Social Venture Partners Greater Tucson

A month ago, Social Venture Partners celebrated their 15th Anniversary in Seattle on March 23.

Paul Shoemaker, the first executive director of an SVP and the founding President of the SVP Network, shared why he believes that even after 15 years of work, practice, and building the team, SVP “just got done warming up…we’re walking out onto the court right now, and right now the game is getting ready to start.”

Why? Paul says,

“Who SVP is today is not yet who our community needs us to be.”

“We have done great things and I am really proud of it. And what I also believe is that there is so much more to do, and we have a lot more to do to become who this community needs us to be.”

Watch the full video here.

Who do we need to be for Tucson?

“What is each of us willing to risk, to leave behind; what are we willing to put at stake so that every kindergartner, every youth and every citizen truly, truly has the opportunity to live a successful, whole, healthy life in America?”

We welcome your feedback to Paul’s question! If this video or these quotes spark something within you, please share with us- whether it’s a blog (a few paragraphs) or one sentence, we’d love to hear and share your reflections. Email Erin

 

Social Venture Partners is pleased to announce our Investment Selection for 2013 is Tucson Youth Development. Each of the four finalists are doing exceptional work for our community, and we are honored to have had the experience of getting to know their staff, meet some of their clients, and see their missions in action.

We know the SVP Investment process asks for a significant contribution of time and talent from applicants, as well as from our Investment Committee members. This year, 16 nonprofits submitted Letters of Inquiry and 4 proceeded with final proposals for selection. The finalists (Ben’s Bells, Old Pueblo Community Services, Tucson Oasis, and Tucson Youth Development) then conducted presentations and site visits to acquaint our Partners with the ins-and-outs of their work, mission, and vision. The Investment committee members were along for the ride, hanging tight while we rode the waves of new improvements to the process, new challenges, and a new host of outstanding nonprofits from which to choose.

This is our first Investee selected under the “life skills” funding focus.  At last year’s Annual Meeting, the Focus Task Force announced the expanding of our funding focus to the broader area of life skills, including literacy. We are committed to investing in building the capacity of innovative nonprofits which work to increase the life skills necessary to weave the economic, cultural and social fabric of our community now and in the future. SVP believes the development of core life skills, including literacy, enables individuals of all ages, through education and learning, to participate fully in the workplace, the marketplace and in day-to-day community life.

The mission of Tucson Youth Development (TYD) is to provide quality employment, training and educational services to economically disadvantaged youth who are in need of help to stay in school, graduate and prepare for post-secondary education and the world of work.  Opportunities offered by TYD include tutoring and instruction, skills preparation, structured training, resume building and interviewing skills training, soft skills development that encourage employability (punctuality, attendance, performance), and vocational training.  TYD annually supports approximately 1,200 youth through their varied programs.

Debra Stevenson, TYD Board President stated “We (the Board) understand that a partnership with SVP is a substantial commitment of staff and board time and effort that we are dedicated to fulfilling. We feel this is a unique and vital opportunity in supporting our efforts to take our organization to a higher and more secure level.  Your knowledge and support is an incredible resource.  We truly value your expertise and collaboration.”

Capacity building projects for Tucson Youth Development will be mutually agreed upon by SVP Co-Lead Partners, Rebecca Bednar and Will Butler and the SVP Work Team, and the Board and Staff of Tucson Youth Development.  Likely projects include the development of a strategic plan, exploration of new sources of funding (both earned and contributed), increased visibility for the organization, and leadership development.

“The selection process this year dug deeper than ever before”, stated William Wissler, Investment Chair “we had a very difficult choice, but believe we will have great impact on a population of young people and our community investing in and working alongside Tucson Youth Development”.

Partners can look forward to hearing from TYD and meeting members of their Board and staff at the Annual Partner Meeting on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Lodge on the Desert (click here to RSVP). 

The Board of Social Venture Partners wholeheartedly thanks the members of the Investment Committee for their hard work, due diligence and dedication to a thorough process.

2013 Investment Committee Members: William Wissler- Chair, Patricia Andrade, Rhonda Fleming, Bob McKay, Rebecca Bednar, Susan Tarrence, Will Butler, Mark Rubin, and Adaline Klemmedson.

Any Partners interested in joining the Work Team for TYD should contact Julia Waterfall-Kanter (Julia@svpgt.org), or Lead Partners Rebecca Bednar (rebeccabednar@me.com) or Will Butler (wmb@nextrio.com) .

 

 

 

 

By Erin Henderson

Programs and Communications Associate/AmeriCorps VISTA

“Today’s 9/11,” the round cheeked 7-year-old girl with fancy braids and wide blue eyes informed me. “My big sister told me that two planes flew into these buildings.” Sitting next to her on the child-sized bench in the lunchroom of Gallego Elementary, I realize that most of these precious faces weren’t even born on that day in 2001. But it’s already a part of the history lessons, though for most of us it still feels like an open wound.

Not wanting to hash over the details of such a tragedy with this innocent child on my first day volunteering as a reading coach, I replied: “Yes, you’re right. It was a very sad thing and many people were hurt. But when something bad happens, we can do something nice for others and try to make the world a better place. That’s why I am here today to read with y’all. Lots of people around the country are volunteering today. ”

She nods, smiles, and promptly says “I don’t like apples. Are you going to come to recess with us?”

Like most kids, she’s moved on to another topic in the blink of an eye.

But she seemed to understand what I was getting at and I can only hope that the concept sank in.

I was only 13 when the towers fell in New York and the country stood in disbelief and grief. Watching the news with my classmates in Home Ec, I remember wondering “How could this happen?” I didn’t understand then. And I don’t understand now.

What I do understand is exactly what I told that little inquisitive girl:

The actions we take in the aftermath of tragedy define our strength as a nation and as individuals. It tests our character to the limits: Can we love those who persecute us? Give without discrimination? Serve whole-heartedly?

All easier said than done.

The 9/11 Day Movement acknowledged this in a powerful way. “9/11 Day is a movement built on people remembering through positive action” (slogan from the website). People from all walks of life volunteered in different capacities: celebrities, politicians, blue collar, white collar, etc. As national service volunteers with the AmeriCorps VISTA program, we were given the opportunity to take the day from work and volunteer with another nonprofit to show support for the positive things happening in our communities.

What else is there to do after such tragedy? We’ve mourned. We’ve been angry. We were confused. Now what?

I can’t think of a better way to honor the lives lost, defy terrorism of all forms, and heal our wounds than spending the day in service to one another. When we stand together in service, we stand for our right to a high quality life free from crippling fear or debilitating hate. We stand for those who can’t. We stand for those whose rights were taken from them.

Serve because you remember.

Join the 9/11 Day Movement next year, September 11, 2013, and each day until then.

A word from Mark Rubin, Chief Engager and Founding Partner

 

Why should you go to the Social Venture Partners Annual Conference in Portland Oregon in early November (from Thursday evening, 11/8 through noon on Saturday, 11/10)? No, really, why should you go?

I could try the 10 reasons list that David Letterman made famous, but I employ no writers to make me look good and sound funny, and I’ve been gone for 17 days and have piles of paper that require my attention! I could tell you all about the great food and spirits you’ll find in Portland—including food at Luce, one of Bon Appetit’s ten best new restaurants of 2012, and food trucks galore—but I left my foodie magazines at home. I could share with you the exciting programming that will be presented at the conference, but you can read about all of that here. I can tell you our very cool staff members—Julia and Erin—are going, as well as my wife Jane and I (and at least two other Partners), and that we’ll all have a better time if you’re with us.

Alas, if I haven’t persuaded you yet, I must share with you the fact that going to Cleveland for the 2009 Annual Conference—yes, that’s Cleveland, with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the party venue—was a highlight of my six years with SVPGT. Terrific programming, yes, but what really made the trip was meeting and spending time with a truly committed bunch of highly talented people who, with huge hearts and big brains, want to change the world!!! Those are the people with whom I want to share my time!

Now, acknowledging the limits of time, wallets, etc., I hope and expect that you’ll be joining us in Portland. Click here to REGISTER or contact Julia for more info.

READ MORE TESTIMONIALS

 

REGISTER HERE

 

Well, for starters, it’s in that hip little place called Portland.

We’re getting AUDACIOUS in a spacious, capacious venue hosted by the gracious staff of SVP Portland and SVPI with vivacious speakers that are just the right amount of loquacious and tenacious Partners from across the network. If your appetite for learning is voracious, you won’t want to miss it. I’m not being fallacious! Is this rhyming thing vexatious?

Also, Conference registration is waived for one staff member when 5 or more partners register at the full partner rate!

Which is definitely a good thing. Cha-Ching!

Julia and Erin are going! (If we didn’t sell you with that one, this next one surely will!)

Stay an extra day and experience Oregon Wine Country. 300 vineyards. 72 varieties. Need I say more?

Well, I won’t. But check out what these Conference Vets (Partners who attended previous conferences) have to say about how their experiences impacted their personal philanthropic journeys!

David Griffis: Long  Beach 2010

“I attended Long Beach 2010 with two other partners and our Executive Director. We enjoyed great general session speakers and presentations, informative break-out sessions, and a disciplined, well-operated conference worth the time and money.

But what REALLY hit me were the people and the conversations between sessions and at the evening dine arounds. I met someone from nearly every chapter including our affiliates in Japan and Canada. The attendees were diverse yet shared a common vision, a common language, and a special energy for what SVP means now and could mean for the future. We also shared common problems. In fact, I believe from some of those conversations came much more national and local support for the challenges of lead partners. Several chapters had eight to ten partners at the meeting. Rather than stay together, they divided and soaked up as much information and conversation as possible to take home. I thought, someday, that could be SVPGT. Maybe this year in Portland?”

Jane Wilson: Long Beach 2010

“A nice complement to all of the phenomenal proceedings was the chance to experience a new city. Mark and I had never been to Cleveland, and the reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the dine-around in Shaker Heights let us see some of the sights and chat with people in a more casual setting. We plan on going to Portland which I hear is also a great place to visit.”

John Smith: Seattle 2008, Long Beach 2010, Minneapolis 2011

“The SVPI conferences always reinforce the feeling that we in SVPGT are part of a very large, powerful network of people who are continually striving to make the SVP model more and more effective in bringing about positive social transformation. I come away each time with renewed commitment, new ideas, and a few new friends.”

Pat Andrade and Hank Walker: Minneapolis 2011

“The 2011 SVPI conference in Minneapolis was our first. Even though we’d been moderately involved in SVPGT over our (then) four years of partnership, it really jump started our knowledge of the innovation taking place around SVP affiliates and it connected us to the energy of engaged philanthropists around the country. After conversations with other SVP partners, it’s easier to envision what’s possible for us to accomplish in Tucson.

It was a great experience being there and being with Partners from around the country who have also made this commitment. It was energizing spending time and having meaningful discussions with people who have had very different and very interesting experiences and successes. The speakers were excellent and represent the cutting edge of thought leadership in the area of venture philanthropy; they challenged long-held assumptions about what nonprofits are and what they’re capable of doing.

You can learn what other SVPs are doing, and pick the areas that you want to learn more about, then have time for conversations in those areas. People are very willing to share their experiences, their successes, failures and learnings, in a very supportive and positive atmosphere.

No matter how much experience with SVP you already have, you learn a lot because Partners from other affiliates are doing new things, trying new experiments — it’s learning in real time. You feel personally rejuvenated as well as bringing back “professional” ideas and knowledge. The discussion groups around different topics facilitate great conversation and learning.

If you attend an SVP conference, you’re sure to get something valuable out of it, even if it’s not what you expect going in. It’s a must do for any Partner that wants to increase their energy and commitment to SVP. You’ll get to know and understand SVP at a whole new level. You’ll certainly gain an appreciation for what SVPI is, and the value that we (SVP Greater Tucson) get from the important work that SVPI does.”

Mark Rubin: Cleveland 2009

Read Mark’s conference blog post here.

 

By Erin Henderson

Programs and Communications Associate/AmeriCorps VISTA

After studying Communication, Spanish and Studio Art and graduating from Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia in 2011, Erin, a true Georgia Peach, pulled her roots out of the thick red Georgia clay and relocated to Tucson to serve one year as an AmeriCorps volunteer with SVPGT. She enjoys exploring the new “Alien Planet” that is the Sonoran Desert/Tucson, never meeting a stranger, and singing in a Reggae/Latin/Funk band.

You’re standing on the edge of a pool. On the edge of summer. It’s scorching outside, yet somehow the placid chlorine waters have remained frigid. You dip in a toe or two, and quickly withdraw with a shudder. “There’s no way…” you mutter to yourself. The bird who watches you curiously from an overhanging branch chuckles to herself at the sight of you.

After pacing a few steps on the hot concrete (which at this point is slowly blistering your poor soles), you set your towel beside the pool, sit yourself on the towel, and gingerly lower your legs up to your calves in the water. “This isn’t so bad,” you think to yourself as you gracefully draw figure eights underwater with your toes, the water molecules creating a slow motion effect on your movements.

The longer you sit there, the more you are urged by the hot sun on the top of your head and shoulders to “Just jump in already!”

Finally, you stand, make a bee line to the diving board (It’s now or never…), take a few large steps and, with a bounce and a gulp of air, take the plunge head first into the man-made oasis.

The shock hits you. With a few strokes you have made it nearly to the other side of the pool and slowly ascend to the surface. With a sharp exhale, followed by a deep inhalation of warm air, you realize you were right. It wasn’t so bad!

Now, instead of standing on the edge wishing you had the guts to risk the minor discomfort of cold water on your hot skin, you are in the pool, lavishing in luxurious laps. Bet you’re glad you didn’t miss that opportunity! Whew!

At the Social Venture Partners Greater Tucson Annual Meeting on April 23, Lance Fors— the SVPI Board Chair, SV2 (Silicon Valley) Member, and our Guest Speaker for the evening—gave an enchanting account of his first days with SVP. From “Know-little Newbie” to “One of the best spokespersons for SVPI we’ve got” (-John Smith, SVPGT Board Chair), Lance’s approach to getting involved says it all: “I just jumped in and did it.”

If today (or yesterday…or tomorrow…) you are questioning where you fit into the SVP Family/Partnership, you are in good company. As Lance said of SVP gatherings, “It’s like living in a 60 watt world and you just walked into a room of 100w light bulbs.”  And as family, we stand beside you to help you find your place and carry your light further. There are no square pegs around here.

Get Plugged In:

Start by completing your Partner Profile, if you haven’t already. This gives staff, committee members and lead partners access to a taste of who you are, what you bring to the SVP table, and what service opportunities are most important to you. We want to help you find an opportunity that is most meaningful to you personally. Click here to go to the Intranet and complete your partner profile. If you need any help, please contact me (erin@svpgt.org).

Grab a cup of coffee or lunch with Julia or a Lead Partner or our Chief Engager to discuss your interests. There is plenty of work to be done with our Investees. And we know that our Partners are out there thinking:

“What can I offer, besides a financial contribution?”

“I want to get engaged, but don’t know where to start.”

“I haven’t heard of any opportunities that are available.”

“There aren’t any projects that interest me.”

“My career field is not applicable to the projects available to volunteer for.”

“I don’t know how to strategically develop a work plan or govern a board.”

“This job is meant for someone else with more related experience.”

Instead, try asking yourself:

“How have I enjoyed volunteering in the past?”

“How much time do I have available to volunteer?”

“Do I want to do more than give a financial contribution?”

“Who do I most want to help?”

“What ideas do I have that other partners haven’t thought of yet?”

Keep an eye out for new Volunteer Your Time and Talent postings on the Monday Missive, svpgt.org, and Social Media. We are working closely with Lead Partners and Investees to give you the latest in volunteer opportunities and find more ways for our talented Partners to give back. Even if you are unsure about a job posting, it never hurts to dig a little deeper. It may be a chance to learn a new skill! We’ll help you find a good fit. Click here to see Volunteer Your Time and Talent Poastings

Attend Committee Meetings, Conferences, Partner Education Events, and Social/Recruitment Events. Discovering and understanding what other Partners are involved in is an inspirational way to picture yourself in various roles or collaborating on various projects.

You’d be surprised how many of your professional skills are in high demand for serving our Investees and our own infrastructure. You might even have a skill our Partnership didn’t know it needed. You never know which of your skills might come in handy! So let’s get creative together!

For example, who knew that our Partner Rhonda Fleming was a Powerpoint Presentation Wiz? As a teacher, she coached students on Science Fair projects for years! With her help, the Focus Task Force delivered a solid presentation at the Annual Meeting (Great Job Julia, Ava and Frank!).

Lance was once in the same boat: wanting to get more involved, but not sure where to start. But he said it was “all about taking that first step.” One of our favorite words around here is “Engagement.” But why get engaged? Why put in the effort to Volunteer Your Time and Talent? When asked why he joined SVP, Lance’s answer was simple: “I wanted a life that was significantly more meaningful.”

What other reason do you need to get engaged? “Just jump in already!”

 

Jump In and Reach Out:

Sunnyside Parents as Teachers Lead Partner: Harriet Kronman

Reading Seed Lead Partner: Ginnie Griffis

Youth on Their Own Lead Partnet: Ruby Buchsbaum

Chief Engager: Mark Rubin

Executive Director: Julia Waterfall-Kanter

Programs and Communications Associate: Erin Henderson

By Mark Rubin

-Founding Partner, Chief Engager and Guest Contributor

 

There is an old adage about seminars: Learn one thing and you’ve gotten your money’s worth! I attended the Social Venture Partners Turn Up the Heat: Next-Level Strategies for SVP Winter Conference in Scottsdale on April 16-17. I attended two programs, learned two big things and got a big reminder about the value of Social Venture Partners. Oh, and there was an EPIPHANY! Pretty good value!!!

First, I attended a dinner focused on collective impact. Several presenters related collective impact experiences in their communities. The issues on which these communities focused varied, although most of them worked on education. The players were different, community by community, and the processes also differed. One strand, however, was evident throughout: successful endeavors require a substantial amount of time, talent and treasure, and a total devotion to measurable outcomes.

Can we “do” collective impact in Tucson?  The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona is, already!  As for “can we,” if the “we” is Social Venture Partners, I think the answer is “not right now,” for we lack the capital and other resources that are necessary to be successful. Can we use our social capital to help make things happen in our community? Absolutely, and I hope and expect that we’ll be discussing this issue in the coming months.

Second, I attended The Art and Science of Fund Development, a full-day program about fund development issues. The big takeaway:  Words really matter!  Framing the way in which we communicate about Social Venture Partners—about why we do what we do, and how what we do matters—drives our level of success in broadening our support base. Of course, the message that words matter is not new, but the presentations about how we share our stories allowed me to see the issue from new perspectives. I deal with words every day from 8 to 5. I know they matter greatly (sometimes I tell people I am a technical writer whose forum happens to be the courts). Now I also know I need to give to my SVP life the same attention to words that I give them in my work life.

I also had an epiphany about the fund development side of Social Venture Partners of Greater Tucson. There are epiphanies, though, and then there are EPIPHANIES! I had a few epiphanies during the session, and the EPIPHANY on the drive home from Scottsdale. The EPIPHANY: We own Social Venture Partners of Greater Tucson. We own this partnership, all of us, in the same way in which we own real estate, stocks and bonds, businesses, and other assets. We have made an investment, and now we are responsible for it. What that means, and how it translates into action, requires more thought and plenty of conversation. For now, I’m thinking about it and I hope and expect that it will be part of our conversation in the coming months.

Of course, spending time with Partners always adds value to my life. The SVP network includes a really fine bunch of dedicated, interesting people. Being with them is truly pleasurable!

By Mark Rubin, Founding Partner and Guest Contributor

Mark is a lawyer, fiduciary, teacher and recognized expert in the area of professional ethics. In addition to active non-profit community engagement, one may also find Mark busy in his garden or kitchen or relaxing with a glass of red wine and traces of dark chocolate on his fingertips. He is the author of A Life at 50-ish.

At the National Institute for Civil Discourse/SVPGT event on January 19, Brint Milward—NICD’s Executive Director—made the following statement:

“One thing we know about social networks is that proximity usually breeds networking…You accept that even those who have different opinions are still reasonable people.”

 

This statement accounts in part for the success of Social Venture Partners and other giving models that involve more than simply writing checks to worthy causes. These models create philanthropic communities of reasonable people working closely together for the betterment of the community at large.

We are blessed with a group of partners whose pictures could appear in the dictionary next to “reasonable,” but the back and forth discourse we share with one another enriches all of us, keeps us engaged and gives us the energy we need to go forth and make our community better. Bottom line: We don’t face the same problems our elected representatives confront in Washington, but by working together we makes our lives and those of everyone around us better.

When I share the SVP story with others, many of whom are people with a propensity for sharing their treasure, I hear from time to time the queries: “Don’t you waste lots of money?” or “It’s more efficient to give directly to X, Y or Z.” In one sense they are right, for if we assume a zero sum game, a dollar spent on marketing SVPGT is a dollar not spent teaching a child to read. On the other hand, if the real purpose involves building a better community where people can share their experiences, their knowledge, and their enthusiasm for making sure we have a literate community in the not distant future, the dollar that helps create the environment for sharing and building enthusiasm multiplies itself many times over.

By: Jackie Kajos

“I’m at the edge of a body of water in the morning, a calm lake, and I’m going to grab a stone and throw it out into that lake, in that body of water, and we all know what’s going to happen, right? It’s going to create a ripple.” –Paul Shoemaker, SVP Seattle, Executive Connector  

SVPGT is all about creating ripples. We’re a network of 26 organizations across the country, in Canada and in Japan, and we’re all throwing stones into the ocean of change. And together, those ripples combine to make waves. Our Partners gathered on May 4^th for the Annual Partner Meeting to reflect on the year, celebrate our accomplishments, honor our partners and their hard work, learn about our impact and connect with the network. Paul Shoemaker, SVP Seattle Executive Connector spoke to us about our history, innovation in the network, and reminded us that we are a part of a something much bigger than ourselves.

SVP is the only world-wide network of engaged and connected philanthropists, and together we are able to achieve so much more. Using Paul’s metaphor, if the world is the ocean and all the creatures swimming in the water are social problems, we can make a difference by helping each whale. But if we really want to make some positive changes, we can save the ocean and thereby help more whales and fish and make an even bigger impact. Thus, when our Partners combine forces we can multiply our impact in Tucson, and through our connection to the SVP network we amplify our reach even farther.

Our partners are extremely dedicated to the Greater Tucson community and we were delighted to take this time to honor their commitment. Partner Jane Wilson completed her Board service in 2011, and is the first Partner to complete a full term of service, in addition to serving on the Founding Board and a variety of committees. We are so grateful for Jane’s time and insight!

In addition, Partner David “Griff” Griffis was honored with the Chair’s Award, by Chair John Smith, for his exceptional service and commitment to SVPGT over the last year. Griff has devoted over 600 hours of service consulting literacy organizations in the community. He is also the Chair of the Investment Committee, on the SVPGT Board and has worked with our investees on board development and strategic planning. Griff went above and beyond and he has truly impacted the Tucson literacy space. We want to thank those Partners who attended the meeting, and we would especially like to thank Paul Shoemaker for speaking to our partnership. It was an invigorating evening and we hope you had fun and left energized and ready to make even more waves!

Go to our Facebook page for more photos! And make sure to watch Paul’s talk here!