overall concept “captured the new spirit of the Dallas philanthropic community. It brought together innovators as well as business leaders with one thought in mind, i.e. how to make Dallas a fully invested community.”

Minneapolis Engages Philanthropists Three Years in a Row!

SVP partners in Minnesota recently celebrated the success of their third annual conference on engaged philanthropy. Drawing in more then 300 people, the event featured Majora Carter, a national leader in the green economic development / green jobs movement and founder of Sustainable South Bronx, an organization that brings together social justice and environmental sustainability with the goal of “greening the ghetto.”

Inspired by Majora’s challenge to involve low-income families in the coming green economic boon, participants used the “World Cafe” model of small group discussions to engage with new people and ideas around "greening Minnesota."

“People who come to this event greatly value the cross-sector mix of nonprofit, foundation and business leaders,” explains Brad Brown, Executive Director for SVP Minnesota. “They want more time to talk with one another, so we created a small group discussion model that was very well received.”

Discussion breakouts were summarized with a closing panel moderated by Majora. SVP Minnesota plans to continue the conversation by sharing key themes and session outcomes in a white paper and by convening a Google Group to connect interested parties to related issues and action items.

SVP Minnesota also announced the winner of the  2010 Social Entrepreneur's Cup Award. The winning nonprofit had to address an important social need, produce measurable results and do work that could be replicated elsewhere.

Springboard for the Arts, based in St. Paul, took the prize for designing a model program that helps artists without health insurance get access to medical care. It provides medical care vouchers to two participating nonprofit health clinics and offers free screening and flu shot days as well as a comprehensive health care guide.

Month of the Dragon in British Columbia

On April 22, 2010, BC Social Venture Partners, Vancity Community Foundation, Enterprising Non-Profits, and JDQ Systems  hosted the 2010 edition of their ‘Social Enterprise Dragons’ event.

Three social enterprises pitched their organizations to a crowd of 200, and four ‘Dragons,’ who judged their business plans and awarded prizes: Tamara Vrooman, CEO, Vancity; Alanna Hendren, Executive Director, Developmental Disabilities Association; Jon Morris, President, JDQ Systems; and Jim Fletcher, BC SVP Partner and Managing Director, Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital.

BC SVP provided people power for the event. Cindy Pandini, Executive Director gave advice on jury selection and Glen Lougheed, Partner Engagement Manager helped with video management. BC partners gave presentation coaching for all finalists.

Cindy Pandini reported that the presentations were inspiring. Public Dreams received a $2,500 grant from ENP; MP Enterprises was awarded a pro bono engagement from JDQ Systems; and Pivot Legal was awarded $15,000 from Vancity Community Foundation to develop its marketing and outreach.

“Each organization is uniting the value of business with the values of mission-driven mandates,” said Cindy. “In the end, the Dragons couldn’t decide between them so one prize was awarded to each organization.”

Rhode Island Launches Change Accelerator in Rhode Island

In May, Social Venture Partners Rhode Island announced the first class of social entrepreneurs selected to participate in the state’s first Social Venture Incubator, the Change Accelerator.

The Change Accelerator is an eight-week mentor-based program that includes workshops on essential start-up topics, mentor matching, business plan refinement, and early-stage seed capital.  Social entrepreneurs will cap the program with a pitch of their ideas and plans to a forum of social investors.  

“Rhode Island’s social enterprise community will benefit greatly from the wealth of resources, leadership and coordination through this exceptional endeavor,” said Chuck Holland, SVPRI Partner.  “This program, which is a national model, was conceived just months ago -- at our first Social Enterprise RI Summit -- when it was clear that early-stage, mission-based businesses needed a place to grow and a support system that recognizes their unique models and structures.”

Laurie White, President of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, said, “This type of program is designed to help grass-roots ideas and business models aimed at social change both here and abroad to scale fast and grow quickly.”

Brown University’s Social Innovation Initiative and the Rhode Island School of Design’s Office for Public Engagement are also Change Accelerator sponsoring partners.

What We’re Reading

The Networked Nonprofit by Beth Kanter and Allison H. Fine

Leading Across Boundaries: Creating Collaborative Agencies in a Networked World by Russell M. Linden

Zilch: The Power of Zero in Business by Nancy Lublin, CEO of DoSomething and founder of Dress for Success

The Evolution of Childhood by Melvin Konner

Board Support is Key to Advocacy Efforts by Nonprofit Groups by Grant Williams, The Chronicle of Philanthropy