Our Commitment
SVP is a partnership of individuals who invest their money and expertise in nonprofit organizations focused on helping metro Denver's youth.

Benefits to the Community
SVP collaborates with nonprofit organizations that educate and mentor youth who are at risk or economically disadvantaged.

Benefits to the Partners
From their hands-on involvement with nonprofits and through SVP's educational seminars, partners learn about philanthropy and the nonprofit community.

Benefits to the Grantees
Grantees receive financial and human capital from SVP to improve day-to-day operations and long term success.

Our Goals

Nonprofit Capacity Building
At SVP Denver we value innovation and the power of the entrepreneurial spirit, and work to help nonprofits become more effective. We approach our relationship with a nonprofit from a venture capital approach where we provide technical assistance to our grantees to build their internal infrastructure with an expectation so that they are better able to achieve their goals and to provide services more effectively. We work with our grantee partners to build long-term capacity, rather than focusing on short-term projects or programs.

In order to build a nonprofit’s capacity, partners agree to work with the organization for up to three years, grant funds for general operating expenses, and identify high-level volunteers who can work to help it achieve its goals. SVP Denver partners provide support in areas including marketing, finance, technology, strategic planning, and human resources management. Together, SVP and the grantees set specific goals and track our progress, knowing that this type of partnership fosters learning for both the partners and the nonprofits. This "venture philanthropy" model is key to helping our grantees achieve results that are not merely measurable...they are remarkable.

Expand Philanthropic Leadership In Denver

Through the many opportunities available, partners gain a rich insight into community issues, the nonprofit sector, giving strategies, and philanthropic and civic leadership. In addition, partners develop their knowledge of philanthropy through our partner education offerings, which include panels, classes, and hands-on experiences.

As a result of involvement with SVP, partners are:

• Increasing the amount of their charitable giving 
• Giving more strategically by using formal processes and research in their grantmaking, writing fewer and larger checks, creating long-term and collaborative funding strategies and funding nonprofit infrastructure
• Significantly expanding their volunteer commitment to community causes and programs

Evaluating our Impact
At Social Venture Partners we believe in accountability and evaluating the work we do with partners and grantees. The following reports are network-wide evaluations: