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“You’re not just standing back, writing a check and reading about it in the newspaper. You’re getting involved…It’s a small amount of money involved, but the contribution in expertise and capacity building is huge.” –John Smith, Board Chair

 

Social Venture Partners Greater Tucson inspires and promotes philanthropy using a venture capital approach to affect positive social change. SVP combines the power of business with the passion of philanthropy to enhance philanthropic education and to invest in innovative nonprofits organizations. SVP uses a high engagement model that pools the financial, professional and human resources of our Partners to achieve long-term community impact and to build a culture of philanthropy.

Social Venture Partners Greater Tucson is committed to investing in building the capacity of innovative nonprofits to increase the literacy skills necessary to weave the economic, cultural and social fabric of our community now and in the future. We seek to fund organizations that will benefit from a long-term relationship with SVP, including hands-on involvement by individual Partners. Our Partners have a range of talents and skills to offer nonprofits organizations.

Through the annual Investment Process, SVP awards at least one grant of $25,000 to the chosen nonprofit, which is intended to be renewed for up to three years based on demonstrated progress towards stated goals. In addition, SVP aims to work with organizations to help them realize their visions through a combination of financial and consulting contributions. This mix of time, money and expertize has the potential to revolutionize the relationship between nonprofits and those who support them while providing valuable returns that far exceed the capital investment.

SVP collaborates with organizations that:

  • Understand the importance of building internal organizational capacity in order to achieve their mission.
  • Have a long-term vision for the organization’s programs and infrastructure.
  • Have the capacity to embrace an SVP partnership, which includes intensive self-assessment and working with volunteer and paid consultants.
  • Are committed to using outcomes measurement and evaluation to provide the most effective programs possible.