Our Mission 

Social Venture Partners Denver seeks to catalyze positive social change by:

• Strengthening local nonprofit organizations through targeted investments of our partners' time, expertise and money; and
• Providing opportunities for our partners to become better informed and effective philanthropists.

Our Principles

Engaged Venture Philanthropy - SVP invests time, expertise and money in nonprofits. We seek collaborative relationships with nonprofits.

Entrepreneurial Spirit - SVP uses innovative approaches to achieve results in our nonprofit partnerships and communities. We delegate decisions, resources, and authority to those closest to the work.

Philanthropic Education - SVP Partners educate themselves and become informed, effective, lifetime philanthropists. Ongoing individual philanthropy is catalyzed through hands-on experience and education.

Community Collaborative Action - SVP believes in the power of collective, self-organized effort. We encourage and maintain a highly-participatory, partner-driven organization that use non-hierarchical, low-overhead communications and operating practices. SVP supports an open exchange of knowledge and lessons learned, and avoids partisan, religious or political activities.

Mutual Respect - SVP respects the expertise of community nonprofit organizations. We form close working relationships with organizations where we can mutually vest in the nonprofit’s success.

Accountability & Results - SVP partners are mutually accountable to each other, our Grantees and the community. We achieve and document measurable results, both in our own work and through our partnerships with nonprofits.

How SVP Works

The first half of the SVP model is investment that builds the long-term capacity of organizations, rather than short-term projects or programs. Capacity building investments include cash grants, skilled volunteers, professional consultants, leadership development and management training opportunities.

The other half of the SVP model is the mobilization of a community of lifelong, informed, and inspired philanthropists. Through engagement with Grantees, connections with SVP Partners, and participation in education events, partners are inspired to reinvest and make new investments in organizations associated with SVP as well as more broadly.

This graphic shows how the two elements of the model continuously reinforce each other.