Investment Guidelines for 2011
Grantmaking Focus
Social Venture Partners (SVP) focuses on capacity building. An engagement with SVP is based on volunteer consulting to assist the leadership of an organization make positive change and includes a cash grant. As in 2010, SVP’s Request for Proposals is open to not-for-profits that work in any issue area. (Prior to 2010, we focused on capacity building, but accepted proposals only from organizations within a particular issue area, such as K-12 Education or Early Childhood Development.) By accepting proposals from any not-for-profit, we intend to underscore our focus on strengthening organizations.
For 2011, we are adding an emphasis on social innovation – doing something in a novel way that brings improvement where the benefit goes to society. To that end, there is a new and exciting step in our investment cycle – a Fast Pitch presentation at our bigBANG! conference on social innovation on October 28, 2011 at CSU’s Student Center. Nonprofits selected as semi-finalists will present at bigBANG! and receive the following benefits:
- Two months of coaching to deliver a high-powered, succinct presentation
- The chance to tell your story to 200 investors, individual donors, foundations and other social entrepreneurs
- Features in bigBANG! promotions - bigBANG! Website, social media mentions, conference program and bigBANG! video
- A printed prospectus about your organization in the bigBANG! program with extra copies for your own use
- The chance to win additional cash prizes
- Free admission to participate in the entire bigBANG! conference
- A ticket to the VIP Igniters Reception with keynote workshop leader Peter Senge, noted author, MIT professor and founder of the Society for Organizational Learning
You can read more about bigBANG! at www.bigbang.csvp.org. You can read more about social innovation at http://bigbang.csvp.org/about/faq. See resources at the end.
The CSVP Engagement
Funding for capacity building
SVP’s investment award is a one-year grant of $15,000 payable in six-month installments to one organization with the intent of establishing a multi-year relationship. At the end of the first year of funding, the grant outcomes and relationship potential are reviewed and evaluated to determine further financial and volunteer support.
Volunteer Consulting: Building Stronger Not-for-Profits
SVP believes that stronger management, systems and infrastructure result in not-for-profit organizations that are more effective in their program and service delivery. To achieve this, we give more than money. We build long-term strategic relationships with our Investees. Our Partners---active donor volunteers---are individuals who make a financial contribution to SVP’s pooled fund for not-for-profits, and who give high-level volunteer or professional assistance to meet the distinct needs of each Investee. SVP partners will not do the operational work of your organization, but they provide advice and guidance focused on your long-term success.
These are some of the areas in which SVP provides the expertise of our Partners:
- Leadership Development
- Human Resources
- Business and management systems
- Fund Development Strategy
- Volunteer Management
- Marketing, Public Relations, Communications
- Information Technology
- Financial Management
- Board Development and Governance
- Strategic Thinking
A Mutually Beneficial Relationship
By working together, our Investees and Partners all benefit. Our Investees gain from the valuable expertise, guidance, and mentorship of our Partners. In return, the experience allows our Partners to gain rich insight into community issues and the not-for-profit sector, and develop a deep connection to the Investee and the entire community.
SVP collaborates with organizations that:
- Understand the importance of building internal organizational capacity in order to achieve their mission;
- Have an executive director, board and staff who embrace the SVP model of volunteer consulting support, are open to intensive self-assessment, and are able to commit time to work with SVP volunteers;
- Have a long-term perspective on their organizational development; and
- Will use grant money to address organizational needs (rather than programs).
For an effective engagement with SVP, an organization should be of appropriate size to undertake the capacity-building projects and effectively leverage the time and talent of our volunteers. We look to work with an organization with a track record of quality programming, but which could make even greater strides by improving its infrastructure.
A major factor in the selection is the fit between the organizational needs of the not-for-profit, the skills of our partners and with SVP’s mission and operating model.
Helpful Documents
- SVP Capacity-Building Model for Supporting Not-for-Profit Organizations
- SVP Capacity-Building Assessment Tool – Helps not-for-profit organizations assess their current organizational capacity, prioritize and guide their planning.
Eligibility
An applying organization must provide its IRS Determination Letter of classification as not-for-profit 501(c)(3) public charity.
SVP does not consider proposals from individuals, organizations that require participation in religious activities, political organizations, pure sports teams, or any organization that discriminates on the basis of race, sexual orientation, gender, age, marital status, national origin or physical ability. We do not fund programs, capital projects, or endowments. Proposals from organizations outside Cuyahoga County compete with those from within the county; location is considered as we determine the organization that is the best match for SVP and the skills and availability of our partners.
Application Orientation
We will hold an Application Orientation at the Community Shares third floor conference room at 3631 Perkins Ave, Cleveland, 44114. See Key Dates for this year’s date and time. There is free parking on the east side of the building. To attend, please reply by e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
CSVP partners and staff will describe our investment, application processes, the Fast Pitch presentations at bigBANG! and answer questions. Executive directors, development directors, board members, and other representatives from interested not-for-profits are invited, but attendance is not required to submit a letter of interest.
 SVP Capacity-Building Model for Supporting Not-for-Profit Organizations | [ ] | 190 Kb | 27/05/10 12:01 |
 Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool (OCAT) | [ ] | 273 Kb | 27/05/10 10:55 |