SDSVP is continuing to compile articles and resources showing how philanthropy can lead the way in helping nonprofits during these hard economic times. Click on the links below for the articles, then share your thoughts by commenting on the SDSVP blog.
Strategic Philanthropy in Tough Times by Paul Brest
Thoughts on how the strategic philanthropist should respond to this nearly unprecedented situation.
How to Survive a Week of Moral Hazards by Peter Karoff, Partner SVP Santa Barbara
In these unprecedented circumstances, what will be philanthropy’s response, what could it be, and how do we avoid what economists call “moral hazards”.
Bank Releases Initial Philanthropy Findings from the Boston Globe
Study shows that attitudes toward philanthropy are evolving
December 31, 2008
Bank Releases Initial Philanthropy Findings
From the Boston Globe
November 24, 2008
"Nearly 60 percent of wealthy households who stopped giving to a charitable organization attributed their change in philanthropic behavior to 'no longer feeling connected to the organization,'" Bank of America Corp. said today.
That's one headline from initial findings of a new survey commissioned by the bank's global wealth and investment management unit, which is based in Boston; the full study is scheduled for release early next year.
The study, the bank said in a press release, reflects the opinions of nearly 700 respondents with household income greater than $200,000 and/or net-worth of at least $1 million.
One insight from the study indicates that "wealthy donors are giving more strategically and are increasingly turning to legal and financial professionals as primary sources for advice about charitable giving decisions," said the bank, which is headquartered in North Carolina.
A recent Globe story, which focused on young Jewish donors, noted how attitudes toward philanthropy are evolving. To read that story, please click here.
November 24, 2008
"Nearly 60 percent of wealthy households who stopped giving to a charitable organization attributed their change in philanthropic behavior to 'no longer feeling connected to the organization,'" Bank of America Corp. said today.
That's one headline from initial findings of a new survey commissioned by the bank's global wealth and investment management unit, which is based in Boston; the full study is scheduled for release early next year.
The study, the bank said in a press release, reflects the opinions of nearly 700 respondents with household income greater than $200,000 and/or net-worth of at least $1 million.
One insight from the study indicates that "wealthy donors are giving more strategically and are increasingly turning to legal and financial professionals as primary sources for advice about charitable giving decisions," said the bank, which is headquartered in North Carolina.
A recent Globe story, which focused on young Jewish donors, noted how attitudes toward philanthropy are evolving. To read that story, please click here.
Getting Old Ain't for Sissies!
By Leane Marchese, Executive Director, ElderHelp of San Diego
I want to share with you a story of one of ElderHelp's seniors:
Mr. Paulson rode his bike for 20 years as a way to save money and keep fit in retirement. He lives on social security and a small pension and manages to keep independent and healthy.
Every couple of weeks or so he would come by the ElderHelp offices to make copies and to just say 'Hi!'. Last fall, each time he came in the office he shared that his bicycle was getting more and more rickety and he was worried he would not be able to ride it past the first of the year.
Immediately, the ElderHelp team began searching for a way to buy him a new bike. We gathered enough donations and parked a shiny new bike next to ElderHelp's Christmas tree awaiting Mr. Paulson's next visit. In he came bundled up with red cheeks glowing on a rather chilly (San Diego) December day.
We hailed all staff and volunteers into the lobby and presented Mr. Paulson with his new bike. Large crocodile tears welled up in his eyes and he shared that he had not received a holiday gift in over ten years! He was so surprised and excited and didn't know what to say!
Who would know that receiving a bicycle at the age of 85 would be as magical as when we were 8!
Just this past October, Mr. Paulson had to permanently give up riding his bike due to his impaired vision, but ElderHelp continues to be there for him and provide a valuable connection to services and people who care.
Together we can make such an amazing impact on the life of seniors in need!
I want to share with you a story of one of ElderHelp's seniors:
Mr. Paulson rode his bike for 20 years as a way to save money and keep fit in retirement. He lives on social security and a small pension and manages to keep independent and healthy.
Every couple of weeks or so he would come by the ElderHelp offices to make copies and to just say 'Hi!'. Last fall, each time he came in the office he shared that his bicycle was getting more and more rickety and he was worried he would not be able to ride it past the first of the year.
Immediately, the ElderHelp team began searching for a way to buy him a new bike. We gathered enough donations and parked a shiny new bike next to ElderHelp's Christmas tree awaiting Mr. Paulson's next visit. In he came bundled up with red cheeks glowing on a rather chilly (San Diego) December day.
We hailed all staff and volunteers into the lobby and presented Mr. Paulson with his new bike. Large crocodile tears welled up in his eyes and he shared that he had not received a holiday gift in over ten years! He was so surprised and excited and didn't know what to say!
Who would know that receiving a bicycle at the age of 85 would be as magical as when we were 8!
Just this past October, Mr. Paulson had to permanently give up riding his bike due to his impaired vision, but ElderHelp continues to be there for him and provide a valuable connection to services and people who care.
Together we can make such an amazing impact on the life of seniors in need!
CSH Marketing Initiatives Underway with SDSVP Resources
By Simonne Ruff, Associate Director, Corporation for Supportive Housing – San Diego
Lead Partner: Sherri Neasham
With the help of SDSVP, the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) has focused efforts on understanding why less than 25% of funds available to San Diego to develop supportive housing have been used locally. The rest of these funds, which could have created new projects in San Diego, have been used on developments elsewhere in the state. It is clear that a lack of understanding of supportive housing has been a significant barrier to the development of new projects.
To bolster the capacity of CSH San Diego, a marketing plan was developed with SDSVP resources and expertise. With target markets clearly identified, the action plan is guiding the plan’s implementation. SDSVP has also enabled CSH to partner with the SDSU Entrepreneurial Management Center and engage a master’s level business intern to assist in this work.
Tenant profiles are being collected to form a dossier of success stories which highlight the profound impact of supportive housing on people’s lives; documenting the path that has enabled them to permanently exit life on the streets. In addition, a speaker’s bureau is being formed, enabling community leaders, business owners, faith communities and the like to stand up in support of projects. This speaker’s bureau will be available to all partners involved in supportive housing projects and will provide critical and timely support as we work to ensure people have the chance to permanently leave homelessness.
CSH welcomes SDSVP Partners with marketing, communications, or public relations expertise to expand on the work that is currently underway. CSH is continuing to build its marketing expertise in order to meet the three year vision of enabling 250 homeless individuals with disabling health conditions to exit the streets and remain housed for one year in sustainable permanent supportive housing.
Lead Partner: Sherri Neasham
With the help of SDSVP, the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) has focused efforts on understanding why less than 25% of funds available to San Diego to develop supportive housing have been used locally. The rest of these funds, which could have created new projects in San Diego, have been used on developments elsewhere in the state. It is clear that a lack of understanding of supportive housing has been a significant barrier to the development of new projects.
To bolster the capacity of CSH San Diego, a marketing plan was developed with SDSVP resources and expertise. With target markets clearly identified, the action plan is guiding the plan’s implementation. SDSVP has also enabled CSH to partner with the SDSU Entrepreneurial Management Center and engage a master’s level business intern to assist in this work.
Tenant profiles are being collected to form a dossier of success stories which highlight the profound impact of supportive housing on people’s lives; documenting the path that has enabled them to permanently exit life on the streets. In addition, a speaker’s bureau is being formed, enabling community leaders, business owners, faith communities and the like to stand up in support of projects. This speaker’s bureau will be available to all partners involved in supportive housing projects and will provide critical and timely support as we work to ensure people have the chance to permanently leave homelessness.
CSH welcomes SDSVP Partners with marketing, communications, or public relations expertise to expand on the work that is currently underway. CSH is continuing to build its marketing expertise in order to meet the three year vision of enabling 250 homeless individuals with disabling health conditions to exit the streets and remain housed for one year in sustainable permanent supportive housing.
Meet Partner, JoAnne Berg!
By Paul Thiel
After years running her own business and raising a family, JoAnne Berg is finally seeing some free time…and so she’s filling it by joining SDSVP. “My youngest just left for college and my employees are mostly running the company now,” she says. “I knew I’d always get more involved on a philanthropic level because I really enjoy it.”
A CPA by training, Berg ran her own firm catering to closely held companies when she and her husband formed their own manufacturing firm, Spectrum Concepts Inc., to make the plastic injection-molded pieces that fit inside furniture to hold DVDs, CDs and the like. Spectrum’s pieces can be found in fine furniture such as that made by Drexel Heritage and Ethan Allen.
Berg’s husband, Tom Hunt, is still deeply involved in the business, while her children are building their own futures. Step-son Josh Jones, 31, is a professional bass player in Las Vegas, while daughter Sara Hunt, 18, is in her first year as a creative writing major at Chapman University in Orange County. That leaves Berg with capacity to give back to the community through SDSVP.
Berg’s background, in addition to accounting and manufacturing, extends to purchasing, logistics, real estate development, finance and risk management – all areas of expertise she hopes to bring to bear for SDSVP’s clients. She expects her biggest impact will be in helping non-profits advance their financial acumen.
“No one knows how to manage the books,” she jokes. Seriously, she says, “financial management for non-profits is twice as difficult as it is in the for-profit world. You think it’s a simple little business model, but it’s anything but that.”
The challenge, Berg says, is in tracking a matrix of revenue streams and expenses that provides accountability for both the non-profit itself as well as for its various constituencies – the state and federal governments, foundations and other grantmakers, etc. – many of whom have very specific requirements.
“Even for the $350,000-in-revenue groups we work with, it’s really hard because everything they do have different requirements,” Berg says. “It is much more complicated than my business, and my business is built to do $10 million to $20 million. But we do one thing, so it’s much more scalable.”
“Those people have a lot to offer for-profit executives, and vice versa,” says Berg. “I see a convergence of business models coming. We really have a lot to learn from the non-profit sector, and them from us,” says Berg. “There is a huge learning curve on both sides, but we are all in this together.”
JoAnne came to SDSVP when a friend introduced her to Alan Sorkin, knowing that she had done a great deal of ad-hoc work for non-profits over the years. Berg says the aspect she enjoys most about working with non-profits is meeting people who have a much different view of the world than she does. “It’s pure joy, just in terms of enhancing your life, to meet these people who have given their lives to making the world a little better place,” she says. “They have a whole different perspective. So many wonderful people.”
Come meet JoAnne as she leads the “Finance and Legal Affairs” session at SDSVP’s Partner Bootcamp!
After years running her own business and raising a family, JoAnne Berg is finally seeing some free time…and so she’s filling it by joining SDSVP. “My youngest just left for college and my employees are mostly running the company now,” she says. “I knew I’d always get more involved on a philanthropic level because I really enjoy it.”
A CPA by training, Berg ran her own firm catering to closely held companies when she and her husband formed their own manufacturing firm, Spectrum Concepts Inc., to make the plastic injection-molded pieces that fit inside furniture to hold DVDs, CDs and the like. Spectrum’s pieces can be found in fine furniture such as that made by Drexel Heritage and Ethan Allen.
Berg’s husband, Tom Hunt, is still deeply involved in the business, while her children are building their own futures. Step-son Josh Jones, 31, is a professional bass player in Las Vegas, while daughter Sara Hunt, 18, is in her first year as a creative writing major at Chapman University in Orange County. That leaves Berg with capacity to give back to the community through SDSVP.
Berg’s background, in addition to accounting and manufacturing, extends to purchasing, logistics, real estate development, finance and risk management – all areas of expertise she hopes to bring to bear for SDSVP’s clients. She expects her biggest impact will be in helping non-profits advance their financial acumen.
“No one knows how to manage the books,” she jokes. Seriously, she says, “financial management for non-profits is twice as difficult as it is in the for-profit world. You think it’s a simple little business model, but it’s anything but that.”
The challenge, Berg says, is in tracking a matrix of revenue streams and expenses that provides accountability for both the non-profit itself as well as for its various constituencies – the state and federal governments, foundations and other grantmakers, etc. – many of whom have very specific requirements.
“Even for the $350,000-in-revenue groups we work with, it’s really hard because everything they do have different requirements,” Berg says. “It is much more complicated than my business, and my business is built to do $10 million to $20 million. But we do one thing, so it’s much more scalable.”
“Those people have a lot to offer for-profit executives, and vice versa,” says Berg. “I see a convergence of business models coming. We really have a lot to learn from the non-profit sector, and them from us,” says Berg. “There is a huge learning curve on both sides, but we are all in this together.”
JoAnne came to SDSVP when a friend introduced her to Alan Sorkin, knowing that she had done a great deal of ad-hoc work for non-profits over the years. Berg says the aspect she enjoys most about working with non-profits is meeting people who have a much different view of the world than she does. “It’s pure joy, just in terms of enhancing your life, to meet these people who have given their lives to making the world a little better place,” she says. “They have a whole different perspective. So many wonderful people.”
Come meet JoAnne as she leads the “Finance and Legal Affairs” session at SDSVP’s Partner Bootcamp!
November 25, 2008
Record Number of North County Families to Receive Shopping Carts Filled with Donated Food, Clothing, Blankets, Toys, and More
Community Resource Center’s 26th Annual Holiday Baskets Program is the largest comprehensive holiday distribution program of its kind in the county. Hundreds of volunteers will be transforming the Grandstands at the Del Mar Fairgrounds into a 20,000 square-foot shopping warehouse so that a record 1,200 low-income families can experience “free” holiday shopping this season on December 19, 20, and 21. Eligible North County families will fill their shopping carts or “baskets” with donated turkeys, staple foods, blankets, clothing, toys, and much more.
Economic challenges have slowed donations, but Community Resource Center (CRC) remains optimistic as calls come in from the community offering to help. “We have many of our veteran drive organizers on board, and we’ve had a number of new groups organizing new drives in November and December,” says Laurin Pause, CRC Executive Director. “We are particularly concerned about donations of food, jackets, and toys. The number of families in need of CRC social services has increased by 200% this year, and we are doing our best to keep up for programs like Holiday Baskets.” Holiday Baskets distributed 42 tons of donated food, more than 4,000 jackets, and 2,500 toys last December and organizers are counting on its big drives, along with several smaller ones, to help reach that goal again. “At the very least, we want to make sure the families most in need have food and warmth this holiday season,” says Pause. “Any help would be greatly appreciated.”
Over 200 groups are now collecting items for the program and include schools, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Rotary Clubs, the Encinitas Sheriff’s Department, local businesses and government, Ecke Ranch, Lusardi Construction, churches, foundations, and much more. Community Resource Center supervises the deliveries, drop-offs, and distribution of items and the registration of families for the program.
More than 1,600 volunteers and staff will work around the clock to begin sorting over food, toys, outer wear and much more at the Del Mar Fairgrounds site starting on November 24 and continuing through December 21.
Those interested in donating, collecting, delivering, or distributing items for Holiday Baskets should contact Community Resource Center at 760-230-6305.
To learn more about CRC and Holiday Baskets, please go to www.crcncc.org
The program relies on the donation of items collected by over 200 groups in the community.
High Needs items for the Holiday Baskets program currently include the following:
- Non-perishable Food (canned or boxed)
- Jackets & Coats, all sizes (New or gently used)
- New Toys & Teen Gifts (unwrapped)
Drop-Off Centers for Holiday Baskets
- CRC Thrift Store, 111 “C” Street, in Encinitas (9-5 daily)
- Coldwell Banker Encinitas, 740 Garden View Court #100, in Encinitas (during business hours)
Preferred Donation Deadline: December 12th, but items will be accepted through December 19th. Those interested in donating or collecting items for Holiday Baskets should contact Community Resource Center at 760-230-6305. For online donations, volunteer opportunities, and other information, please go to www.crcncc.org
Two SDSVP Ladies Are 2009 “Women Of Distinction”
The Salvation Army awards 15 fabulous ladies each year who make a difference in San Diego. We are very proud to announce that two of our Partners have been honored this prestigious “Women of Distinction” award for 2009. Congraluations to Louarn Sorkin and Jan Tuttleman!
We already knew we were lucky to have these incredible women as part of our group, now the entire community will be able to toast their extraordinary accomplishments. Help us celebrate and honor them on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 for the awards ceremony.
The woman of SDSVP would love to put together tables of ten ladies each to cheer Louarn and Jan. If you would like to be part of this event, please contact Peggy Kidd at peggy@sdsvp.org. The tickets are $85. Let’s get a real cheering squad for these two ladies!
Besides her multiple roles with SDSVP, including being known as the woman who keeps the “Social” in Social Venture Partners, Louarn has chaired the Mardi Gras fundraiser for the La Jolla Opera Guild, and is active with the American Cancer Society, the Boys and Girls Clubs, and the San Diego Grant Makers. She is a founder of Just In Time, a group that aids youth leaving foster care.
Jan was the founder and first chair of the Jewish Women’s Foundation, and has worked with many foundations, and with Voices For Children. Jan is a recipient of the Anne Ratner Award for Community Leadership.
We already knew we were lucky to have these incredible women as part of our group, now the entire community will be able to toast their extraordinary accomplishments. Help us celebrate and honor them on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 for the awards ceremony.
The woman of SDSVP would love to put together tables of ten ladies each to cheer Louarn and Jan. If you would like to be part of this event, please contact Peggy Kidd at peggy@sdsvp.org. The tickets are $85. Let’s get a real cheering squad for these two ladies!
Besides her multiple roles with SDSVP, including being known as the woman who keeps the “Social” in Social Venture Partners, Louarn has chaired the Mardi Gras fundraiser for the La Jolla Opera Guild, and is active with the American Cancer Society, the Boys and Girls Clubs, and the San Diego Grant Makers. She is a founder of Just In Time, a group that aids youth leaving foster care.
Jan was the founder and first chair of the Jewish Women’s Foundation, and has worked with many foundations, and with Voices For Children. Jan is a recipient of the Anne Ratner Award for Community Leadership.
Mary Beth Kellee and Hugh Dunklee
Hard-charging dynamo Mary Beth Kellee has been a shining star in the San Diego social scene for over 12 years. Born and raised in Ohio, she began a ballet school where she taught both ballet and gymnastics. This was followed by a retail sales and management career in New York with J. Riggings, Proving Ground and Shiseido Cosmetics. Having successfully conquered upstate New York, Shiseido promoted and sent her to Boston in the capacity of Northeast Training Director, where she remained for seven years until being recruited by Laura Ashley to become its North American Training Director, a position that included 15 direct reports.
The lure of the west coast became irresistible, as did a certain Hugh Dunklee from San Diego (who later became her husband), so Mary Beth sold everything and left Massachusetts to run a 5-star ski resort with Hugh in Vail, Colorado. Following a very long and cold winter, Mary Beth and Hugh left for California and pursued real estate careers in San Diego for almost eight years.
She then found her passion in volunteering and coordinating events as founder of 2 and 2 Consulting, which capitalizes on her ability to effectively connect people, businesses and non-profits. Numerous worthwhile local charities have found a true champion in Mary Beth, and she sits on the boards of various non-profit organizations including United Cerebral Palsy, Jenna Druck Foundation, Beach and Country Guild and the Santaluz Community Council. In addition, Mary Beth serves in an advisory capacity to the Santaluz Advisory Committee, Burn Institute, San Diego Center for Children, City Ballet of San Diego and the Sudanese Community Center.
‘Fundraiser-to-the-stars’, she has successfully chaired and presided over countless events. Some of her many successes include organizing the most productive fundraising team in the country for UCP’s “Ride without Limits” and coordinating its 50th anniversary VIP event, “The Sky’s the Limit.” She is chairing the VIP experience for “Your Best Year Ever” in January of 2009 at the Sports Arena benefiting the Jenna Druck Foundation. As past president and press chair for Beach and Country Guild’s “Dia Del Sol” event in both 2006 and 2007, she was instrumental in raising an unprecedented $500K in contributions. She created and continues to oversee the Santaluz Community Council Speaker Series “Words, Wine and Wisdom”, which features a wide range of engaging programs and included a recent appearance by one of the Lost Boys.
Mary Beth’s latest venture is a new line of healthy and organic products being launched in partnership with renowned naturopathic chef Tina Martini. In recognition of her tireless efforts, Mary Beth was named San Diego Magazine’s “Volunteer of the Year” in 2006.
By joining SDSVP, Mary Beth hopes to expand her social and philanthropic network. She is known as a "connector" of people and plans to introduce many of her social network people to SDSVP.
Mary Beth loves health and fitness and was just voted one of San Diego's Top 10 Best Dressed Gals! Hugh and Mary Beth have two dogs, Hunter & Skyler.
The lure of the west coast became irresistible, as did a certain Hugh Dunklee from San Diego (who later became her husband), so Mary Beth sold everything and left Massachusetts to run a 5-star ski resort with Hugh in Vail, Colorado. Following a very long and cold winter, Mary Beth and Hugh left for California and pursued real estate careers in San Diego for almost eight years.
She then found her passion in volunteering and coordinating events as founder of 2 and 2 Consulting, which capitalizes on her ability to effectively connect people, businesses and non-profits. Numerous worthwhile local charities have found a true champion in Mary Beth, and she sits on the boards of various non-profit organizations including United Cerebral Palsy, Jenna Druck Foundation, Beach and Country Guild and the Santaluz Community Council. In addition, Mary Beth serves in an advisory capacity to the Santaluz Advisory Committee, Burn Institute, San Diego Center for Children, City Ballet of San Diego and the Sudanese Community Center.
‘Fundraiser-to-the-stars’, she has successfully chaired and presided over countless events. Some of her many successes include organizing the most productive fundraising team in the country for UCP’s “Ride without Limits” and coordinating its 50th anniversary VIP event, “The Sky’s the Limit.” She is chairing the VIP experience for “Your Best Year Ever” in January of 2009 at the Sports Arena benefiting the Jenna Druck Foundation. As past president and press chair for Beach and Country Guild’s “Dia Del Sol” event in both 2006 and 2007, she was instrumental in raising an unprecedented $500K in contributions. She created and continues to oversee the Santaluz Community Council Speaker Series “Words, Wine and Wisdom”, which features a wide range of engaging programs and included a recent appearance by one of the Lost Boys.
Mary Beth’s latest venture is a new line of healthy and organic products being launched in partnership with renowned naturopathic chef Tina Martini. In recognition of her tireless efforts, Mary Beth was named San Diego Magazine’s “Volunteer of the Year” in 2006.
By joining SDSVP, Mary Beth hopes to expand her social and philanthropic network. She is known as a "connector" of people and plans to introduce many of her social network people to SDSVP.
Mary Beth loves health and fitness and was just voted one of San Diego's Top 10 Best Dressed Gals! Hugh and Mary Beth have two dogs, Hunter & Skyler.
November 24, 2008
Philanthropy and The Economy - Part I
SDSVP has compiled several articles and resources showing how philanthropy can lead the way in helping nonprofits during these hard economic times. Click on the links below for the articles, then share your thoughts by commenting on this post.
Philanthrocapitalism on Trial
Will the collapse of the global financial system also bring down philanthrocapitalism?
In Hard Times Philanthropy Can Lead the Way
Philanthropy can help the public work through the most critical challenges facing the nation right now: making choices and setting priorities.
Managing in Tough Times: 7 Steps
Even for nonprofit leaders who are accustomed to 'making much of little,' the repercussions of the unfolding economic downturn are likely to pose unprecedented challenges.
Giving USA Spotlight - The Economy
This issue of Giving USA Spotlight looks at recessions and economic slowdowns and their impact on charitable giving in order to help nonprofit organizations anticipate what might occur in 2008–2009 and plan accordingly.
Resilient Philanthropy
While it is clear that a strong stock market provides donors with a greater ease and sense of confidence in making gifts to nonprofit organizations, the opposite is not true. Down markets do not always foretell decreased philanthropy.
November 5, 2008
Communications Working Group Update - November 2008
The Communications Working Group (CWG) is
- Providing assistance with Partner Bootcamp by leveraging resources to produce promo video and other announcement material
- Revising Investee Story/Case Study Project templates and interview questions based on the work of Dallas SVP’s storytelling initiative
- Creating Investee stories/case studies using interns and volunteers
- Writing new Partner profiles for the SDSVP newsletter
- Continuing work on the master communication plan
October 31, 2008
Wealth Expert Upbeat on Giving in Downturn
From Inside Philanthropy
October 20, 2008
Despite fear and uncertainty among nonprofits about the sliding economy and turmoil in the financial markets, a leading expert on wealth and philanthropy is optimistic about charitable giving.
While giving fell in the recession that followed the bursting of the dot.com bubble in 2000 and the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, the rate of the decline was only half that of the decrease in wealth, says John J. Havens, senior associate director and senior research associate at the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College.
And despite the recent plunge in the stock market, which already has recovered some of its losses, stocks account for less than 10 percent of households' assets, and stocks affect mutual funds, bonds and pension reserves, which together account for another 15 percent to 20 percent, Havens says.
Americans also own homes and businesses, so the market does not immediately affect the remaining 70 percent to 75 percent of household assets, he says.
Although their wealth affects Americans’ capacity for charitable giving, he says, their giving also reflects their personal income, their employment and their access to credit.
“I tend to be optimistic,” he says. “People are overreacting to the current bad conditions.
”In fact, he says, “large gifts are continuing at a high level.”
Large planned gifts, or those that are deferred or complex or involve assets other than cash such as stock or real estate, for example, have “inertia of their own” because they take time to plan and often involve lawyers, documents and accumulated funds, Havens says.
And that inertia “continues through the first year of a downturn,” he says.So instead of panicking, he says, nonprofits should watch for trends in personal income, unemployment and government efforts in the U.S. and abroad to ease the credit freeze.
“If personal income were to drop and wealth were to drop off and remain low, we’d be in serious shape with respect to philanthropic giving,” he says.
And if government efforts to loosen credit “do not have a major effect,” he says, “I would anticipate we’re going to have a very long and deep recession, with declines in both wealth and income, and therefore a major impact on philanthropy as well, although probably less so in percentage terms than on income itself or wealth itself.”
But he says he believes those efforts “will have the desired impact.
”Haven, who looked at per-household data on net worth, personal income and charitable giving for the period before and after the most recent recession, says wealth and giving patterns for households tend to be more stable than those of capital markets or personal income.
“So if past is prologue, we would expect the total amount of philanthropy to continue or increase for another several months or two to three quarters, but possibly not as rapidly,” he says.
“The real big question is whether the economy can sidestep this crisis so it doesn’t extend into employment and incomes of people,” he says. “I’m optimistic because I think we’re panicking too much.”
October 20, 2008
Despite fear and uncertainty among nonprofits about the sliding economy and turmoil in the financial markets, a leading expert on wealth and philanthropy is optimistic about charitable giving.
While giving fell in the recession that followed the bursting of the dot.com bubble in 2000 and the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, the rate of the decline was only half that of the decrease in wealth, says John J. Havens, senior associate director and senior research associate at the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College.
And despite the recent plunge in the stock market, which already has recovered some of its losses, stocks account for less than 10 percent of households' assets, and stocks affect mutual funds, bonds and pension reserves, which together account for another 15 percent to 20 percent, Havens says.
Americans also own homes and businesses, so the market does not immediately affect the remaining 70 percent to 75 percent of household assets, he says.
Although their wealth affects Americans’ capacity for charitable giving, he says, their giving also reflects their personal income, their employment and their access to credit.
“I tend to be optimistic,” he says. “People are overreacting to the current bad conditions.
”In fact, he says, “large gifts are continuing at a high level.”
Large planned gifts, or those that are deferred or complex or involve assets other than cash such as stock or real estate, for example, have “inertia of their own” because they take time to plan and often involve lawyers, documents and accumulated funds, Havens says.
And that inertia “continues through the first year of a downturn,” he says.So instead of panicking, he says, nonprofits should watch for trends in personal income, unemployment and government efforts in the U.S. and abroad to ease the credit freeze.
“If personal income were to drop and wealth were to drop off and remain low, we’d be in serious shape with respect to philanthropic giving,” he says.
And if government efforts to loosen credit “do not have a major effect,” he says, “I would anticipate we’re going to have a very long and deep recession, with declines in both wealth and income, and therefore a major impact on philanthropy as well, although probably less so in percentage terms than on income itself or wealth itself.”
But he says he believes those efforts “will have the desired impact.
”Haven, who looked at per-household data on net worth, personal income and charitable giving for the period before and after the most recent recession, says wealth and giving patterns for households tend to be more stable than those of capital markets or personal income.
“So if past is prologue, we would expect the total amount of philanthropy to continue or increase for another several months or two to three quarters, but possibly not as rapidly,” he says.
“The real big question is whether the economy can sidestep this crisis so it doesn’t extend into employment and incomes of people,” he says. “I’m optimistic because I think we’re panicking too much.”
Riding the Roller Coaster
Thoughts on the Times We are Living In
By Paul Shoemaker, Founder and Executive Director of Social Venture Partners Seattle
I’m sitting at 6:37am watching the markets take another roller coast dive, Dow down 338 points in 7 minutes. I’ve had a number of thoughts rolling through my head for several days now (as I’m sure all of you have too). I very much hope that you will not take my few words here as some kind of opportunistic join / rejoin / renew with SVP message. I am speaking to something far bigger than SVP or ourselves.
It goes without saying that we are living through a period of time, who knows how long it will last, that is different than anything any of us have ever experienced. It seems destined to make the ’01 dot-bust look like a blip / dip comparatively. You all know that the social needs in our neighborhood, cities, region, nation, world are going to grow and the public funds are gonna concurrently tighten (they have to). Philanthropy can’t begin to replace but a fraction of those dollars and this is going to affect all of us.
When people ask me in the last few weeks how all his will affect SVP, I say I don’t know yet, it’s been so quick. I do know that in ’01 individuals were more persistent and stretched their giving longer and further than institutions did or could, though none of our wallets are bottomless.
But even more important than our financial capital, and I mean this 100%, is our spirit and our human capital. None of us can avoid feeling the stress and pain we are going through, but we can choose to not let it overwhelm and redefine us as human beings and citizens and philanthropists. I’ll share two thoughts I’ve received in the last few days –
“There’s plenty of reason for hope. Following a decade of record-breaking, boundary-spanning philanthropic efforts, bigger dollars and more people are engaged in philanthropy than ever before. By showing bold, effective leadership at a time of such global uncertainty, we could tap latent interest and entice others to join us in this collaborative effort to improve lives.” – Kathleen Enright
“I will not be sending stock. (My gawd, it’s sooo LOW that would be crazy), but I will send a check tomorrow. And just so you know, I thought about backing off, but in these times, figured it was even MORE important to continue giving – at least to those orgs that are efficient & effective.” – SVP Partner, 10/22/08
What we can do is be role models, we can persist, we can be the kind of people that don’t lose hope and remember that history shows there is ALWAYS a new AND better day on the horizon, no matter how far off it may appear. America, SVP, each of you, and countless philanthropic and non-profit organizations WILL persevere and we will make a huge difference in the lives and institutions that we all care about deeply. Our wallets are not bottomless, but our courage, our optimism, and our fortitude can be. At SVP, we have spent nearly 11 years building a model and body of work that has leverage, effectiveness, passion – we need to amplify and accelerate our efforts, not back off. We need to look upward and outward and work harder, not hunker down.
It’s 51 minutes later now and the Dow is down another 131 points … I was looking for one specific quote from Martin Luther King to close with – “The ultimate measure of a human is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where she stands at times of challenge and controversy.” And as I was searching for that one, I found many others that might speak to each of us personally and intimately so I’ll share a few of those too, just in case one of them speaks directly to one of you.
I suspect times will get tougher before they get better, but we have each other and we always have our hearts and minds and souls and strength to continue to make a positive difference in our world, especially when it is needed most. Carry on!
Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.
Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle ... A human can't ride you unless your back is bent. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Every person must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.
Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.
Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'
We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.
We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.
Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A human should do her job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.
By Paul Shoemaker, Founder and Executive Director of Social Venture Partners Seattle
I’m sitting at 6:37am watching the markets take another roller coast dive, Dow down 338 points in 7 minutes. I’ve had a number of thoughts rolling through my head for several days now (as I’m sure all of you have too). I very much hope that you will not take my few words here as some kind of opportunistic join / rejoin / renew with SVP message. I am speaking to something far bigger than SVP or ourselves.
It goes without saying that we are living through a period of time, who knows how long it will last, that is different than anything any of us have ever experienced. It seems destined to make the ’01 dot-bust look like a blip / dip comparatively. You all know that the social needs in our neighborhood, cities, region, nation, world are going to grow and the public funds are gonna concurrently tighten (they have to). Philanthropy can’t begin to replace but a fraction of those dollars and this is going to affect all of us.
When people ask me in the last few weeks how all his will affect SVP, I say I don’t know yet, it’s been so quick. I do know that in ’01 individuals were more persistent and stretched their giving longer and further than institutions did or could, though none of our wallets are bottomless.
But even more important than our financial capital, and I mean this 100%, is our spirit and our human capital. None of us can avoid feeling the stress and pain we are going through, but we can choose to not let it overwhelm and redefine us as human beings and citizens and philanthropists. I’ll share two thoughts I’ve received in the last few days –
“There’s plenty of reason for hope. Following a decade of record-breaking, boundary-spanning philanthropic efforts, bigger dollars and more people are engaged in philanthropy than ever before. By showing bold, effective leadership at a time of such global uncertainty, we could tap latent interest and entice others to join us in this collaborative effort to improve lives.” – Kathleen Enright
“I will not be sending stock. (My gawd, it’s sooo LOW that would be crazy), but I will send a check tomorrow. And just so you know, I thought about backing off, but in these times, figured it was even MORE important to continue giving – at least to those orgs that are efficient & effective.” – SVP Partner, 10/22/08
What we can do is be role models, we can persist, we can be the kind of people that don’t lose hope and remember that history shows there is ALWAYS a new AND better day on the horizon, no matter how far off it may appear. America, SVP, each of you, and countless philanthropic and non-profit organizations WILL persevere and we will make a huge difference in the lives and institutions that we all care about deeply. Our wallets are not bottomless, but our courage, our optimism, and our fortitude can be. At SVP, we have spent nearly 11 years building a model and body of work that has leverage, effectiveness, passion – we need to amplify and accelerate our efforts, not back off. We need to look upward and outward and work harder, not hunker down.
It’s 51 minutes later now and the Dow is down another 131 points … I was looking for one specific quote from Martin Luther King to close with – “The ultimate measure of a human is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where she stands at times of challenge and controversy.” And as I was searching for that one, I found many others that might speak to each of us personally and intimately so I’ll share a few of those too, just in case one of them speaks directly to one of you.
I suspect times will get tougher before they get better, but we have each other and we always have our hearts and minds and souls and strength to continue to make a positive difference in our world, especially when it is needed most. Carry on!
Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.
Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle ... A human can't ride you unless your back is bent. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Every person must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.
Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.
Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'
We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.
We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.
Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A human should do her job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.
October 29, 2008
Investment Working Group Update - October 2008
- The IWG reviewed the Letters of Interest (LOI) and selected 16 agencies to submit proposals. The proposals are due December 3 and the Proposal Review Teams will be meeting during December. If you have not been contacted by your Team Leader or are interested in serving on a review team, please contact Joyce Ross at JoyceDRoss@aol.com.
- The November 11 Partner Bootcamp meeting listed on the IWG schedule has been cancelled. Instead, workshops will be offered in January and February. Sherri Neasham will be sending out an announcement soon regarding content and dates.
October 15, 2008
Cool Things Our Partners Are Doing
- Interested in solar energy? SDSVP Partner, David Field, CEO of Open Energy, was interviewed on Fox 6 News about the new technology behind solar panels to save energy and reduce costs. Click here to view news clip.
- Our Partners are making the news… in the New York Times! Trevor Callan, Callan Capital, weighs in on these challenging economic times. Click here to read article.
Money to Grow On
From the Stanford Social Innovation Review
Fall 2008
In the for-profit world, the term “investment” has clear meaning and investors have sophisticated techniques for spotting and growing the most promising companies. Yet foundations and other nonprofit donors have not developed similar clarity or approaches. As a result, the nonprofit sector’s greatest gems often languish well below their full potential. By better translating for-profit concepts, donors can learn how to scout out and grow the best nonprofits. Likewise, certain nonprofits can take a page from business’s playbook and learn how to attract cash for expansion.
Click here to read the full article.
Fall 2008
In the for-profit world, the term “investment” has clear meaning and investors have sophisticated techniques for spotting and growing the most promising companies. Yet foundations and other nonprofit donors have not developed similar clarity or approaches. As a result, the nonprofit sector’s greatest gems often languish well below their full potential. By better translating for-profit concepts, donors can learn how to scout out and grow the best nonprofits. Likewise, certain nonprofits can take a page from business’s playbook and learn how to attract cash for expansion.
Click here to read the full article.
Philanthropy is HOT!
Well known author and philanthropist, Sean Stannard-Stockton, attended the SVPI Conference in Cleveland this year! Sean, principal and director of Tactical Philanthropy, reports on the Conference and shares his thoughts about the direction in which philanthropy is going.
Click here to read his article.
Click here to read his article.
October 14, 2008
Success for La Cuna
By Rachel Humphreys
As summer winds down and a change of seasons is in the air, change is happening within the homes of many La Cuna families right now as they become adoptive parents. By now La Cuna has placed 70 children in safe and loving homes. As of now, 11 have been adopted or are in process of being adopted by their La Cuna families. (Many more cases are still up in the air, and approximately 60% have been successfully reunified with rehabilitated family members.)
Although La Cuna tries to reunify our La Cuna children with biological or extended family whenever they can, they are also committed to permanency for each child, and their foster families are excited to adopt when reunification is not possible. They have incredibly heartwarming stories around their little adopted sweet peas and their loving La Cuna families. Below is one such example.
Little Arturo came to La Cuna on December 20, 2006 at the tender age of 11 days old. His parents were young teenagers themselves who are prone to violence and drug use. Cesar was born “pos tox,” with crystal meth in his system. For his first year in care, his wonder-parents, April and Ben Flores, tried very hard to help reunify him with his biological parents, and then when that could not happen, they tried to place him with a variety of extended family members. The latter were all ultimately unable to pass a background clearance check.
Along the way it became clear that Cesar needed a “forever home.” Meanwhile, along with his La Cuna parents, April and Ben, he was being equally adored by his La Cuna Grandmother, who lives with the Flores family. Cesar is now in process of being adopted by the Flores family.
“The level to which the Flores couple has remained calm and supportive of whatever’s best for Cesar has been truly incredible. They have been amazingly selfless in their quest to look out for the beautiful boy in their home.” Says Executive Director Rachel Humphreys.
Meanwhile Cesar has blossomed into a very healthy toddler! He not only meets all his developmental milestones, but he’s a wonderful, completely well-adjusted little man. He’s outgoing, sociable, and his favorite TV show is “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy.”
This story is yet another success story for La Cuna. La Cuna’s ability to intervene at a very early age has allowed two critically important things to happen to Cesar. One: He has known the luxury of one solid, terrifically loving family, as opposed to having multiple placements. Two: the cycle of violence and drugs that is self perpetuating among troubled teenagers most likely ends with Cesar.
Social Venture Partners has played an instrumental role in every important area of La Cuna’s operations: leveraging grant money; playing key roles in all our major events and fundraisers; developing infrastructure support through pro-bono advisors and technology support; brand-new, securing a state-of-the-art donated phone system; helping us implement our first donor database; developing our website and our branding identity; helping us outreach to find quality La Cuna families; and sponsoring various retreats for us such as board development, fundraising and strategic planning retreats. If that isn’t support, I don’t know what is!!
As summer winds down and a change of seasons is in the air, change is happening within the homes of many La Cuna families right now as they become adoptive parents. By now La Cuna has placed 70 children in safe and loving homes. As of now, 11 have been adopted or are in process of being adopted by their La Cuna families. (Many more cases are still up in the air, and approximately 60% have been successfully reunified with rehabilitated family members.)
Although La Cuna tries to reunify our La Cuna children with biological or extended family whenever they can, they are also committed to permanency for each child, and their foster families are excited to adopt when reunification is not possible. They have incredibly heartwarming stories around their little adopted sweet peas and their loving La Cuna families. Below is one such example.
Little Arturo came to La Cuna on December 20, 2006 at the tender age of 11 days old. His parents were young teenagers themselves who are prone to violence and drug use. Cesar was born “pos tox,” with crystal meth in his system. For his first year in care, his wonder-parents, April and Ben Flores, tried very hard to help reunify him with his biological parents, and then when that could not happen, they tried to place him with a variety of extended family members. The latter were all ultimately unable to pass a background clearance check.
Along the way it became clear that Cesar needed a “forever home.” Meanwhile, along with his La Cuna parents, April and Ben, he was being equally adored by his La Cuna Grandmother, who lives with the Flores family. Cesar is now in process of being adopted by the Flores family.
“The level to which the Flores couple has remained calm and supportive of whatever’s best for Cesar has been truly incredible. They have been amazingly selfless in their quest to look out for the beautiful boy in their home.” Says Executive Director Rachel Humphreys.
Meanwhile Cesar has blossomed into a very healthy toddler! He not only meets all his developmental milestones, but he’s a wonderful, completely well-adjusted little man. He’s outgoing, sociable, and his favorite TV show is “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy.”
This story is yet another success story for La Cuna. La Cuna’s ability to intervene at a very early age has allowed two critically important things to happen to Cesar. One: He has known the luxury of one solid, terrifically loving family, as opposed to having multiple placements. Two: the cycle of violence and drugs that is self perpetuating among troubled teenagers most likely ends with Cesar.
Social Venture Partners has played an instrumental role in every important area of La Cuna’s operations: leveraging grant money; playing key roles in all our major events and fundraisers; developing infrastructure support through pro-bono advisors and technology support; brand-new, securing a state-of-the-art donated phone system; helping us implement our first donor database; developing our website and our branding identity; helping us outreach to find quality La Cuna families; and sponsoring various retreats for us such as board development, fundraising and strategic planning retreats. If that isn’t support, I don’t know what is!!
More Passion Than Ever!
By Mark Fackler
The model of San Diego Social Venture Partners is truly amazing. I hear the statistics of the incredible leverage that our dollars produce. I hear the feedback from the Investees about the amazing value of our time, expertise and recourses. I hear the stories from our Investees and how lives are being changed. Now multiply that by 25 cities and you get more than 2,000 dedicated individuals, giving more than $26.5 million in grant investments to more than 300 non-profit organizations. I just spent a few days at the Social Venture Partners International Conference in Cleveland, Ohio and I am more passionate than ever!
The night before the conference started, we partied at the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. The museum, in itself, was cool enough, but that was nothing compared to the live band that played for the guests. Our own SDSVP Partners Ray and Kim McKewon flew out to join in the one and only performance of Limited Capacity, a pick up band of SVPers. They ROCKED!
In addition to Ray and Kim, other SDSVP attendees were Alan and Louarn Sorkin, Peggy Kidd, and Mandy Sherlock. The conference started out with a keynote from John Wood. This former Microsoft executive founded Room to Read, an organization that has helped more than 1.7 million children across the developing world break the cycle of poverty through the power of education. He inspired the two hundred attendees from the US, Canada and Japan. Stephen Lewis, the former Special Envoy to the UN Secretary-General and current co-director of AIDS-Free World, provided the other keynote. He spoke about Africa, AIDS, sexual violence, death and luckily, hope. Simply put, he numbed the room.
There were breakout sessions ranging from how to measure, govern, plan and collaborate in the non-profit world. For me, the best part was hearing the innovative practices from other SVP chapters. The advocacy initiative in the Seattle Chapter is fascinating and makes so much sense. If SVP is going to create social/sector change, which is a fairly common vision for all the chapters, advocacy is a powerful tool to use.
SDSVP’s reputation is known throughout the chapters. Partners from around the SVP network wanted to know how we are able to continue to grow our organization. They wanted to know about our Environmental Accelerator Fund (EAF). They wanted to know how we get so many volunteer hours donated. They wanted to know how we have such great social events. My answer is always the same. SDSVP has smart, kind and great Partners who believe in giving back!
I hope to see at the 2009 SVPI Conference in Dallas Texas on October 16 and 17. I hear the first night might be a hoedown. Think the McKewons do hoedowns?
Click here to view pictures
The model of San Diego Social Venture Partners is truly amazing. I hear the statistics of the incredible leverage that our dollars produce. I hear the feedback from the Investees about the amazing value of our time, expertise and recourses. I hear the stories from our Investees and how lives are being changed. Now multiply that by 25 cities and you get more than 2,000 dedicated individuals, giving more than $26.5 million in grant investments to more than 300 non-profit organizations. I just spent a few days at the Social Venture Partners International Conference in Cleveland, Ohio and I am more passionate than ever!
The night before the conference started, we partied at the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. The museum, in itself, was cool enough, but that was nothing compared to the live band that played for the guests. Our own SDSVP Partners Ray and Kim McKewon flew out to join in the one and only performance of Limited Capacity, a pick up band of SVPers. They ROCKED!
In addition to Ray and Kim, other SDSVP attendees were Alan and Louarn Sorkin, Peggy Kidd, and Mandy Sherlock. The conference started out with a keynote from John Wood. This former Microsoft executive founded Room to Read, an organization that has helped more than 1.7 million children across the developing world break the cycle of poverty through the power of education. He inspired the two hundred attendees from the US, Canada and Japan. Stephen Lewis, the former Special Envoy to the UN Secretary-General and current co-director of AIDS-Free World, provided the other keynote. He spoke about Africa, AIDS, sexual violence, death and luckily, hope. Simply put, he numbed the room.
There were breakout sessions ranging from how to measure, govern, plan and collaborate in the non-profit world. For me, the best part was hearing the innovative practices from other SVP chapters. The advocacy initiative in the Seattle Chapter is fascinating and makes so much sense. If SVP is going to create social/sector change, which is a fairly common vision for all the chapters, advocacy is a powerful tool to use.
SDSVP’s reputation is known throughout the chapters. Partners from around the SVP network wanted to know how we are able to continue to grow our organization. They wanted to know about our Environmental Accelerator Fund (EAF). They wanted to know how we get so many volunteer hours donated. They wanted to know how we have such great social events. My answer is always the same. SDSVP has smart, kind and great Partners who believe in giving back!
I hope to see at the 2009 SVPI Conference in Dallas Texas on October 16 and 17. I hear the first night might be a hoedown. Think the McKewons do hoedowns?
Click here to view pictures
September 29, 2008
The Grantmaking Report: Foundation and Corporate Giving in the San Diego Region
The Grantmaking Report: Foundation and Corporate Giving in the San Diego Region is a collaboration between San Diego Grantmakers and the University of San Diego’s Caster Family Center for Nonprofit Research. With greater strategic philanthropic investments, the community’s nonprofit organizations will be better able to serve the people of San Diego. All of us have benefited in significant ways from the work of nonprofits, and therefore have felt the impact of the philanthropic organizations that support them. While this report covers numerical data about philanthropy in the region, the numbers are just a reflection of the lives of San Diegans: those giving, serving and receiving the support of San Diego’s 9,000 plus nonprofits.
Click here to view the full report
The Coming Paradigm Shift in Philanthropy: It's Not About the Money
From onPhilanthropy.com
Historically and largely still, philanthropy is about the transfer of money from the individual with it to the individuals without it. The currency behind the relationship is that of a gift: a voluntary transfer of value from giver to recipient without compensation. However, we are in the midst of a paradigmatic shift in philanthropy. The shift is not about money. It is about the entire structure of thinking and approach to problem-solving. The new paradigm implies new skills, new relationships, new pathways of accountability, new standards of performance, and new criteria for decision making. These imply a very, very different kind of culture than in traditional gift-making approaches.
Click here to read the full article
Historically and largely still, philanthropy is about the transfer of money from the individual with it to the individuals without it. The currency behind the relationship is that of a gift: a voluntary transfer of value from giver to recipient without compensation. However, we are in the midst of a paradigmatic shift in philanthropy. The shift is not about money. It is about the entire structure of thinking and approach to problem-solving. The new paradigm implies new skills, new relationships, new pathways of accountability, new standards of performance, and new criteria for decision making. These imply a very, very different kind of culture than in traditional gift-making approaches.
Click here to read the full article
SDSVP Fall Party
SDSVP hosted a fantastic party at the beautiful home of Leigh and David and Johnson. Partners and guests enjoyed great conversation, a delicious Asian-fusion fare, and updates from SDSVP.
Highlights include:
- SDSVP’s Annual Report 2008 is hot off the press thanks to Incitrio’s pro bono work.
- SDSVP leverages 8 to 1! We donated over $1.6 million in cash and in-kind services to the community including 13,000 Partner volunteer hours.
- Lead Partners, Bob Papera and Sherri Neasham provided updates on our Investees.
Everyone had a fabulous time!
Click here to view party pictures
Second Chance Annual Report Available Online
Congratulations to Second Chance, a former SDSVP Investee, on its 15th anniversary!
Second Chance provides job-readiness training and placement, mental health counseling and follow-up services to anyone 16 or over who is trying to overcome poverty, substance abuse or incarceration.
Click here to view Annual Report
Second Chance provides job-readiness training and placement, mental health counseling and follow-up services to anyone 16 or over who is trying to overcome poverty, substance abuse or incarceration.
Click here to view Annual Report
Elder Law Answers Seniors' Questions - SDSVP’s Newest Investee
From The San Diego Union-Tribune
September 8, 2008
In makeshift offices at hospitals, community centers and apartment buildings across the county, lawyers are working to bring peace of mind to the area's senior population.
They draw up wills, advanced health care directives and power of attorney documents – all free – but they also give legal advice and, in the most extreme cases, bring lawsuits against nursing homes, companies and people suspected of fraud or elder abuse.
Click here to learn more about our new Investee, Elder Law & Advocacy.
September 8, 2008
In makeshift offices at hospitals, community centers and apartment buildings across the county, lawyers are working to bring peace of mind to the area's senior population.
They draw up wills, advanced health care directives and power of attorney documents – all free – but they also give legal advice and, in the most extreme cases, bring lawsuits against nursing homes, companies and people suspected of fraud or elder abuse.
Click here to learn more about our new Investee, Elder Law & Advocacy.
Communications Working Group Update - September 2008
Communications Working Group (CWG)
- The PR/Marketing Resource Team is combining with CWG to better leverage our efforts and experience partners. The newly combined CWG will focus on both Investees and internal SDSVP communications.
- CWG is looking forward to working with the newly formed Partner Development Working Group and Fund Development Resource Team.
- SDSVP needs to hold itself to a higher standard than we hold our Investees. CWG will be analyzing our web site to determine how we get there.
- CWG is focusing our volunteer journalists on efforts to uncover the impact of SDSVP and our Partners in the community.
CEO of The Children’s Initiative Speaks to SDSVP at First Friday
By Cathy Yarbrough
- More and more babies are born with low or very low birth weight in San Diego county (SD).
- A total of 27% of kindergarten to 5th grade students attended school in SD less than 95% of the time during 2006-07.
- Child abuse and neglect in SD remains higher than the state average, but the good news is the rate of substantiated reports has been slowly declining.
- Other good news for SD: in early childcare and education, our area is above the state and national averages, and the rate of domestic violence reports is declining. However, SD remains above the state average.
- For youth DUI related injuries and deaths, SD has the highest rate in California.
Sandy McBrayer, CEO of The Children’s Initiative, highlighted these and other findings from the 2007 San Diego County Report Card on Children and Families, at a recent SDSVP 1st Friday lunch meeting.
“Every good business uses data,” she said. “What is the data telling us about children?”
It tells us that while community and family indicators are generally improving in SD, there has been a “lack of substantial progress in reducing poverty and mortality,” as stated in the report. “These two broad indicators may point to underlying problems in the health and safety net of our community.”
The report also noted, “While the percent of San Diego County children living in poverty is lower than the state and the nation averages, we are not making substantial progress in reducing the proportion of our children who live in poverty."
Assessing the overall health and well being of SD’s children, youth and families is a new responsibility for the nonprofit Children’s Initiative (CI). SD’s Health and Human Services previously generated these reports.
For its first Report Card, which covered 2007, CI measured the health and well being of children and families through 25 indicators, ranging from prenatal care and breastfeeding initiation to juvenile arrests and childhood mortality.
The Report Card also identified national best practices for prevention and intervention as well as recommendations for action specific to SD.
For example, to increase the number of children who regularly attend school, supportive interventions should be instituted at the student’s fifth absence, and a countywide universal tracking system should be developed, according to the Report Card. It also calls for more family/community engagement through attendance programs and student connections to school through service learning and career academies.
To reduce the number of infants with low birth rate, the Report Card recommends prenatal care programs that expand not only parents’ participation in support groups and “parenting” classes but also programs that provide intensive in-home support and intervention.
To read the entire Report Card: http://www.thechildrensinitiative.org/
September 25, 2008
Investment Working Group Update – September 2008
Investment Working Group (IWG)
- The IWG Discovery Team spent the summer researching our 2009 investment focus area in order to provide SDSVP with an understanding of the pertinent issues facing children and youth in San Diego.
- At the IWG kick-off meeting, Sherri Neasham reported on the Discovery Team findings and Michael Carr from SAY San Diego and Susan Wolking from the Girard Foundation gave us insight into the area of youth and children in San Diego.
- Over 30 organizations attended the Grant Briefing Session to learn about SDSVP’s grant application requirements. Bruce Reznik from Coastkeeper and Marjorie Fox from Human Development Foundation discussed their experiences with SDSVP from the Investee point-of-view.
- Deadline for organizations to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) is Oct 13. LOI Review Teams have been formed. To join a team, contact Joyce Ross at joycedross@aol.com.
September 15, 2008
San Diego Social Venture Partners Leverages 8 to 1!
SDSVP is the best social investment in town and our recent impact study proves it. Last year, we donated over $1.6 million in cash and in-kind services to the community including 13,000 Partner volunteer hours. Our Investees rated us a 100% in satisfaction. As a learning organization, SDSVP seeks to continually assess its progress and improve its performance. In April 2008, we administered tools to gather data on our effectiveness in building capacity among our Investees. Click here to read the full report
Helping the Children & Youth of San Diego
Interested in the needs of children and youth in San Diego County? Click here to see a quick-read power point summary of the research performed by the Investment Working Group’s Discovery Team over the summer. The team interviewed over 25 practitioners and experts -- and also came up with key facts to help guide us to invest in the area where the greatest impact can be achieved. Join us for our next Investment Working Group meeting on Tuesday, October 28th at 6:00 PM.
Money Without Strings: The Debate Over Operating Support
From The Chronicle of Philanthropy – Live Discussion
September 2, 2008
Eighty percent of the money that foundations distribute to charitable causes is earmarked for charity programs and other purposes, so it cannot be used for basic operating costs like utilities, rent, supplies, and clerical help. Many grant makers say they earmark most of their grants out of concern that otherwise the nonprofit groups will become too dependent. And they say it is too hard to measure the specific results of an unrestricted grant.But in recent years, a handful of grant makers have become more willing to provide money for operating costs. Advocates of operating support say nonprofit groups can be more innovative and manage their operations better if they don't have to worry about following a grant maker's instructions for how every dollar should be used.
View a transcript of the chat with Paul Shoemaker, Executive Director of Social Venture Partners Seattle
September 2, 2008
Eighty percent of the money that foundations distribute to charitable causes is earmarked for charity programs and other purposes, so it cannot be used for basic operating costs like utilities, rent, supplies, and clerical help. Many grant makers say they earmark most of their grants out of concern that otherwise the nonprofit groups will become too dependent. And they say it is too hard to measure the specific results of an unrestricted grant.But in recent years, a handful of grant makers have become more willing to provide money for operating costs. Advocates of operating support say nonprofit groups can be more innovative and manage their operations better if they don't have to worry about following a grant maker's instructions for how every dollar should be used.
View a transcript of the chat with Paul Shoemaker, Executive Director of Social Venture Partners Seattle
September 4, 2008
Cool Things our Partners are Doing…
As of August, Partner Louarn Sorkin has crocheted 85 winter scarves and 12 hats that will be distributed to seniors, the homeless and transitioning foster youth for the holidays in early December through three different non-profit agencies, The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, Community Resource Center (CRC) and Just In Time for Foster Youth.
Louarn has set a goal of 300 crocheted and knit hats and scarves for this holiday season and is joined in this ambitious project by five SDSVP Partners, Donna Papera, Julie Pardee, Robin Parker, Bernie Stein and Diane Wintriss. Collectively the group has a total of over 110 items.
If you have an interest in this crocheting and knitting project, contact Mandy at mandy@sdsvp.org.
Louarn has set a goal of 300 crocheted and knit hats and scarves for this holiday season and is joined in this ambitious project by five SDSVP Partners, Donna Papera, Julie Pardee, Robin Parker, Bernie Stein and Diane Wintriss. Collectively the group has a total of over 110 items.
If you have an interest in this crocheting and knitting project, contact Mandy at mandy@sdsvp.org.
September 1, 2008
Sierra Club Canyons Campaign
Eric Busboom, Lead Partner
“SDSVP was instrumental in developing the tools for sustainable growth of the Canyons Campaign and an essential partner in making the vision of San Diego Canyonlands, the new nonprofit, a reality. San Diego’s environment will benefit for decades to come.”
Eric Bowlby, Program Director, Canyons Campaign
After a three-year partnership with SDSVP, Sierra Club’s San Diego Canyons Campaign is ready to graduate from a growing program to a new nonprofit dedicated to San Diego County’s wonderful canyons. This highly successful campaign, nurtured by Sierra Club for over 8 years, has organized over 40 Friends Groups for canyons and utilized them as “nature classrooms” for thousands of San Diego’s youths.
Initially, the SDSVP team supplied assistance in the following areas: strategic planning, technology, marketing, public relations, and management training. Later, believing that a “spin-off” of the campaign would provide a focused governing board, more funding opportunities, and a chance for accelerated growth, SDSVP Lead Partner Eric Busboom hired a consultant to help develop a migration path and a new strategic plan. San Diego Canyonlands Inc. and its new hard-working board of directors will begin to implement this plan in the fall of 2008.
During the three-year investment period, the Canyons Campaign grew from 1 to 3 full-time staff; created 15 Canyon Friends Groups; generated 10,500 volunteer hours; enrolled 1,200 new Friends Group Members; engaged over 3,000 volunteers; and involved 1,800 youths in its educational and stewardship programs.
While SDSVP will continue to provide consulting and other resources as the new organization grows, the establishment of a new nonprofit focused on San Diego’s Canyons is a giant milestone to celebrate.
“SDSVP was instrumental in developing the tools for sustainable growth of the Canyons Campaign and an essential partner in making the vision of San Diego Canyonlands, the new nonprofit, a reality. San Diego’s environment will benefit for decades to come.”
Eric Bowlby, Program Director, Canyons Campaign
After a three-year partnership with SDSVP, Sierra Club’s San Diego Canyons Campaign is ready to graduate from a growing program to a new nonprofit dedicated to San Diego County’s wonderful canyons. This highly successful campaign, nurtured by Sierra Club for over 8 years, has organized over 40 Friends Groups for canyons and utilized them as “nature classrooms” for thousands of San Diego’s youths.
Initially, the SDSVP team supplied assistance in the following areas: strategic planning, technology, marketing, public relations, and management training. Later, believing that a “spin-off” of the campaign would provide a focused governing board, more funding opportunities, and a chance for accelerated growth, SDSVP Lead Partner Eric Busboom hired a consultant to help develop a migration path and a new strategic plan. San Diego Canyonlands Inc. and its new hard-working board of directors will begin to implement this plan in the fall of 2008.
During the three-year investment period, the Canyons Campaign grew from 1 to 3 full-time staff; created 15 Canyon Friends Groups; generated 10,500 volunteer hours; enrolled 1,200 new Friends Group Members; engaged over 3,000 volunteers; and involved 1,800 youths in its educational and stewardship programs.
While SDSVP will continue to provide consulting and other resources as the new organization grows, the establishment of a new nonprofit focused on San Diego’s Canyons is a giant milestone to celebrate.
Sherri Neasham
Sherri Neasham believes in applying her entrepreneur skills to philanthropy where they are needed most, and she likes the way SDSVP enables Partners to use their time and talent to make a difference. In life before SDSVP, Sherri founded Leadfusion, Inc. which provides online marketing functionality to the financial services industry. She took the company from inception through years of dramatic growth to the company's current position of market dominance with a client base of over 70% of the largest U.S. financial institutions. She’s also an avid cyclist, beach volleyball player and loves to scuba dive and kayak. Sherri’s applied that same drive and energy to her current passion of philanthropy.
Since becoming a Partner in October 2006, Sherri has taken a very active role in the Portfolio Working Group, heading the Investment Working Group’s Discovery Team, working with Volunteer San Diego through the Strategic Planning Resource Team, and serving as Lead Partner for Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH). Sherri has seen the power of outcome-based strategic planning with Volunteer San Diego and CSH. SDSVP involvement—simply asking the right questions—helped both these organizations change the way they think about themselves and what they measure, paving the way for tremendous progress. Sherri is enthusiastic about a potential ripple effect from both organizations reaching the national level: “It’s huge.”
Since becoming a Partner in October 2006, Sherri has taken a very active role in the Portfolio Working Group, heading the Investment Working Group’s Discovery Team, working with Volunteer San Diego through the Strategic Planning Resource Team, and serving as Lead Partner for Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH). Sherri has seen the power of outcome-based strategic planning with Volunteer San Diego and CSH. SDSVP involvement—simply asking the right questions—helped both these organizations change the way they think about themselves and what they measure, paving the way for tremendous progress. Sherri is enthusiastic about a potential ripple effect from both organizations reaching the national level: “It’s huge.”
Taking Second Chance to the Next Level
By Diane Rosenberg
“Social Venture Partners provided invaluable expertise in helping us determine how to take the agency to the next level.”
Scott Silverman, Executive Director
In its 15th year, Second Chance served over 4,500 clients wanting to break the cycle of unemployment, poverty, or incarceration. The agency’s nationally recognized STRIVE (Support and Training Result In Valuable Employees) job readiness program achieved unparalleled results, with over 70% of graduates attaining employment and 70% retaining their jobs after two years. Furthermore, each dollar invested in Second Chance programs returned five dollars back to the community—a 500% return on investment—via taxes paid by its clients and avoidance of incarceration costs through reduced recidivism.
Working with San Diego Social Venture Partners and the agency’s board of directors, Second Chance conducted a preliminary feasibility and outcomes study to determine how to serve more clients. During the next year, Second Chance will add a second classroom with the potential to double the clients served by its STRIVE job readiness program. The agency will also increase its transitional housing capacity by 50% to house clients while they seek employment and build savings to transition to permanent housing. Second Chance will provide two new additional programs: Financial Literacy and Addiction Relapse Prevention. Second Chance has also secured funding to conduct an in-depth outcomes study with leading experts to continue to improve the effectiveness of its programs. Having SDSVP Partners serve on the Board of Directors strengthened the link of capacity-building with strategic decisions and key initiatives.
“Social Venture Partners provided invaluable expertise in helping us determine how to take the agency to the next level.”
Scott Silverman, Executive Director
In its 15th year, Second Chance served over 4,500 clients wanting to break the cycle of unemployment, poverty, or incarceration. The agency’s nationally recognized STRIVE (Support and Training Result In Valuable Employees) job readiness program achieved unparalleled results, with over 70% of graduates attaining employment and 70% retaining their jobs after two years. Furthermore, each dollar invested in Second Chance programs returned five dollars back to the community—a 500% return on investment—via taxes paid by its clients and avoidance of incarceration costs through reduced recidivism.
Working with San Diego Social Venture Partners and the agency’s board of directors, Second Chance conducted a preliminary feasibility and outcomes study to determine how to serve more clients. During the next year, Second Chance will add a second classroom with the potential to double the clients served by its STRIVE job readiness program. The agency will also increase its transitional housing capacity by 50% to house clients while they seek employment and build savings to transition to permanent housing. Second Chance will provide two new additional programs: Financial Literacy and Addiction Relapse Prevention. Second Chance has also secured funding to conduct an in-depth outcomes study with leading experts to continue to improve the effectiveness of its programs. Having SDSVP Partners serve on the Board of Directors strengthened the link of capacity-building with strategic decisions and key initiatives.
San Diego Coastkeeper
Gina Rogers, Lead Partner
“As we complete our three-year investment from San Diego Social Venture Partners, it is remarkable what we have been able to achieve together. From our change in name from BayKeeper to Coastkeeper and enhanced branding and membership efforts to our move to new offices, Coastkeeper is a far more effective and sustainable organization than we were just three years ago.”
Bruce Reznik, Executive Director
San Diego Coastkeeper’s mission is to protect the region’s bays, beaches, watersheds, and ocean for the people and wildlife that depend on them. Coastkeeper balances community outreach, education, and advocacy to promote stewardship of clean water and a healthy coastal ecosystem.
San Diego Coastkeeper continued its tremendous growth over the past year, starting with a move into larger offices and laboratory space accommodating staff that has swelled to eleven strong. Coastkeeper also put a new boat—Clean Sweep—into operation, supporting their cleanup and water monitoring efforts and helping them keep a watchful eye on our bays and coastal waters. Coming on the heels of the name change from BayKeeper to Coastkeeper in October 2005, SDSVP has been instrumental in helping redesign the “DNA” of the organization through their support of marketing and membership efforts, board development, and strategic planning. In addition, SDSVP provided technical assistance during the office move.
Nearly 10,000 San Diegans volunteered to clean our beaches and make sure debris does not enter the ocean, while another 300 community members are now monitoring the health of waterways throughout San Diego County. More than 40,000 children receive Coastkeeper’s Project SWELL water quality and pollution prevention curriculum annually. The past year saw Coastkeeper reaching a settlement with the City of San Diego which requires the City to reduce chronic sewage spills by 83% and invest nearly $1 billion in collection infrastructure over the next five years. As a result of the increased capacity support from SDSVP, Coastkeeper continues to be the region’s strongest voice for clean water.
“As we complete our three-year investment from San Diego Social Venture Partners, it is remarkable what we have been able to achieve together. From our change in name from BayKeeper to Coastkeeper and enhanced branding and membership efforts to our move to new offices, Coastkeeper is a far more effective and sustainable organization than we were just three years ago.”
Bruce Reznik, Executive Director
San Diego Coastkeeper’s mission is to protect the region’s bays, beaches, watersheds, and ocean for the people and wildlife that depend on them. Coastkeeper balances community outreach, education, and advocacy to promote stewardship of clean water and a healthy coastal ecosystem.
San Diego Coastkeeper continued its tremendous growth over the past year, starting with a move into larger offices and laboratory space accommodating staff that has swelled to eleven strong. Coastkeeper also put a new boat—Clean Sweep—into operation, supporting their cleanup and water monitoring efforts and helping them keep a watchful eye on our bays and coastal waters. Coming on the heels of the name change from BayKeeper to Coastkeeper in October 2005, SDSVP has been instrumental in helping redesign the “DNA” of the organization through their support of marketing and membership efforts, board development, and strategic planning. In addition, SDSVP provided technical assistance during the office move.
Nearly 10,000 San Diegans volunteered to clean our beaches and make sure debris does not enter the ocean, while another 300 community members are now monitoring the health of waterways throughout San Diego County. More than 40,000 children receive Coastkeeper’s Project SWELL water quality and pollution prevention curriculum annually. The past year saw Coastkeeper reaching a settlement with the City of San Diego which requires the City to reduce chronic sewage spills by 83% and invest nearly $1 billion in collection infrastructure over the next five years. As a result of the increased capacity support from SDSVP, Coastkeeper continues to be the region’s strongest voice for clean water.
SDSVP Resource Teams
Last year, San Diego Social Venture Partners established Resource Teams to provide more essential services and resources to its Investees and other San Diego nonprofit organizations. Staffed with SDSVP Partners, these teams address six critical areas: Strategic Planning, Board Development, Finance, Public Relations/Marketing, Information Technology, and Fund Development. Here are some examples from Strategic Planning, Board Development and Information Technology.
The Strategic Planning Resource Team combines leading-edge nonprofit planning practices with business outcomes, making Investees more competitive within their sectors and the wider nonprofit community and better-positioned to succeed.
Volunteer San Diego (VSD) has met real community needs with SDSVP’s help. VSD partnered with SDSVP on a collection drive for fire victims, received business plan coaching for the Social Enterprise Academy, and worked with the Strategic Planning Resource Team.
“Thanks to SDSVP, Volunteer San Diego is realizing more revenue from social enterprise programs and has a dynamic strategic plan that will help us increase the impact and value of volunteers throughout the county in coming years. I am particularly grateful for SDSVP Partner Sherri Neasham’s support and enlightened questioning and thinking. Never heavy-handed, she has allowed the plan to emerge from community, SDSVP, board, and staff participation, resulting in initiatives that everyone owns and finds inspiring. Sherri is one of VSD’s best ambassadors and a great example of the power of volunteers and SDSVP.”
Sue Carter, Executive Director, Volunteer San Diego
The Board Development Resource Team has supported many of our Investees, including several agencies outside SDSVP’s portfolio. This Team has helped organizations clarify roles and responsibilities, hire new staff, refocus missions, review bylaws, and re-energize their Boards.
“The Board Resource Team offered expertise to Just in Time for Foster Youth. Not only did the organization learn about developing an ideal board, it also participated in a comprehensive brainstorming session that imparted valuable business practices and highlighted the need to invest in infrastructure in order to grow. Just In Time learned the importance of hiring skilled staff to work on day-to-day operations, allowing board members to act strategically on the big picture, and recruiting talented, passionate, committed board members.”
Louarn Sorkin, SDSVP Partner/Just in Time Board Member
The Information Technology Resource Team has installed entire networks, built databases, created RFPs for consultants and managed the IT implementation process.
“Community Resource Center’s involvement with the Resource Teams has had a major impact in several ways on the organization’s infrastructure. The improved Information Technology support reduced annual expenses by two-thirds and enhanced operational capabilities of all staff. In addition, the Teams dramatically improved public relations through an enhanced website and marketing tools and utilized the Board Development Resource Team to enhance their Board and corporate structure.”
Laurin Pause, Executive Director, Community Resource Center
Resource Team Chairs
Board Development & Governance
Joyce Ross
Finance & Accounting
Lenore Hawkins
Fund Development
Barbara Bry
Information Technology
Eric Busboom
Marketing/Public Relations
Peter Cohen
Strategic Planning
Duane Trombly
The Strategic Planning Resource Team combines leading-edge nonprofit planning practices with business outcomes, making Investees more competitive within their sectors and the wider nonprofit community and better-positioned to succeed.
Volunteer San Diego (VSD) has met real community needs with SDSVP’s help. VSD partnered with SDSVP on a collection drive for fire victims, received business plan coaching for the Social Enterprise Academy, and worked with the Strategic Planning Resource Team.
“Thanks to SDSVP, Volunteer San Diego is realizing more revenue from social enterprise programs and has a dynamic strategic plan that will help us increase the impact and value of volunteers throughout the county in coming years. I am particularly grateful for SDSVP Partner Sherri Neasham’s support and enlightened questioning and thinking. Never heavy-handed, she has allowed the plan to emerge from community, SDSVP, board, and staff participation, resulting in initiatives that everyone owns and finds inspiring. Sherri is one of VSD’s best ambassadors and a great example of the power of volunteers and SDSVP.”
Sue Carter, Executive Director, Volunteer San Diego
The Board Development Resource Team has supported many of our Investees, including several agencies outside SDSVP’s portfolio. This Team has helped organizations clarify roles and responsibilities, hire new staff, refocus missions, review bylaws, and re-energize their Boards.
“The Board Resource Team offered expertise to Just in Time for Foster Youth. Not only did the organization learn about developing an ideal board, it also participated in a comprehensive brainstorming session that imparted valuable business practices and highlighted the need to invest in infrastructure in order to grow. Just In Time learned the importance of hiring skilled staff to work on day-to-day operations, allowing board members to act strategically on the big picture, and recruiting talented, passionate, committed board members.”
Louarn Sorkin, SDSVP Partner/Just in Time Board Member
The Information Technology Resource Team has installed entire networks, built databases, created RFPs for consultants and managed the IT implementation process.
“Community Resource Center’s involvement with the Resource Teams has had a major impact in several ways on the organization’s infrastructure. The improved Information Technology support reduced annual expenses by two-thirds and enhanced operational capabilities of all staff. In addition, the Teams dramatically improved public relations through an enhanced website and marketing tools and utilized the Board Development Resource Team to enhance their Board and corporate structure.”
Laurin Pause, Executive Director, Community Resource Center
Resource Team Chairs
Board Development & Governance
Joyce Ross
Finance & Accounting
Lenore Hawkins
Fund Development
Barbara Bry
Information Technology
Eric Busboom
Marketing/Public Relations
Peter Cohen
Strategic Planning
Duane Trombly
Neil Senturia and Barbara Bry
Both Neil and Barbara are attracted to the venture philanthropy approach: especially SDSVP’s hands-on philosophy and focus on accountability. They also enjoy meeting like-minded people through SDSVP.
As the Fund Development Resource Team Chair, Barbara, along with several Partners, was effective in helping nonprofits such as Angels Foster Family Network. The Resource Team assisted the organization with writing grants and developing a fund-raising plan. Barbara is also involved with the Communications Working Group and wrote articles about SDSVP that were featured in the San Diego Business Journal and the San Diego Daily Transcript.
Neil and Barbara are serial entrepreneurs. Their latest venture, an Internet radio program on signonradio.com called I’m There for You Baby: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to the Galaxy, combines entertainment with education to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. Check the archives for their interview with SDSVP’s own Alan Sorkin.
One of the highlights of their SDSVP membership is attending the annual meeting. Learning how SDSVP touches lives in our community makes Neil and Barb feel good about participating in such an effective organization.
As the Fund Development Resource Team Chair, Barbara, along with several Partners, was effective in helping nonprofits such as Angels Foster Family Network. The Resource Team assisted the organization with writing grants and developing a fund-raising plan. Barbara is also involved with the Communications Working Group and wrote articles about SDSVP that were featured in the San Diego Business Journal and the San Diego Daily Transcript.
Neil and Barbara are serial entrepreneurs. Their latest venture, an Internet radio program on signonradio.com called I’m There for You Baby: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to the Galaxy, combines entertainment with education to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. Check the archives for their interview with SDSVP’s own Alan Sorkin.
One of the highlights of their SDSVP membership is attending the annual meeting. Learning how SDSVP touches lives in our community makes Neil and Barb feel good about participating in such an effective organization.
Letter from SDSVP Board Chair, Mark Fackler
Dear SDSVP Friends,
San Diego Social Venture Partners is a unique organization dedicated to serving two separate and distinct constituencies: our Partners and our Investees. Our mission, “San Diego Social Venture Partners cultivates effective philanthropists who drive community solutions with investments of their time, expertise, and resources,” provides us direction. Serving these two constituents provides a beautiful synergy.
In this past year, our Partners have donated a stunning 13,000+ hours of service to the San Diego community. This not only provides our Investees and many other San Diego-based nonprofit organizations with talented horsepower, but it also provides our Partners with many experiential learning opportunities.
Many SDSVP Partners worked more than 1,000 hours doing research and raising money for the Environmental Accelerator Fund. These dedicated Partners raised $800,000 in cash and pledges to fund the creation of a new organization. The Equinox Center is a non-partisan, independent, nonprofit research center focused on economically sound environmental sustainability for the San Diego region. What a unique synergistic opportunity for educating SDSVP Partners while serving the needs of the San Diego community.
Last year, our Partners chose to support nonprofit organizations that help the elderly during the next three-year grant cycle. Beginning last summer, SDSVP Partners researched the issues facing elders in San Diego. After many months of preparatory work, SDSVP began our grant-making process that culminated in choosing Elder Law & Advocacy and ElderHelp of San Diego as our two new Investees.
As we add Elder Law and ElderHelp to our portfolio, San Diego Canyonlands and San Diego Coastkeepers are completing their three-year grant cycle. We are proud of their accomplishments and growth over the past years. We look forward to their continued growth and a close relationship.
I sincerely thank all the Partners, corporate sponsors, and community supporters who have donated their time, expertise, and resources to serve San Diego through SDSVP. San Diego is a stronger community because of your work, and I am proud to be a Partner with you.
Best Regards,
Mark Fackler
Chair, SDSVP Board of Advisors, 2007-2008
San Diego Social Venture Partners is a unique organization dedicated to serving two separate and distinct constituencies: our Partners and our Investees. Our mission, “San Diego Social Venture Partners cultivates effective philanthropists who drive community solutions with investments of their time, expertise, and resources,” provides us direction. Serving these two constituents provides a beautiful synergy.
In this past year, our Partners have donated a stunning 13,000+ hours of service to the San Diego community. This not only provides our Investees and many other San Diego-based nonprofit organizations with talented horsepower, but it also provides our Partners with many experiential learning opportunities.
Many SDSVP Partners worked more than 1,000 hours doing research and raising money for the Environmental Accelerator Fund. These dedicated Partners raised $800,000 in cash and pledges to fund the creation of a new organization. The Equinox Center is a non-partisan, independent, nonprofit research center focused on economically sound environmental sustainability for the San Diego region. What a unique synergistic opportunity for educating SDSVP Partners while serving the needs of the San Diego community.
Last year, our Partners chose to support nonprofit organizations that help the elderly during the next three-year grant cycle. Beginning last summer, SDSVP Partners researched the issues facing elders in San Diego. After many months of preparatory work, SDSVP began our grant-making process that culminated in choosing Elder Law & Advocacy and ElderHelp of San Diego as our two new Investees.
As we add Elder Law and ElderHelp to our portfolio, San Diego Canyonlands and San Diego Coastkeepers are completing their three-year grant cycle. We are proud of their accomplishments and growth over the past years. We look forward to their continued growth and a close relationship.
I sincerely thank all the Partners, corporate sponsors, and community supporters who have donated their time, expertise, and resources to serve San Diego through SDSVP. San Diego is a stronger community because of your work, and I am proud to be a Partner with you.
Best Regards,
Mark Fackler
Chair, SDSVP Board of Advisors, 2007-2008
La Cuna
Dale Stein, Lead Partner
“As we enter our third year of partnership with San Diego Social Venture Partners, I feel incredibly blessed by the myriad of support we have received from SDSVP members in terms of executive mentoring, infrastructure support, emergency assistance to our families, legal advocacy, board development, strategic planning, fund-raising, community awareness-raising, marketing assistance, event planning, and much more. On behalf of our little ones: Thank you!!”
Rachel Humphreys, Founder and Executive Director
La Cuna, Spanish for “cradle,” was licensed in May of 2005 as San Diego’s first foster family agency dedicated specifically to both the birth-to-five year old population and the Latino community. The mission of La Cuna is to ensure that Latino foster infants and toddlers grow up safe, happy, and healthy, and to develop best practices that improve the lives of Latino children in foster care both locally and nationwide.
With the help of SDSVP, La Cuna developed a plan to drive their efforts and outcomes; utilized information technology resources to improve efficiency; and brought leadership and a working board together to support the mission within a larger system. SDSVP’s support allowed La Cuna’s social-service-oriented staff to focus attention in their areas of expertise effectively.
La Cuna is finding answers to some of foster care’s toughest issues. Every dollar spent on La Cuna children saves millions of dollars down the road, as they help through prevention and early intervention efforts.
“As we enter our third year of partnership with San Diego Social Venture Partners, I feel incredibly blessed by the myriad of support we have received from SDSVP members in terms of executive mentoring, infrastructure support, emergency assistance to our families, legal advocacy, board development, strategic planning, fund-raising, community awareness-raising, marketing assistance, event planning, and much more. On behalf of our little ones: Thank you!!”
Rachel Humphreys, Founder and Executive Director
La Cuna, Spanish for “cradle,” was licensed in May of 2005 as San Diego’s first foster family agency dedicated specifically to both the birth-to-five year old population and the Latino community. The mission of La Cuna is to ensure that Latino foster infants and toddlers grow up safe, happy, and healthy, and to develop best practices that improve the lives of Latino children in foster care both locally and nationwide.
With the help of SDSVP, La Cuna developed a plan to drive their efforts and outcomes; utilized information technology resources to improve efficiency; and brought leadership and a working board together to support the mission within a larger system. SDSVP’s support allowed La Cuna’s social-service-oriented staff to focus attention in their areas of expertise effectively.
La Cuna is finding answers to some of foster care’s toughest issues. Every dollar spent on La Cuna children saves millions of dollars down the road, as they help through prevention and early intervention efforts.
The Environmental Accelerator Fund and Equinox Center
In 2007 SDSVP launched an innovative initiative to further increase our impact. We wanted to apply our strengths in capacity-building and collaboration to help a sector of the community in a more sustainable and leveraged way, and to increase the funds available for leading-edge philanthropy.
We established the Environment Accelerator Fund to collaborate with outside funding sources, to increase giving with matching grants, and to ensure the most strategic use of this larger pool of funds. With a focus on the environment, Partners completed a 900-person-hour research and analysis project—the largest in SDSVP history. They identified the need to work on San Diego’s future development to ensure that economic and population growth happens in a way that is better for the environment. Their research showed that balancing the economics and ecology of the region is a central, highly leveraged issue—affecting urban development, habitat preservation, transportation, quality of life, economic sustainability, climate change, and many other issues.
To bring the best available solutions to San Diego, the Environment Accelerator team decided to replicate the successful approach of a Seattle nonprofit, Sightline Institute. With their input we established a new organization dedicated to economically sound environmental sustainability in our region, Equinox Center.
Equinox Center is designed as a non-partisan, independent, nonprofit organization working at the intersection of scientific understanding, community values, government policy, and economic strength. It will provide San Diego's community leaders with usable information, practical vision, and innovative thinking—fostering factual dialogue to help shape our region’s future.
Numerous groups throughout the San Diego region have come forward and voiced support for Equinox Center, building the foundations of a strong network with the environmental community, business, academia, and government. Equinox Center is also receiving tremendous support from pro bono services offered by Mintz Levin attorneys-at-law, Bente Hansen executive recruiters, and marketing firms Oster & Associates and Incitrio. SDSVP partners continue to support the project with their own time and talents. As of June 2008 the project had raised $800,000 and formed an initial Board of Directors, and was recruiting a full-time Executive Director and additional board members.
We established the Environment Accelerator Fund to collaborate with outside funding sources, to increase giving with matching grants, and to ensure the most strategic use of this larger pool of funds. With a focus on the environment, Partners completed a 900-person-hour research and analysis project—the largest in SDSVP history. They identified the need to work on San Diego’s future development to ensure that economic and population growth happens in a way that is better for the environment. Their research showed that balancing the economics and ecology of the region is a central, highly leveraged issue—affecting urban development, habitat preservation, transportation, quality of life, economic sustainability, climate change, and many other issues.
To bring the best available solutions to San Diego, the Environment Accelerator team decided to replicate the successful approach of a Seattle nonprofit, Sightline Institute. With their input we established a new organization dedicated to economically sound environmental sustainability in our region, Equinox Center.
Equinox Center is designed as a non-partisan, independent, nonprofit organization working at the intersection of scientific understanding, community values, government policy, and economic strength. It will provide San Diego's community leaders with usable information, practical vision, and innovative thinking—fostering factual dialogue to help shape our region’s future.
Numerous groups throughout the San Diego region have come forward and voiced support for Equinox Center, building the foundations of a strong network with the environmental community, business, academia, and government. Equinox Center is also receiving tremendous support from pro bono services offered by Mintz Levin attorneys-at-law, Bente Hansen executive recruiters, and marketing firms Oster & Associates and Incitrio. SDSVP partners continue to support the project with their own time and talents. As of June 2008 the project had raised $800,000 and formed an initial Board of Directors, and was recruiting a full-time Executive Director and additional board members.
ElderHelp of San Diego
Alan Sorkin, Lead Partner
“We are so excited to be working with Social Venture Partners! They have a unique understanding of how social enterprise can elevate our agency to one which is sustainable and viable within the increasingly competitive world of nonprofits. With their expertise, we will execute a new strategy to provide something to seniors and their families that does not currently exist.” – Leane Marchese, Executive Director
Together for over 65 years, the Epsteins had outlived their only child and now faced their final years knowing they might have to leave their home. Mr. Epstein was struggling to take care of his wife, who had Alzheimer’s disease. He could no longer drive—yet he desperately wanted to remain at home with his childhood sweetheart.
A neighbor connected the Epsteins with ElderHelp. ElderHelp matched the Epsteins with a Care Manager and an energetic and caring volunteer named Peggy, who quickly became their friend. Peggy drove them to and from medical appointments and shopped for their groceries twice a month. Peggy’s care and companionship enabled the Epsteins to remain at home.
For 35 years, ElderHelp has supported independence for thousands of seniors like the Epsteins with free personalized information and services. With the over-65 population more than doubling in the next two decades, ElderHelp must expand its funding to include fee-based programs to continue serving low-income seniors. By partnering with SDSVP, ElderHelp can achieve its social enterprise goals through the ElderHelp Concierge Club, which gives seniors and their families access to information and services at affordable membership prices.
“We are so excited to be working with Social Venture Partners! They have a unique understanding of how social enterprise can elevate our agency to one which is sustainable and viable within the increasingly competitive world of nonprofits. With their expertise, we will execute a new strategy to provide something to seniors and their families that does not currently exist.” – Leane Marchese, Executive Director
Together for over 65 years, the Epsteins had outlived their only child and now faced their final years knowing they might have to leave their home. Mr. Epstein was struggling to take care of his wife, who had Alzheimer’s disease. He could no longer drive—yet he desperately wanted to remain at home with his childhood sweetheart.
A neighbor connected the Epsteins with ElderHelp. ElderHelp matched the Epsteins with a Care Manager and an energetic and caring volunteer named Peggy, who quickly became their friend. Peggy drove them to and from medical appointments and shopped for their groceries twice a month. Peggy’s care and companionship enabled the Epsteins to remain at home.
For 35 years, ElderHelp has supported independence for thousands of seniors like the Epsteins with free personalized information and services. With the over-65 population more than doubling in the next two decades, ElderHelp must expand its funding to include fee-based programs to continue serving low-income seniors. By partnering with SDSVP, ElderHelp can achieve its social enterprise goals through the ElderHelp Concierge Club, which gives seniors and their families access to information and services at affordable membership prices.
Elder Law & Advocacy
Richard Bockoff, Lead Partner
“Elder Law & Advocacy looks forward to working with SDSVP to expand its capacity to meet the growing number of seniors who need help. Having the expertise and enthusiasm of the SDSVP Lead Partner and Resource Team members will enhance the partnership, and bodes well for the success of the goals outlined in our first year Annual Plan.”
Carolyn Reilly, Executive Director and Supervising Attorney
No senior should have to face the problems caused by a financial elder abuser or unscrupulous mortgage broker, a denial of Medicare benefits, a complicated lawsuit, or end-of-life medical decisions without expert advice provided by highly experienced elder law attorneys and Medicare counselors. The core mission of Elder Law & Advocacy is to protect seniors by providing legal advice, advocacy, and education.
The organization is unique in that it is the only legal services and Medicare counseling agency in the Southern California region devoting all its resources to helping both rural and urban seniors through a community-based delivery system. Elder Law’s attorneys, staff, and volunteers travel all over the region to assist seniors, going to senior living complexes, nutrition sites, senior centers, mobile home parks, nursing homes, hospitals, and the residences of ill, homebound individuals. Elder Law & Advocacy helps over 7,000 older individuals each year. Income is not considered; eligibility is determined by age and other factors.
Seniors are the fastest-growing segment of the population. In partnership with SDSVP, Elder Law & Advocacy will be able to meet this growing need by focusing its resources and attention on board and fund development, marketing, and public relations, under a solid, long-range strategic plan.
“Elder Law & Advocacy looks forward to working with SDSVP to expand its capacity to meet the growing number of seniors who need help. Having the expertise and enthusiasm of the SDSVP Lead Partner and Resource Team members will enhance the partnership, and bodes well for the success of the goals outlined in our first year Annual Plan.”
Carolyn Reilly, Executive Director and Supervising Attorney
No senior should have to face the problems caused by a financial elder abuser or unscrupulous mortgage broker, a denial of Medicare benefits, a complicated lawsuit, or end-of-life medical decisions without expert advice provided by highly experienced elder law attorneys and Medicare counselors. The core mission of Elder Law & Advocacy is to protect seniors by providing legal advice, advocacy, and education.
The organization is unique in that it is the only legal services and Medicare counseling agency in the Southern California region devoting all its resources to helping both rural and urban seniors through a community-based delivery system. Elder Law’s attorneys, staff, and volunteers travel all over the region to assist seniors, going to senior living complexes, nutrition sites, senior centers, mobile home parks, nursing homes, hospitals, and the residences of ill, homebound individuals. Elder Law & Advocacy helps over 7,000 older individuals each year. Income is not considered; eligibility is determined by age and other factors.
Seniors are the fastest-growing segment of the population. In partnership with SDSVP, Elder Law & Advocacy will be able to meet this growing need by focusing its resources and attention on board and fund development, marketing, and public relations, under a solid, long-range strategic plan.
David and Leigh Johnson
David and Leigh joined SDSVP in the summer of 2006 and jumped right in. David was elected to the SDSVP Board, served as Co-Chair of the Investment Working Group and created our first Discovery Team to research the issues facing the elderly in San Diego. Leigh brought her dynamic energy to the Social Chair position by adding a new flair to our ever growing parties and as well being instrumental in enhancing our Education Committee.
Leigh’s years of experience at Microsoft helped her to create a very successful executive coaching practice, and David, after working with McKenzie and Bain, has his own private investment firm. Their family consists of their five-year-old daughter, Mallory; David’s thirteen-year-old son, Nathaniel; and their dog, Dulce de Leche.
Philanthropy has always been a family tradition for the Johnsons, first being introduced to SDSVP through Leigh’s parents, Partners, Mike and Joyce Kole. One of their favorite books is entitled Three Cups of Tea, about how one person can make all the difference in the world. David and Leigh find participating in SDSVP a great way to make that difference in San Diego and they want to pass that family tradition to Mallory.
Leigh’s years of experience at Microsoft helped her to create a very successful executive coaching practice, and David, after working with McKenzie and Bain, has his own private investment firm. Their family consists of their five-year-old daughter, Mallory; David’s thirteen-year-old son, Nathaniel; and their dog, Dulce de Leche.
Philanthropy has always been a family tradition for the Johnsons, first being introduced to SDSVP through Leigh’s parents, Partners, Mike and Joyce Kole. One of their favorite books is entitled Three Cups of Tea, about how one person can make all the difference in the world. David and Leigh find participating in SDSVP a great way to make that difference in San Diego and they want to pass that family tradition to Mallory.
Corporation for Supportive Housing
Sherri Neasham, Lead Partner
“Supportive housing enables the homeless with disabling conditions to live independently and is the most effective strategy to end long-term homelessness. With the help of San Diego Social Venture Partners, CSH has been able to clearly identify critical success factors to ensure the creation of new housing for the homeless in our region and not let precious resources go unspent.”
Simonne Ruff, Director
With over $100 million available to the San Diego region to develop housing for homeless people with disabling health conditions, the Corporation for Supportive Housing’s challenge in 2007-08 was to ensure that this money would not be returned to the State for yet another year. Working with San Diego Social Venture Partners, it became clear that the most important strategy to use (and not lose) this money would be to create a mandate requiring developers to build supportive housing.
The Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) took up this challenge to end homelessness in downtown San Diego. CCDC has mandated that supportive housing be included in projects in the downtown area, creating 95 new units in the coming years.
The Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) is celebrating last year’s achievements as they pursue their newly defined mission to be a catalyst in the development of quality permanent supportive housing. CSH’s vision is to promote the creation of 2,000 units of supportive housing over the next 10 years to end long-term homelessness in San Diego. Over the next three years, CSH will enable 250 homeless individuals with disabling health conditions to leave the streets and remain housed for one year.
“Supportive housing enables the homeless with disabling conditions to live independently and is the most effective strategy to end long-term homelessness. With the help of San Diego Social Venture Partners, CSH has been able to clearly identify critical success factors to ensure the creation of new housing for the homeless in our region and not let precious resources go unspent.”
Simonne Ruff, Director
With over $100 million available to the San Diego region to develop housing for homeless people with disabling health conditions, the Corporation for Supportive Housing’s challenge in 2007-08 was to ensure that this money would not be returned to the State for yet another year. Working with San Diego Social Venture Partners, it became clear that the most important strategy to use (and not lose) this money would be to create a mandate requiring developers to build supportive housing.
The Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) took up this challenge to end homelessness in downtown San Diego. CCDC has mandated that supportive housing be included in projects in the downtown area, creating 95 new units in the coming years.
The Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) is celebrating last year’s achievements as they pursue their newly defined mission to be a catalyst in the development of quality permanent supportive housing. CSH’s vision is to promote the creation of 2,000 units of supportive housing over the next 10 years to end long-term homelessness in San Diego. Over the next three years, CSH will enable 250 homeless individuals with disabling health conditions to leave the streets and remain housed for one year.
Community Resource Center
Morgan Day and Bob Papera, Lead Partners
“The impact of SDSVP on day-to-day operations at Community Resource Center is evident across the organization. From board development to improving infrastructure, SDSVP support has increased our productivity and enhanced our ability to provide services to our clients.”
Laurin Pause, Executive Director
Community Resource Center (CRC) unveiled its Food Stamp Outreach program, funded by SDSVP, in the fall of 2007. Since that time, over 1,150 Food Stamp Outreach materials have been distributed to families, over 200 applications have been issued to qualified individuals or families, and over 60 households have received application assistance. The North County welfare office has already documented an increase in the number of families receiving food stamp assistance.
With SDSVP support, CRC has not only realigned its food services to a more outcome-based model, but has also embarked on a major organizational transformation—including board education and expansion, improved information technology systems, and development of capable senior leadership within the agency. These enhancements have positively impacted the growth of CRC’s Holiday Baskets program, the largest holiday distribution of its kind in the county. In 2007, Holiday Baskets served a record 1,200 low-income households.
In addition, SDSVP’s contacts within the business community have provided CRC the opportunity to enhance its public image and marketing ability through the creation of a new website. The collateral benefits have included increased public awareness of and financial support for their fund-raising events and programs. CRC has clearly gained from this increased exposure.
SDSVP's Bingham Stone Award 2008
The Bingham Stone Award is named in recognition of the founders of San Diego Social Venture Partners, Darcy Bingham and Carrie Stone. Each year, a Partner is given the Bingham Stone Award to honor outstanding leadership skills, commitment and “no BS” attitude. Each recipient exemplifies our goal of developing engaged philanthropists who are accelerating social change in the community.
Working for Bill Gates in Seattle in 1997, Aaron Contorer could not help but notice Gates’ benevolence as a philanthropist. After cashing in some Microsoft stock options, Aaron saw some successful colleagues follow Gates’ lead by doing good in their communities. Aaron felt a moral responsibility to share his good fortune with his community. He was introduced to the SVP group in Seattle but chose instead to pursue philanthropic causes as an individual and by starting a family foundation.
When Aaron moved to San Diego in 2004 to start a company, he recognized that his real passion was for giving something back to society while continuing to grow as an individual, surrounded by great people. That’s exactly what SDSVP offered him.
Aaron and several other Partners created SDSVP’s Environment Accelerator Fund (EAF). The team met with leaders in the nonprofit, business, academic, military, and philanthropic communities and identified a need to address issues concerning San Diego’s future growth and development resulting in the creation of Equinox Center. Aaron is now chair of Equinox and believes that working with SDSVP partners to create Equinox Center has been one of the most gratifying experiences of his career.
Aaron was awarded the 2008 BS Award due to his significant contributions to SDSVP’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee also serving on the Investment Working Group and Communication Working Group while launching the EAF. The commitment to create a start-up, personally commit major funds, reach out across various stakeholders groups to conduct research, enroll up to 20 SDSVP partners, and remain committed to building SDSVP is an amazing accomplishment! Thanks, Aaron, for all you do for SDSVP and the community!
Past Bingham Stone Award Recipients:
2007 Diane Rosenberg
2006 Richard Bockoff
2005 Dale Stein
2004 Alan Sorkin
Angels Foster Family Network
Amy Larson, Lead Partner
“The partnership between Angels and SDSVP has been a great one since day one. The talent and support of many of their members has been an impetus, resulting in more funding, successful marketing, and a record-breaking number of babies being rescued.”
Cathy Richman, Founder and Executive Director
Founder Cathy Richman developed the Angels foster program’s unique methodology in 1998 because she saw a need for a new way to address a chronic problem—how to protect the most fragile of children within a system that can do further damage by constantly moving infants and toddlers from foster home to foster home.
Angels is a licensed, private nonprofit foster family agency with a unique emphasis on the stable placement of abused foster infants with healthy, nurturing families who promote emotional bonding, helping the children grow into happy, productive, secure adults. Since January 2000, Angels has placed 250 babies with some of the finest, most loving and committed foster families available, and the organization expects to place an additional 60 babies in 2008.
SDSVP has provided a capacity-building grant and committed Partners who have helped establish a marketing brand for Angels, helped create a five-year strategic plan, assisted with board development, and financed an outside funding consultant who helped hire their first Director of Development. The social return on investment will be measured by the number of children now living healthy, happy lives and families that have been made whole after what seemed like such a tragic start.
“The partnership between Angels and SDSVP has been a great one since day one. The talent and support of many of their members has been an impetus, resulting in more funding, successful marketing, and a record-breaking number of babies being rescued.”
Cathy Richman, Founder and Executive Director
Founder Cathy Richman developed the Angels foster program’s unique methodology in 1998 because she saw a need for a new way to address a chronic problem—how to protect the most fragile of children within a system that can do further damage by constantly moving infants and toddlers from foster home to foster home.
Angels is a licensed, private nonprofit foster family agency with a unique emphasis on the stable placement of abused foster infants with healthy, nurturing families who promote emotional bonding, helping the children grow into happy, productive, secure adults. Since January 2000, Angels has placed 250 babies with some of the finest, most loving and committed foster families available, and the organization expects to place an additional 60 babies in 2008.
SDSVP has provided a capacity-building grant and committed Partners who have helped establish a marketing brand for Angels, helped create a five-year strategic plan, assisted with board development, and financed an outside funding consultant who helped hire their first Director of Development. The social return on investment will be measured by the number of children now living healthy, happy lives and families that have been made whole after what seemed like such a tragic start.
August 28, 2008
SDSU Social Entrepreneur Internship Program
Are you working with a nonprofit who may be interested in an intern? The QUALCOMM EMC Social Entrepreneur Internship Program may be a good fit.
The program at San Diego State University matches talented graduate business students with nonprofit organizations. Interns work with the organization's senior management to improve performance and achieve their goals through entrepreneurial initiatives.
The internships unite academic, corporate and social concepts in entrepreneurship for a unique educational MBA experience. Over the course of a 150-hour internship, students identify a strategic objective, perform related business analysis and develop a substantive report.
For certain projects, SDSU faculty advisors may act as facilitators and QUALCOMM employees mentor the interns to enable agency implementation of recommended courses of action.
Program Background
The QUALCOMM EMC Social Entrepreneur Internship Program began when the Kauffman Foundation for Entrepreneurial Leadership recognized that the internships they had been sponsoring in For-Profit enterprises could benefit Non-Profit organizations.
In early 1999, Kauffman provided SDSU's Entrepreneurial Management Center with seed money to launch a social entrepreneur internship initiative with the goal of securing permanent local funding. Later that year, the EMC announced a grant from its partner QUALCOMM, Inc. to continue the social internship program.
How the Program Works
The program at San Diego State University matches talented graduate business students with nonprofit organizations. Interns work with the organization's senior management to improve performance and achieve their goals through entrepreneurial initiatives.
The internships unite academic, corporate and social concepts in entrepreneurship for a unique educational MBA experience. Over the course of a 150-hour internship, students identify a strategic objective, perform related business analysis and develop a substantive report.
For certain projects, SDSU faculty advisors may act as facilitators and QUALCOMM employees mentor the interns to enable agency implementation of recommended courses of action.
Program Background
The QUALCOMM EMC Social Entrepreneur Internship Program began when the Kauffman Foundation for Entrepreneurial Leadership recognized that the internships they had been sponsoring in For-Profit enterprises could benefit Non-Profit organizations.
In early 1999, Kauffman provided SDSU's Entrepreneurial Management Center with seed money to launch a social entrepreneur internship initiative with the goal of securing permanent local funding. Later that year, the EMC announced a grant from its partner QUALCOMM, Inc. to continue the social internship program.
How the Program Works
- Phase One:
Each semester (Fall, Spring and Summer) the EMC invites nonprofit organizations to submit internship project proposals. After they are reviewed to insure they are compatible with program goals, the project descriptions are posted on our website. Student’s request interviews based upon their experience, skills and interests. The agencies receive copies of resumes of those students desiring an interview. - Phase Two:
In a single afternoon the students and agency representatives meet on campus for "match day." In most instances the preferences of the agencies and students are mutually selective, and a one-to-one match is made. Each intern is assigned a program advisor for purposes of guidance, as a source of technical assistance and to insure a quality learning experience results. A mentor from QUALCOMM also becomes part of the internship team. - Phase Three:
The intern, host organization supervisor and QUALCOMM mentor meet to establish and confirm the scope of the engagement and agree upon deliverables. Additional meetings and conferences occur on an as-needed basis. The intern is the individual primarily responsible for the successful outcome of the project and is expected to take on a leadership role to insure that occurs.
If you are interested in participating in this program, please complete a nonprofit application form (found on the EMC website www.sdsu.edu/emc ) and send it to Bernhard Schroeder at bschroeder@projects.sdsu.edu.
Peggy Kidd, A Lifetime Mission Helping People
By Abe Ordover
SDSVP Executive Director Peggy Kidd has dedicated her life to a personal, spiritual mission to be of help to people and communities. Her deep sense of purpose comes from observing at close hand and being amidst some of the catastrophes of humankind. She came from these experiences with a profound sense of purpose.
Peggy received her B.S. in Marketing from Miami University of Ohio, where she spent her junior year studying abroad. After college, she moved to San Diego to work on a cruise ship as black jack dealer. Following her Fun Ship experience, she decided to get serious about her career and launched into the corporate world. She served as Marketing Director for a small agency, then accepted a position leading a division of a consumer based research firm and then was lured to the client side by working at Jenny Craig International as Director of Marketing Research, supervising clinical trials and working with the advertising and creative teams.
To find balance in her life, Peggy started volunteering as a “big sister” for an abused little girl, whom she still helps today. The impact that one person can have on the life of another convinced her of the importance of giving back.
Then, life abruptly changed for her in 1999. Knowing that she wanted to give back, she traveled Africa to work with AIDS orphans in Kikuyu and Capetown. However, while traveling to Uganda to track the Mountain Gorillas, she was awakened one morning at 5am by the sounds of people quietly lurking in the camp. Frightened, she rationalized it away as “irrational fear”, although, she quickly packed up her things and fled. An hour later, the Hutu rebels invaded her camp, burned all the tents and kidnapped the tourists, eventually slaying eight of her friends.
As a survivor, she came to feel deeply that she must devote her life to helping others. Her mission to work for nonprofits matured. After returning to San Diego, she decided to leave corporate America for the nonprofit world and accepted a position at Family Literacy Foundation as their Executive Director. Feeling as if she found her purpose, she recalls thinking, “I would do this for free. I’m just lucky to get paid for it.”
Feeling that desire once more to work with the 3rd world population, Peggy lived in Brazil for a year working with the street children in the ghettos, a crime ridden, drug culture where life was cheap and murder abundant. “That was the most challenging experience of my life”, Peggy recalls. “I was teaching the kids English and other life skills, yet they really needed survival skills. They knew once the center closed at night, they’d need to fight in order to make it to the next day.” After a few narrow escapes with her own life, she decided to settle back down in the burbs of San Diego and tackle some of the challenges kids face right here in our community. Moving from the Board of TKF to staff, as Executive Director, she worked to implement violence prevention programs with San Diego City Schools.
In 2006, she started a private consulting practice assisting nonprofit organizations in building their capacity. This led her to SDSVP, which ultimately hired her as its Executive Director. Peggy believes SDSVP is the perfect fit for her –blending her passion for nonprofits and the strategic aspect of business. She’s excited about the impact that SDSVP is making on the community: “if any group in San Diego is going to make a significant change, it’s going to be SDSVP. Our Partners have the intellect, the passion and the resources to make it happen.”
SDSVP Executive Director Peggy Kidd has dedicated her life to a personal, spiritual mission to be of help to people and communities. Her deep sense of purpose comes from observing at close hand and being amidst some of the catastrophes of humankind. She came from these experiences with a profound sense of purpose.
Peggy received her B.S. in Marketing from Miami University of Ohio, where she spent her junior year studying abroad. After college, she moved to San Diego to work on a cruise ship as black jack dealer. Following her Fun Ship experience, she decided to get serious about her career and launched into the corporate world. She served as Marketing Director for a small agency, then accepted a position leading a division of a consumer based research firm and then was lured to the client side by working at Jenny Craig International as Director of Marketing Research, supervising clinical trials and working with the advertising and creative teams.
To find balance in her life, Peggy started volunteering as a “big sister” for an abused little girl, whom she still helps today. The impact that one person can have on the life of another convinced her of the importance of giving back.
Then, life abruptly changed for her in 1999. Knowing that she wanted to give back, she traveled Africa to work with AIDS orphans in Kikuyu and Capetown. However, while traveling to Uganda to track the Mountain Gorillas, she was awakened one morning at 5am by the sounds of people quietly lurking in the camp. Frightened, she rationalized it away as “irrational fear”, although, she quickly packed up her things and fled. An hour later, the Hutu rebels invaded her camp, burned all the tents and kidnapped the tourists, eventually slaying eight of her friends.
As a survivor, she came to feel deeply that she must devote her life to helping others. Her mission to work for nonprofits matured. After returning to San Diego, she decided to leave corporate America for the nonprofit world and accepted a position at Family Literacy Foundation as their Executive Director. Feeling as if she found her purpose, she recalls thinking, “I would do this for free. I’m just lucky to get paid for it.”
Feeling that desire once more to work with the 3rd world population, Peggy lived in Brazil for a year working with the street children in the ghettos, a crime ridden, drug culture where life was cheap and murder abundant. “That was the most challenging experience of my life”, Peggy recalls. “I was teaching the kids English and other life skills, yet they really needed survival skills. They knew once the center closed at night, they’d need to fight in order to make it to the next day.” After a few narrow escapes with her own life, she decided to settle back down in the burbs of San Diego and tackle some of the challenges kids face right here in our community. Moving from the Board of TKF to staff, as Executive Director, she worked to implement violence prevention programs with San Diego City Schools.
In 2006, she started a private consulting practice assisting nonprofit organizations in building their capacity. This led her to SDSVP, which ultimately hired her as its Executive Director. Peggy believes SDSVP is the perfect fit for her –blending her passion for nonprofits and the strategic aspect of business. She’s excited about the impact that SDSVP is making on the community: “if any group in San Diego is going to make a significant change, it’s going to be SDSVP. Our Partners have the intellect, the passion and the resources to make it happen.”
Concierge Club for Seniors
By Cathy Yarbrough
A concierge service may seem an odd fit for a nonprofit community organization that helps low income senior citizens to live in their homes – and to avoid institutionalization – for as long as their health allows.
But, it’s such a good business decision that SDSVP this year selected the organization, ElderHelp, as one of its new three-year Investees. “With SDSVP’s expertise, we will execute a new strategy to provide something to seniors and their families that does not currently exist,” said Leane Marchese, Executive Director of ElderHelp.
For over 35 years, ElderHelp has not charged a fee when its 17-member staff and 200 volunteers transported senior citizens to their medical appointments, grocery-shopped for them or provided other services that enable people to live independently. Last year, ElderHelp helped about 5,000 San Diego senior citizens.
In coming years, ElderHelp will be called upon to help many more people, as the senior citizen population doubles over the next two decades from about 340,000 in 2008 to 740,000 by 2030, Marchese said at SDSVP’s First Friday on August 1. She pointed out that many older individuals are burdened by not only fixed incomes but also high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s and other chronic health problems.
To reach this increasing population of senior citizens, ElderHelp must expand its own financial resources. The concierge program will be one of the initiatives to generate a revenue stream that will enable ElderHelp to become sustainable and viable.
SDSVP will help its new Investee to develop and launch the ElderHelp Concierge Club, which will target seniors and their families who can afford to pay a membership fee for the services that low-income older individuals will continue to receive for free.
Marchese explained that every two paid Concierge Club memberships will provide the income that will enable ElderHelp to provide the same services, but at no cost, to one low-income senior citizen.
In addition to refining a business plan, SDSVP will assist ElderHelp with creating and implementing a web-based information tracking system that will integrate all components and functions for the organization.
Partners also will help ElderHelp to develop and execute a marketing plan to recruit and retain 150 volunteers, each of whom will commit to 6 hours per week for one year.
A system for evaluating ElderHelp’s outcomes against revenue and volunteer and membership retention measures will be devised, so that the organization’s impact on San Diego can be clearly communicated.
A concierge service may seem an odd fit for a nonprofit community organization that helps low income senior citizens to live in their homes – and to avoid institutionalization – for as long as their health allows.
But, it’s such a good business decision that SDSVP this year selected the organization, ElderHelp, as one of its new three-year Investees. “With SDSVP’s expertise, we will execute a new strategy to provide something to seniors and their families that does not currently exist,” said Leane Marchese, Executive Director of ElderHelp.
For over 35 years, ElderHelp has not charged a fee when its 17-member staff and 200 volunteers transported senior citizens to their medical appointments, grocery-shopped for them or provided other services that enable people to live independently. Last year, ElderHelp helped about 5,000 San Diego senior citizens.
In coming years, ElderHelp will be called upon to help many more people, as the senior citizen population doubles over the next two decades from about 340,000 in 2008 to 740,000 by 2030, Marchese said at SDSVP’s First Friday on August 1. She pointed out that many older individuals are burdened by not only fixed incomes but also high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s and other chronic health problems.
To reach this increasing population of senior citizens, ElderHelp must expand its own financial resources. The concierge program will be one of the initiatives to generate a revenue stream that will enable ElderHelp to become sustainable and viable.
SDSVP will help its new Investee to develop and launch the ElderHelp Concierge Club, which will target seniors and their families who can afford to pay a membership fee for the services that low-income older individuals will continue to receive for free.
Marchese explained that every two paid Concierge Club memberships will provide the income that will enable ElderHelp to provide the same services, but at no cost, to one low-income senior citizen.
In addition to refining a business plan, SDSVP will assist ElderHelp with creating and implementing a web-based information tracking system that will integrate all components and functions for the organization.
Partners also will help ElderHelp to develop and execute a marketing plan to recruit and retain 150 volunteers, each of whom will commit to 6 hours per week for one year.
A system for evaluating ElderHelp’s outcomes against revenue and volunteer and membership retention measures will be devised, so that the organization’s impact on San Diego can be clearly communicated.
Supportive Housing Monies Committed in San Diego
By Simonne Ruff
The Corporation for Supportive Housing’s (CSH) fundamental challenge has been to ensure that $100 million currently available to the San Diego region to prevent and end homelessness is not left on the table, as in previous years. San Diego Social Venture Partners worked with CSH to clearly focus on the critical success factors to ensure these monies are directed to housing for the homeless in San Diego - and the results of this hard work are already being seen locally.
San Diego is amongst the first counties in the State to have initial approval of $5 million in Mental Health Services Act funding and $3.5 million in state affordable housing funds for the Cedar Gateway project in downtown San Diego. This exciting project at 6th and Cedar is unique in that it mixes permanent supportive housing with affordable housing, a rooftop garden, commercial retail space and a rejuvenated St. Cecelia’s Chapel. Squier Properties, a for profit affordable housing developer, has worked collaboratively with the Centre City Development Corporation to take on the challenge of creating new units of supportive housing downtown. Squier Properties and CCDC are championing the cause to end homelessness in this showcase project.
The Corporation for Supportive Housing and SDSVP’s strategic planning work has brought to the table a new partner with significant development expertise, Squier Properties, for their first project in San Die
go. Continuing to focus on critical success factors, such as engaging new partners in supportive housing development, will enable CSH to meet its three year vision of enabling 250 homeless individuals with disabling health conditions to exit the streets and remain housed for one year in sustainable permanent supportive housing. Social Venture Partners’ expertise in strategic planning and outcome measurement are key resources that are enabling CSH to meet this vision.
The Corporation for Supportive Housing’s (CSH) fundamental challenge has been to ensure that $100 million currently available to the San Diego region to prevent and end homelessness is not left on the table, as in previous years. San Diego Social Venture Partners worked with CSH to clearly focus on the critical success factors to ensure these monies are directed to housing for the homeless in San Diego - and the results of this hard work are already being seen locally.
San Diego is amongst the first counties in the State to have initial approval of $5 million in Mental Health Services Act funding and $3.5 million in state affordable housing funds for the Cedar Gateway project in downtown San Diego. This exciting project at 6th and Cedar is unique in that it mixes permanent supportive housing with affordable housing, a rooftop garden, commercial retail space and a rejuvenated St. Cecelia’s Chapel. Squier Properties, a for profit affordable housing developer, has worked collaboratively with the Centre City Development Corporation to take on the challenge of creating new units of supportive housing downtown. Squier Properties and CCDC are championing the cause to end homelessness in this showcase project.
The Corporation for Supportive Housing and SDSVP’s strategic planning work has brought to the table a new partner with significant development expertise, Squier Properties, for their first project in San Die
go. Continuing to focus on critical success factors, such as engaging new partners in supportive housing development, will enable CSH to meet its three year vision of enabling 250 homeless individuals with disabling health conditions to exit the streets and remain housed for one year in sustainable permanent supportive housing. Social Venture Partners’ expertise in strategic planning and outcome measurement are key resources that are enabling CSH to meet this vision.
August 15, 2008
Hobnobbing with Smart, Nice People While Making a Difference
By Cathy Yarbrough
The wildfires last October had one benefit: the catastrophe introduced the nonprofit Volunteer San Diego (VSD) to the energy, enthusiasm and talents of SDSVP.
SDSVP was eager to help fellow San Diego residents whose homes – and clothing, furniture and other possessions -- were destroyed by the wildfires. So VSD linked Partners with a local faith-based organization that was mounting a clothing drive
“Our three organizations brought the best of our abilities and networks together to meet a pressing community need,” said Sue Carter, executive director of VSD.
After the wildfires were under control, Carter turned to SDSVP to help her board and fellow staff leaders to evaluate VSD’s overall strategy and to create a new strategic plan that would communicate the organization’s positive impact on the community and increase its revenue through fundraising and fees for services.
(Under the aegis of SDSVP, Partners often volunteer their time and expertise to San Diego nonprofit community organizations that are not investees.)
Leading SDSVP’s effort to assist VSD with its strategic plan was Sherri Neasham, a Partner for two years. Neasham called upon the expertise of fellow Partners in SDSVP’s resource teams on strategic planning, finance, fundraising and other capacity building areas, to assist VSD.
“Sherri is an incredible ally,” said Carter. “She struck a great balance: offering her business knowledge and critical thinking while always respecting my knowledge of nonprofits and VSD. She knew which role was needed at which time – when to push and when to cheerlead.”
The Partners’ input persuaded VSD to define “what it does and to prove it annually with measurable outcomes,” Neasham said. As a result, the two and one-half year old community organization repositioned the way it describes its value and impact. “Whereas VSD before said they increased and facilitated volunteering, they now can say ‘Each year, we provide over $2 million in human capital to 500 community organizations in order to significantly impact the needs in San Diego County.’ ”
“Restating what they do in such a meaningful and measurable way will substantially increase the funding they receive,” Neasham added. “More importantly, VSD measures and focuses on the value of volunteer contributions; they’ll begin seeking more highly skilled volunteers, and will fund many other San Diego nonprofits with greater manpower at a higher level of expertise as a result. This will have a significant impact throughout our county.”
Carter said that SDSVP “provided outside perspective and expertise that wasn’t readily available within VSD. VSD is fortunate to have significant alignment within our board and staff for our overall goals and direction, but that alignment can work against us as we roll out programs to a large and diverse community.”
“SDSVP asked great questions that helped us refine and strengthen our position and the reasons why we did what we did,” she added. “They brought expertise in the form of one-to-one coaching, group facilitation, and tactical tools and resources that we could apply to our efforts. As VSD explores opportunities for mobilizing the professional skills and interests of prospective volunteers, we are looking forward to engaging with SDSVP as practitioners and thought leaders.”
For Partners without the time to work long term with one of SDSVP’s investees, organizations such as VSD are an opportunity to “have fun, learn a lot and make a difference in a very flexible time frame of two to 10 hours over a several month period,” said Neasham. “When you’re working with such groups as VSD, you can easily control your own schedule,” she noted.
Neasham added, “It’s a great opportunity to creatively use your experience or talents in new ways. You get to hobnob with some very smart and very nice people, and best of all, you can be truly helpful and make a difference.”
The wildfires last October had one benefit: the catastrophe introduced the nonprofit Volunteer San Diego (VSD) to the energy, enthusiasm and talents of SDSVP.
SDSVP was eager to help fellow San Diego residents whose homes – and clothing, furniture and other possessions -- were destroyed by the wildfires. So VSD linked Partners with a local faith-based organization that was mounting a clothing drive
“Our three organizations brought the best of our abilities and networks together to meet a pressing community need,” said Sue Carter, executive director of VSD.
After the wildfires were under control, Carter turned to SDSVP to help her board and fellow staff leaders to evaluate VSD’s overall strategy and to create a new strategic plan that would communicate the organization’s positive impact on the community and increase its revenue through fundraising and fees for services.
(Under the aegis of SDSVP, Partners often volunteer their time and expertise to San Diego nonprofit community organizations that are not investees.)
Leading SDSVP’s effort to assist VSD with its strategic plan was Sherri Neasham, a Partner for two years. Neasham called upon the expertise of fellow Partners in SDSVP’s resource teams on strategic planning, finance, fundraising and other capacity building areas, to assist VSD.
“Sherri is an incredible ally,” said Carter. “She struck a great balance: offering her business knowledge and critical thinking while always respecting my knowledge of nonprofits and VSD. She knew which role was needed at which time – when to push and when to cheerlead.”
The Partners’ input persuaded VSD to define “what it does and to prove it annually with measurable outcomes,” Neasham said. As a result, the two and one-half year old community organization repositioned the way it describes its value and impact. “Whereas VSD before said they increased and facilitated volunteering, they now can say ‘Each year, we provide over $2 million in human capital to 500 community organizations in order to significantly impact the needs in San Diego County.’ ”
“Restating what they do in such a meaningful and measurable way will substantially increase the funding they receive,” Neasham added. “More importantly, VSD measures and focuses on the value of volunteer contributions; they’ll begin seeking more highly skilled volunteers, and will fund many other San Diego nonprofits with greater manpower at a higher level of expertise as a result. This will have a significant impact throughout our county.”
Carter said that SDSVP “provided outside perspective and expertise that wasn’t readily available within VSD. VSD is fortunate to have significant alignment within our board and staff for our overall goals and direction, but that alignment can work against us as we roll out programs to a large and diverse community.”
“SDSVP asked great questions that helped us refine and strengthen our position and the reasons why we did what we did,” she added. “They brought expertise in the form of one-to-one coaching, group facilitation, and tactical tools and resources that we could apply to our efforts. As VSD explores opportunities for mobilizing the professional skills and interests of prospective volunteers, we are looking forward to engaging with SDSVP as practitioners and thought leaders.”
For Partners without the time to work long term with one of SDSVP’s investees, organizations such as VSD are an opportunity to “have fun, learn a lot and make a difference in a very flexible time frame of two to 10 hours over a several month period,” said Neasham. “When you’re working with such groups as VSD, you can easily control your own schedule,” she noted.
Neasham added, “It’s a great opportunity to creatively use your experience or talents in new ways. You get to hobnob with some very smart and very nice people, and best of all, you can be truly helpful and make a difference.”
August 1, 2008
News and Updates are now available in the SDSVP Blog!
SDSVP has created a blog where you can find regular updates, past newsletter articles and stories on how we are making an impact in the community. Plus you can comment on the stories and interact with others. We’ve also included links to our Investees, a suggested reading list, and an SDSVP glossary of terms. Check the SDSVP blog for continual updates!
http://sdsvp.blogspot.com
http://sdsvp.blogspot.com
SAVE THE DATE! Investment Working Group / Discovery Team Kick Off Meeting
Monday, September 8th, 7:00-9:00 PM
Join us for an in-depth look at the issues facing our children in San Diego. This year’s Discovery Team has been working diligently over the summer to gain a better understanding of the needs and priorities of the sector. Is it violence prevention? School readiness? Childhood obesity? Foster youth? After several interviews with nonprofit organizations, funders, academics and other SVP affiliates, and discussions among the team, we would like to share the findings with the Partnership and discuss next steps. Join us, along with the experts in the community, for this fascinating session on how to improve the lives of our children, the “future of San Diego"!
Join us for an in-depth look at the issues facing our children in San Diego. This year’s Discovery Team has been working diligently over the summer to gain a better understanding of the needs and priorities of the sector. Is it violence prevention? School readiness? Childhood obesity? Foster youth? After several interviews with nonprofit organizations, funders, academics and other SVP affiliates, and discussions among the team, we would like to share the findings with the Partnership and discuss next steps. Join us, along with the experts in the community, for this fascinating session on how to improve the lives of our children, the “future of San Diego"!
San Diego Business Journal Announces SDSVP’s New Investees
From the San Diego Business Journal, July 21, 2008
San Diego Social Venture Partners is granting Elder Law & Advocacy and ElderHelp each $250,000 over three years to fund services. Other organizations funded by Social Venture Partners include Angels Foster Family Network, La Cuna, Community Resource Center and Corporation for Supportive Housing.
To read the full article, click here
San Diego Social Venture Partners is granting Elder Law & Advocacy and ElderHelp each $250,000 over three years to fund services. Other organizations funded by Social Venture Partners include Angels Foster Family Network, La Cuna, Community Resource Center and Corporation for Supportive Housing.
To read the full article, click here
Congratulations on SDSVP’s Former Investee, Second Chance, on great coverage in the UT!
A Second Chance at Success
.jpg)
From the San Diego Union-Tribune, July 24, 2008
It's not the type of exclamation you usually hear at a graduation.
“Where's my P.O.?” asked Adam Matschullat, using the shorthand for parole officer. “I told you I'd do it, right?”
Matschullat and his classmates had been accustomed to a path that involved judges and police officers, not guidance counselors and teachers. They hope that changed for good Friday, when they completed a course offered by Second Chance, an Encanto agency that aids the homeless and unemployed.
The 69 graduates, ranging from teens to those in their 50s, have battled drug problems and homelessness or racked up criminal records. Second Chance, however, offers them just that – an opportunity to learn life skills while complying with mandates from courts and other authorities.
To read the full story on this former SDSVP Investee, click here
.jpg)
From the San Diego Union-Tribune, July 24, 2008It's not the type of exclamation you usually hear at a graduation.
“Where's my P.O.?” asked Adam Matschullat, using the shorthand for parole officer. “I told you I'd do it, right?”
Matschullat and his classmates had been accustomed to a path that involved judges and police officers, not guidance counselors and teachers. They hope that changed for good Friday, when they completed a course offered by Second Chance, an Encanto agency that aids the homeless and unemployed.
The 69 graduates, ranging from teens to those in their 50s, have battled drug problems and homelessness or racked up criminal records. Second Chance, however, offers them just that – an opportunity to learn life skills while complying with mandates from courts and other authorities.
To read the full story on this former SDSVP Investee, click here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Share
