SDSVP Holiday Party 2009 - Video

SDSVP's annual holiday party was located at Investee, A Reason to Survive's (ARTS) beautiful facility in Liberty Station. Partners and friends enjoyed a delicious fare. Guests toured the ARTS space including a gallery and rooms for music, pottery/painting, dance and digital arts where ARTS provides a creative outlet for at-risk youth. Social Chair, Leigh Johnson, gave a warm welcome and then ARTS Lead Partner, Scott Tritt and ARTS Founder & Executive Director, Matt D'Arrigo gave updates on the SDSVP/ARTS partnership. ARTS created a mural for SDSVP which allowed for party goers to add their own creative expressions. See video below for party highlights.

Holiday Basket 2009 - Videos

SDSVP Partners joined forces with Investee, Community Resource Center to help families in need this holiday season. Take a look...



Partners pack food boxes



Community Resource Center's Executive Director, Laurin Pause explains what families will receive through the Holiday Basket Program

Dallas Social Venture Patners Sparking Social Innovation

Dallas SVP is proud to participate in bringing social innovation ideas to North Texas in a collaborative way with OneStar Foundation and Root Cause.

Please tune in to this blog space on December 9th from 10:30am-11:15am to watch a virutal new media press conference! Dallas SVP and friends will talk about the work they are doing together, how social innovation is changing the way nonprofits do business, and announce social innovations that have been selected to help kick off this initiative. Even with a regional focus, this work is indicative of a bigger trend to collaborate at the national, state and local levels to stimulate socially innovative activities in communities.

North Texas Social Innovation New Media Press Conference

December 9, 2009 - 8:30 AM PST

Advocacy & Policy Committee Update - Dec 2009

Objective: Determine Short-Term Action Items to Support our Two Investees

Simonne Ruff, CSH

• 8,000 homeless per night county-wide, most transitional/episodic
  - Up to 2,000 chronically homeless, often with disabilities – disproportionate use of
  expensive resources to support this segment, as opposed to supportive housing which is
  more cost effective
• CSH’s goal is to be a catalyst for high-quality supportive housing
  - Sense is there is a lot of money for supportive housing that is not being used
  - CSH works with project sponsors like Father Joe’s, Catholic Charities to help keep
  projects healthy, including funding (which usually comes from CRA funds through banks
• Don’t expect any new money on the table for 2-3 years, so current strategy is to use Section 8 Voucher system
  - S8 administered through Housing Commissions, current waiting list is 5-8 years, 12,000
  limit in SD City given to specific individuals, 10,000 in SD County
  - Solution is to repurpose from Tenant-Based to Project-Based; Housing Commissions can
  move 25% of the 12,000 to be special purposed
  o Currently SD City only has 250 special-purposed, about 200 are Project-Based
  o County not doing much repurposing at all, not likely, resistance all around
  - Housing commission agreed to release an RFP for 200 Project-Based units, but they
  haven’t done so yet
• What SDSVP can do and who the players are:
  - Break that log-jam for the first 200
  - Keep the cycle going for more
  - Richard Gentry, CEO of City Housing Commission
  http://www.sdhc.org/giaboutus1a.shtml
  http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rick-gentry/11/60b/30a
  - Carrol Vaughan, EVP of City Housing Commission
  http://www.sdhc.org/giaboutus1b.shtml
  http://www.linkedin.com/pub/carrol-vaughan/7/44/444
  - County Director of Housing and Community Development: David R. Estrella
  http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/sdhcd/aboutus/about_us.html
  - City Council or Council influencers: Kevin Faulconer
  o City Council doesn’t vote on this item, it’s all under the City Housing Commission, but
  they can exert pressure
  
  Action Items
  - Meeting with Rick Gentry (David & Leigh J)
  o Simonne to make introduction
  - Write Talking Points / Briefing Book (TBD – David L / Sherri N to find)
  - Consider rename to “Advocacy and Policy Committee”
  o Ask Board for approval and to announce at party (David L)
  - Develop SDSVP Advocacy Infrastructure (Kathy F)

SDSVP Partner, Aaron Contorer Wins 10News Leadership Award

From OurCity San Diego

October 27, 2009

10News and OurCity: San Diego honors Aaron Contorer for establishing the Equinox Center – a non-profit organization with the mission of navigating San Diego on its best course for a prosperous future. The Equinox Center conducts objective research, shares insightful data, makes strategic policy recommendations, and assists community leaders, policy makers, the media, and individuals to comprehend the complex issues surrounding San Diego’s sustainable future.

Aaron Contorer serves as the Board Chairman of the Equinox Center and is involved with all details of the organization as an active volunteer, marketer, capacity builder, strategic advisor, fundraiser, and a number of other different aspects. He has contributed personal funds and dedicated all of his spare time for the success of this organization.

The Equinox Center was founded in 2008 and its mission is to be a catalyst for advancement and provide reliable and thought-provoking ideas for San Diego’s future. Their mission and core values are centered on ensuring thriving communities, a strong economy, and a quality environment. Inspired by such values, the Equinox Center conducts research and strategically plans for the projected increased strain on the water and energy supplies, natural areas, transportation systems, housing infrastructure in order to ensure San Diego’s ongoing prosperity.

Aaron Contorer will receive the 10News Leadership Award on Wednesday Oct. 28 in the category of Environmental Stewardship. Watch 10News, Live @ 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29 for the presentation of the award. For more information, visit http://www.equinoxcenter.org/.

Meet Partner, Linda Bernstein!

By Lori Thiel

San Diego Social Venture Partner’s new board member Linda Bernstein spent 20 years accumulating knowledge about how to successfully run a business, knowledge that in retirement she wants to share with area nonprofits through her work with SDSVP and other philanthropic organizations.

Despite her demonstrable business savvy, Linda — who ran a start-up from her home and sold it 20 years later after growing it to 50 employees and 500 customers worldwide — was an unlikely manager. With an education degree from UCLA and work experience as an elementary school teacher, she took the plunge into the world of business in 1982 when her husband Robert started SeaSpace Corporation in their San Diego home.

SeaSpace provides satellite ground stations and processing software to sense meteorological, oceanographic and environmental data from space. So it was a natural next step for Robert, who earned his Ph.D. in physical oceanography from Columbia University and founded Scripps Satellite-Oceanography Facility.

Within a short while of starting the business it became apparent that someone needed to manage it. So Linda gave up her teaching job to run the company.

“SeaSpace,” Linda remembers fondly, “was like a science fair project for my husband” who is a renowned oceanographer and an expert in satellite data acquisition. But for a novice businessperson, Linda had to learn on the go. She went from the classroom where she taught elementary school to the boardroom, where she learned the hard way how a business operates.

During her time with SeaSpace she learned to draw on resources and look to other credible sources for help. In the last five years of her tenure at SeaSpace she participated in Vistage, a CEO leadership organization that hosts monthly workshops and networking opportunities for professionals to share insight, strategies and support. There she met like-minded entrepreneurs and made long-term friends. One in particular had a commitment to philanthropy and led her to SDSVP.

As she learned more about SDSVP she says she appreciated the meaningful work the organization does partnering with nonprofits to help them solve problems. “It’s a smart way to invest time and money,” she says.

Given her background in childhood education, it’s not surprising that she particularly enjoys SDSVP’s focus on those areas. “One of the major ways to improve the world and raise people out of poverty is through education,” she says.

And Linda has done her share of raising and educating children: Her son Aaron, 36, is a business developer at Qualcomm locally, and her daughter Sarah, 33, is a physical therapist in Oregon. Each has two children, making Linda a grandmother four times over.

Learning BIG at the SVPI Conference

SDSVP Staff along with Partners, Alan and Louarn Sorkin, Mark Fackler and David Lynn attended the annual SVPI conference in Dallas, Texas. SDSVP enjoyed learning from SVP Partners from around the world. Many great ideas were shared through key note speakers, workshops and even hallway conversations. In addition, our own Alan was inducted as the Social Venture Partners International Chair!

Some Key Learnings:

• Stories are key: SDSVP needs to have stories. Andy Goodman suggested that we could build a story around each one of our Investees. Every staff member, board member, and key player should know 5-7 core stories about the organization, and be able to tell them passionately and effectively; take advantage of social media.
• Measuring outcomes is hard: Keep it simple: it’s nearly impossible to get to the point of causal relationships with any sort of outcomes, it’s hard enough just to measure if you’re having any short term effect.
• Venture Fund – create a leverage fund where others can invest in our portfolio of Investees; foundations who don’t have staff, could utilize SVP as a resource.
• Partner Advisory Board - Quarterly meetings open to all Partners to maintain transparency and distribute responsibility.

Meet Partners, Ray and Gina Ellis!

Ray and Gina Ellis found SDSVP through their involvement with Second Chance, an Emeritus Investee. They joined SDSVP because, like many Partners, they recognize that SDSVP provides a unique opportunity to leverage financial contributions and expertise to produce long-term results.

As Ray celebrates his first anniversary on SDSVP's board, he says that the organization’s return on investment is crucial, and demand is high for his Fund Development Resource Team's services. His professional background includes being principal for his own investment and consulting firm, serving as president of marketing for Protocol Communications, and founding MC Direct, noted for its dominance in the direct mail and marketing industries.

In addition to their philanthropic efforts through SDSVP, Ray and Gina's family foundation supports a variety of local nonprofits. Ray and Gina live in Carmel Valley with their 7-year-old son, Jake. Ray also has a 24-year-old son, Matt, working in Los Angeles, and a 19-year-old daughter, Jessica, who is enjoying her college experience at Texas Christian University. Both Matt and Jessica are starting young in their philanthropy by their involvement in the Ellis Family Foundation.

Advocacy Working Group Update - October 2009

• In order to begin investigating options for advocacy within SDSVP, we are forming the SDSVP Advocacy Working Group
• The Advocacy Working Group will initially function by bringing in nonprofit Executive Director’s to hear about their issues/needs, then determine how SDSVP can best support their efforts, whether by supporting connections to funding or legislative officials and/or direct advocacy efforts
• The general focus area of the Advocacy Working Group is Effective Philanthropy, which includes a) connecting our Investees and their sector with funding sources, and b) non-monetary support on issues, either as individual partners or officially as SDSVP
• Ideally, the Advocacy Working Group would work on a second 3-year phase of our Investees that have successfully built their capacity and can handle a more significant role, including efforts to promote sector-wide changes and/or larger sources of funds
• First test case with Laurin Pause, Executive Director of the Community Resource Center, regarding homeless issues in San Diego. Initial expectation is that SDSVP has the opportunity to actually move the needle on this issue – rumor has it that as few as 100 contacts from respected people may be enough to affect the legislation.

For more information contact the Advocacy Working Group Chair, David Lynn davidl@ayamba.com

Report Reveals SVP Partners Give More

San Diego SVP and 17 other SVP affiliates around the world recently conducted outcomes research among our Partners to measure changes in how much Partners give, how Partners give, and Partners’ involvement in their communities. Over 600 Partners participated, and the results are impressive.

•Partners’ giving increases because of SVP. 60% of respondents stated that their giving has increased since joining SVP, and 79% of them credit SVP with at least some impact on their giving.
•Partners give more strategically because of SVP. Respondents’ use of each of ten giving criteria has increased by 67% ‐ 232% since joining SVP.
•Partners are more involved in the community because of SVP. Respondents report increases in nine areas of community involvement, including a 64% increase in volunteering.
•The longer a Partner is involved in SVP, the larger the changes in all three outcomes. Almost twice as many (79%) long‐term Partners report an increase in their giving than new Partners (43%).

We are proud that the SVP network is making a significant difference in our local communities. These internal findings have also been corroborated by a USC study done by Dr. Michael Moody, “Becoming a Venture Philanthropist: a Study of the Socialization of Social Venture Partners.”

Read the SVP International report at the following link: Strong Partners, Stronger Communities

Meet SDSVP Partner, Steve Ness!

By Paul Thiel

People come to philanthropy in many ways. For SDSVP new board member Steve Ness, 55, it was a perfect storm of events. “I had sold my company about two years ago,” he says, “and [wife] Pam and I were at a point where we had the time and resources to give back to the San Diego community. It was perfect timing for us [to get involved].”

Of course there are numerous worthy causes to champion in San Diego and nationally, but what appealed most to Steve about SDSVP is its structure. “It’s an organization that actually teaches you how to be a good philanthropist,” he says.

The company he sold is San Diego-based Dynamic Instruments, Inc., manufacturer of audio recording and vibration monitoring products for commercial and military markets.

DI, which Steve and partners founded some two-dozen years ago, purchased the floundering Hardy Scales [now Hardy Instruments] and grew it to profitability within three years, thanks to an $11 million Navy contract followed by a $10 million USPS contract. Within 10 years, they added an analog recording company, which ultimately pioneered digital recording technology initially for Navy Intelligence and now available to the commercial sector, such as 911 call stations and any company that records customer conversations.

For Steve, who graduated UC San Diego — with honors — in 1976 with a degree in applied physics and information science or, in today’s parlance, computer science, the technical nature of DI was interesting but finally trumped by a higher calling. “Basically I worked for about five years as an engineer, but the balance of my career — about 27 years — I spent in technical management and corporate management.”

Of his four children, Steve suspects that only one, his youngest, may follow in his entrepreneurial footsteps. “Kyle is very much an inventor and problem-solver,” he says. "He is also interested in business concepts such as marketing and raising capital. I worked with my dad and brother and really enjoyed working with the two of them,” says Steve, “and Kyle has said he’d really like the opportunity for us to work together.”

Kyle, who is a senior in high school, is about four hours away from earning a private pilot license and shares a love of racing Porsches with Steve and Pam. Their oldest son, Scott, teaches English in China to preschool and elementary children and plans to return to the states and earn a PhD in literature and become a university professor. Daughter Stefanie works for Swiss company Tecan, maker of lab instruments for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and universities. And their youngest daughter, Shaina, is a single mom who is pursuing her degree while working.

“Every child is different and wonderful in their own way,” says Steve of his offspring.

So now that he has raised four kids and run and sold a successful company, does he consider himself retired? “I did for about two years,” he laughs, “but now I’m helping my wife run her new real estate company.”

This is the third such company started by Pam, whom Steve calls “fearless” about business. Her first was Teaching through Technology, a philanthropy that collected, refurbished and then donated used computers and printers to local public schools in the early 1990s. The second was a marketing and communications company she started so that she could be available to their children when they were younger. And her current venture, Stone Enterprises, buys, renovates and sells homes to first-time buyers. Their first property was renovated in five weeks and then sold in a mere 90 days.

“I am no longer the CEO of a company,” says Steve with a happy sigh, “I’m now just an employee, and I’m loving just working at her direction and doing what she needs done.”

Meet Partner, Peg Eddy!

By Paul Thiel

For Peg Eddy, CFP (r), joining San Diego Social Venture Partners was a step toward a new phase in her life. Having founded and built a financial and business advisory practice with her husband, she was looking something to move toward as she built and implemented a succession plan.

“I’m a Type-A personality going at 120 miles per hour, so I knew I wasn’t just going to stop – I really need something to move toward when I finally hang up my spikes here” says Peggy. “Plus, I can’t tell my clients that that need to have balance in their lives and move toward something if I’m not doing it myself.”

Peggy has gradually been getting herself involved in SDSVP and recently joined the Board, where she will be working on membership recruitment and retention. She likes the SDSVP philosophy that Partners can be as involved – or as uninvolved – as they want. Says Peggy, “It’s a guilt-free group.”

Long involved in philanthropic efforts – she has played substantial roles over the years in organizations ranging from Lady of Peace Academy, Lightbridge Hospice, TKF, and Rotary International, San Diego Club 33. She is also the founder of the National Organization of Women Business Owners’ San Diego chapter and the Family Business Forum at USD – Peggy is especially interested in education and financial literacy training.

The latter is close to her heart – and her life’s work. Peg and Bob started their firm, Creative Capital Management, in 1975 to work with business owners and entrepreneurs who need help managing their personal and professional finances. They started the business shortly after they were married and had lived for a short period of time on the East Coast. Bob chose the business, and Peg got to choose the location. “I said I wanted to move to San Diego because we had friends here who would take us in if we we’re starving to death,” she says.

The first few months were tough. “We started the business by cold-calling on businesses in El Cajon during a Santa Anas – I remember it clearly,” says Peggy. “We went three months without a client. I was ready to hawk our wedding gifts.”

Things turned around, however, and the couple built a very successful firm while living a very active lifestyle and raising two sons. Sean, 31, graduated from Washington & Lee University and worked for Deloitte Consulting before earning his MBA at Northwestern University. He now works in strategic planning for Wells Fargo in San Francisco and his wife teaches at a private school in Walnut Creek. Younger son Ryan, recently engaged, graduated from Santa Clara University and spent a few years in public relations and as a volunteer firefighter before decided to do the latter full-time. Peggy recently did a ride-along with him, which lessened her anxiety about his chosen profession. “Ever since he was a little boy he wanted to be a firefighter,” says Peggy, “I think he was called to do that type of work.”

It’s no mistake that neither son is part of Creative Capital Management. Peg and Bob were very clear very early that working with them was not a birthright, and said that if they wanted to work with them they would have to interview, report directly to other people and earn a salary on a level with station in the business. Both ultimately decided to do other things.

Meanwhile, Peg and Bob designed and implemented a succession plan, and have in place one of the professionals who will take over the company in the next few years. Peggy will leave first – and get move involved in SDSVP – while Bob will work through the transition.

Peggy anticipates that SDSVP will provide the energy for the next phase of her life: “All of us need a purpose to get out of bed in the morning, and it’s different for everyone.”

An Army “brat”, Peggy has taken great delight over the years in getting deeply involved in the community of greater San Diego. Having attended eight grammar schools and three high schools – ironically graduating from high school in Coronado despite the fact that her father was an Army, not a Navy, officer – Peggy says her upbringing provided some interesting life skills. “I learned to work a room quickly,” she says. “Because I never knew when I would be leaving!”

Quick 4 About Peg:

What's on your iPod? I like quiet. But when I do listen, I listen to from Bach to the Beatles.

What do you like watch? Monk or PBS

What do you do for fun? Hiking, biking. We are a pretty active family.

If you could live somewhere for two years, where would it be and why? Bellagio, Italy. It's just so beautiful and relaxed and the people are friendly.

Meet SDSVP Investee, TKF Executive Director, Lisa Grogan!

By Paul Thiel

Although Lisa Grogan has no kids of her own, children have always been a deep passion for her. With that kind of passion, some become elementary school teachers, others may opt for a career in pediatrics. Grogan, the Executive Director of new SDSVP Investee Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF), headed to the other side of the tracks: she spent a dozen years as a probation administrator for juveniles.

“I like working with a vulnerable population -- I want to make a difference,” says Grogan. “And one of the attractions of coming to TKF was the opportunity to help kids before they enter the juvenile justice system.”

TKF, as the foundation is known, aims to stop the cycle of violence among kids. The foundation was started by Azim Khamisa shortly after his son Tariq, was shot and killed while delivering pizzas to earn money to pay his way through San Diego State University in 1995. Tariq’s assailant was 14-year-old gang recruit Tony Hicks, who became the first juvenile tried as an adult in California and is now serving 25-years-to-life sentence at Pelican Bay State Prison. He will be eligible for parole in 2027, when he is 46.

Like the foundation itself, Grogan began her journey to end youth violence at SDSU, where she majored in criminal justice while taking a minor in social work. While in school she started in the Volunteers in Probation program, and loved the work.

In her former position Grogan oversaw about 3,000 probationers at a time, learning how, for many kids, violence begets violence. “It often starts with the family – often a violent offender comes from a family with a lot of violence. It really is a cycle of violence.”

In addition, Grogan says, she learned why kids join gangs. It’s a matter of protection from others, belonging to a group and being targeted to join. In fact, Hicks was ordered to shoot Tariq by an 18-year-old leader of a gang he was being recruited to after running away from home.

“We try to show that there are other ways to deal with your anger – the answer is not violence,” she says. In addition, “one of the things we teach is forgiveness. Kids think that if they are treated violently they need to respond violently.”

Since inception TKF has reached over 8 million students in 12,000 schools across the nation via a documentary created by Channel One News, more than 300,000 students via in-school presentations and more than 70,000 students in San Diego via a live program, teaching hope, personal responsibility and forgiveness.

One of the several programs run by TKF is the Violence Impact Forum, a unique and powerful school-based violence prevention education program for students in the 4th -12th grades. The assembly includes a high-impact video with powerful speakers and lively student audience participation, focusing on the personal story of Tariq Khamisa, Tony Hicks and the lifelong consequences of one deadly choice.

Grogan sees SDSVP’s support as critical to TKF’s national aspirations. “When I came here I took the philosophy of running a nonprofit as much like a business as possible, and the idea of SDSVP is to marry corporate business strategy to the heart of a nonprofit for success.”

Having helped nearly 20,000 kids so far this year just in San Diego, managing a budget of $1.8 million and a staff of 12 permanament full time and 38 AmeriCorps Mentors, Grogan is well-positioned to lead TKF to national prominence – but with the help of the experts at SDSVP. “There is a monetary component to SDSVP, but the biggest value to us is working with all these incredible people and gaining the expertise the Partners have to move us to the next level.”


Quick 5 with Lisa Grogan

What have you read lately? Good to Great by Jim Collins, Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell

What is on your iPod? Kings of Leon, Lucinda Williams, Dave Matthews Band, Bob Marley, Pink

What do you watch? The First 48, Gangland, Discovery Channel, History Channel

If you could live somewhere else for 2 years, where would it be and why? I would buy a RV, live in it and travel the country for 2 years. There are so many sights, sounds, smells, and people I would love to experience around our great country. It would be a blast!

What do you do for fun? Travel to Mexico, going to concerts and going camping and fishing.

CSH Supportive Housing Award

By Simonne Ruff, Director of CSH San Diego

For the first time ever, Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) San Diego sponsored a Supportive Housing Award at the San Diego Housing Federation 14th Annual Affordable Housing and Community Development Recognition Awards, with the theme of "Honoring Commitment to Community." This new award is one of the critical elements of a marketing plan that CSH developed in close partnership with SDSVP. The celebration enabled CSH to reach over 400 affordable housing developers, reinforcing our messages about supportive housing in the development community. In fact, CSH was pleased to see the committee couldn’t just decide on one winner. Two Supportive Housing Award winners were recognized at the event: The San Diego Regional Continuum of Care and Supportive Housing developer Kimberly Russell-Shaw.

The San Diego Regional Continuum of Care Council (RCCC) is comprised of broad and diverse social service providers representing local governments, community based organizations, homeless advocates, policy and planning groups, and others interested in lessening the negative impact of homelessness on individuals, families, and communities. The RCCC brought $14.2 million in annual HUD funding to the region and received maximum Shelter Plus Care and Supportive Housing Program funds in 2008. Patricia Leslie, coordinator of the RCCC and social work professor at Pt. Loma Nazarene University, received the award on behalf of the Continuum of Care.

Another deserving award recipient of the CSH Supportive Housing Award was Kimberly Russell-Shaw, Executive Director of The Association for Community Housing Solutions (TACHS). Under her leadership, TACHS developed over 140 units of permanent supportive housing for low-income San Diegans with mental illness. While successfully managing a portfolio of rehab projects, master leased units, and new construction, TACHS had to overcome significant NIMBY ("Not In My Backyard") issues. Ms. Shaw has served not only as a project manager, but also as an advocate, defender of rights, and educator for neighbors about special needs populations. She is an inspirational leader and pioneer in providing supportive housing.

Community Resource Center Builds on Strengths

By Laurin Pause, Executive Director of CRC

What a difference a year makes!

With our first year with San Diego Social Venture Partners behind us and our operating infrastructure in place, Community Resource Center (CRC) ventured out to complete its strategic planning process and initiate goals to improve its Thrift Store revenue base and delivery of direct services to its clients. Little did we know that CRC would be facing one of its biggest challenges in 2008 with the advent of the economic crisis. After just one month of entering into a lease to relocate and expand its primary Thrift Store in Encinitas and dramatically increasing its food outreach programs, CRC experienced sharp declines in public donations and private foundations. CRC’s management was equipped to face these challenges head on and restructured many of its programs and staffing assignments which ultimately reduced annual operating costs by over $400,000.

At the same time, CRC was struggling with its strategic plan. A vision for the organization had been established the previous year yet the organization was unable to execute the vision. With the leadership of SDSVP Partner Sherri Neasham, along with the growing needs of our client base, CRC’s management had several “A-HA” moments and was able to define its strengths and a vision to define a model that assisted clients to a path of self- sufficiency using the organization’s strengths and tools that were already in existence. Even before its Strategic Outcome Plan was complete, CRC was incorporating these concepts into proposals which have already produced new funding and contract awards for the organization. With its mission and programs now aligned to provide “Safety, Stability and a Path to Self-Sufficiency”, CRC has established a strategic relationship with the County to deliver food programs and services to families in the North County and is currently poised to take the lead on securing funding for North County under the Economic Stimulus package.

Discovery Team - July 2009

The Discovery Team is currently preparing the way for SDSVP's next successful investment by providing the data our Partners need to choose winning Investees.

The team heard from 4 industry experts in the field of Education. Then they reviewed the issues discovered and conclusions drawn from discussions with the expert panelists. Currently they are deciding how to frame SDSVP's investment offer to agencies throughout San Diego.

More details to come!

Join us for the Investment Working Group Kick-Off on Tues, Sept. 22
6:00-7:00 PM - New Partner Orientation
7:00-9:00 PM - All Partners

Partners interested in joining the Investment Working Group for the 2009-2010 cycle, please contact mandy@sdsvp.org.

SDSVP Sizzles at Summer Party and Annual Meeting

Thank you to Diane and David Zeiger for hosting the SDSVP Summer Party and Annual Meeting at their beautiful home at The Bridges! Partners and guests enjoyed beautiful weather, great conversation, a delicious fresh summer fare, and updates from SDSVP.

Highlights include:

• The Bingham Stone Award was presented to Partner, Joyce Ross to honor her outstanding leadership skills, commitment and “no BS” attitude.
• The 2009-10 SDSVP Advisory Board was introduced. Welcome new Board members, JoAnne Berg, Linda Bernstein, Peg Eddy, David Lynn, and Steve Ness.
• SDSVP announced its two new Investees serving youth and children, A Reason to Survive (ARTS) and Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF). Click here to view more party pictures.

Meet SDSVP Investee, ARTS Founder & Director, Matt D’Arrigo!

By Paul Thiel

It took Matt D’Arrigo nearly a decade to realize his dreams of creating ARTS. Nearly another decade was spent establishing the organization as one of the most respected non-profits in San Diego. And, with the help of San Diego Social Venture Partners, the next decade will be spent expanding his mission and mandate.

“What we are really trying to do now is to strengthen what we have,” says D’Arrigo of ARTS, an acronym that stands for ‘A Reason to Survive.’ “But the dream is eventually to expand and replicate the organization.”

ARTS is D’Arrigo’s brainchild and passion. Children facing life’s most difficult challenges participate with ARTS to heal, inspire and empower themselves through art. Working in the field at places such as Rady’s Children’s Hospital or at the ARTS facility and headquarters in Point Loma, kids escape their circumstances by losing themselves in painting, music or any number of other arts forms.

ARTS is one of SDSVP’s newest Investees, having just begun working with Lead Partners Scott Tritt and Angela Hill.

D’Arrigo conceived the idea for ARTS in 1992, when his mother and sister were both diagnosed with cancer. A freshman in college in Alabama at the time, he returned home to Boston to help care for them, where he discovered the power of art. “I used to escape to my room to paint and listen to music. It was very cathartic. I thought that if it worked for me it could work for others, especially kids. That was the seed.”

Over the next nine years – while his mother died and his sister recovered – D’Arrigo worked in several jobs where he learned about running a business. In 2001 he founded ARTS, working out of his house and visiting kids at places such as the Ronald McDonald House.

These days ARTS has a budget of $800,000, a staff of eight and a beautiful 7,000-square-foot studio at the NTC Promenade on Point Loma, near his home. Since its inception ARTS has worked with more than 45,000 kids, and its mission has expanded from working with terminally ill children to working with kids facing many challenges, from abuse to homelessness to illness to foster care to the loss of a parent. Some kids participate with ARTS just once or twice, while others come for months or years.

The Pat D’Arrigo ARTS Center at NTC Promenade in Point Loma is named for his mother, Patricia, and provides a pleasing, peaceful place for kids to create. “It is important to take the kids physically and mentally out of their environment. The kids deserve to be at a nice place, and they love it.”

D’Arrigo had known about SDSVP for several years and was queued to apply once the focus of the organization was children. So far, he says, it’s been a great experience. “Money is one thing, and is great and needed, but there is a great need for human resources and leadership…people who know what they are doing,” says D’Arrigo, who is learning to live with SDSVP at the same time he is learning to live with a new baby. D’Arrigo and his wife, Hulya, welcomed Andrew in June. The couple also has a 2-year-old daughter, Tessa.

“A couple of current Investees told me it was a really intense process,” D’Arrigo says. “But SDSVP is very open to getting feedback and changing and adapting to what the nonprofit needs. That was a bit of a surprise to me, and it’s the sign of a great organization.”

Among the challenges D’Arrigo needs help with is the perception of affluence. Because of the facility on Point Loma and the press ARTS has received, people assume the organization is flush with cash. “We are struggling like everyone else,” he says. “One of the things we are looking at with [SDSVP Lead Partner] Angela [Hill] is how we re-position ourselves to show that we are not flush and we do need support.”

D’Arrigo also plans to tap SDSVP’s thinking on succession planning. “I don’t want ARTS to be so dependent on me,” he says, “I want to be able to spend time on replicating and expanding.”

Finally, D’Arrigo expects that SDSVP will help with earned income, through social enterprise – possible renting out the ARTS studios when not in use and other such potential revenue streams.

Like most fortunate non-profit leaders, D’Arrigo finds his work highly rewarding. “The best part of my job is working with the kids,” he says. “Seeing them having fun being kids again is great. Most of these kids have had their childhoods taken away from them.”


Quick 4 with Matt D’Arrigo:

What have you read lately?

9 Things a Leader Must Do (Dr. Henry Cloud), Managing Uncertainty (Harvard Business Review),

What's on your iPod?

Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews, Brett Dennen,

What do you watch?

The Office, Daily Show, News, Discovery Channel

If you could live somewhere else for two years, where would it be? Why?

Turkey. It’s where my wife is from. We have been there for vacation but I would love to live there to learn and live the culture a bit more. They have a house on a small island off Istanbul where there are no cars – just bikes and horse drawn carriages. It’s a very peaceful place to go lose yourself for a while.

SDSVP Business Operations Resource Team Update - June 2009

Here is a quick update of "what's happening" with the SDSVP Business Operations Resource Team and an idea of some upcoming opportunities:

• Andy Rinde and JoAnne Berg are working with ARTS on a Business Operations Review and several related projects.
• David Johnson is consulting with the Corporation for Supportive Housing on staffing and outsourcing issues.
• David Lynn referred an outside agency, the Community Christian Service Agency, which has requested a board level presentation on "Managing in Tough Economic Times" and "Developing a Vision for the Future".
• A Business Operations Review is planned for mid-July for La Cuna.
• Peggy Kidd has sent information about the Team to several former investees who may need our help.
• Phyllis Huckabee has drafted a terrific Human Resources Capacity Evaluation checklist.
• Joyce Ross assisted Angels with their search for a new Director of Development, including participating in interviews.
• JoAnne Berg is consulting with investees Angels and Elderhelp, assisting in their staff training and financial statement preparation.
• JoAnne Berg made a Board presentation to Angels on "Reading and Understanding your Financial Statements" and met with the Finance Committee of Elderhelp to review their year to date results.
• Bill Hahn is working with LaCuna, providing a top-level CFO type review of their financials each month before they go to the Board.
• Sherri Neasham is coordinating a "forum" of lead partners and resource team heads to meet and brainstorm about what's going on with our investees and make sure that the resource teams are coordinating their efforts.

We have room for many more Partners on our team. If you're interested in getting involved, please email Resource Team Chair JoAnne Berg at joanneberg@gmail.com.

Angels Foster Family Network Accomplishments

Third-Year Investee, Angels Foster Family Network will be graduating from SDSVP in June. Founder and Director, Cathy Richmond gave a final presentation at the June First Friday to discuss the growth of the agency and the incredible results of our partnership with them. Congrats to Angels on a successful partnership with San Diego Social Venture Partners! Thanks for all you do for our little ones and for being such a dynamic leader in the community!

Read below to learn more about Angels’s capacity building and program accomplishments.

Capacity Building Accomplishments

• Increased Staff and Budget
• Engaged and active Board of 17 members, well-functioning committees
• By-laws revised
• Larger and more attractive office space
• Financial reporting and control systems in place
• Consistent branding through UCSD Marketing class and SVP assistance
• Website revised, functions as main foster family recruitment source
• Evaluation Study conducted by Children’s Hospital, demonstrated positive, measurable outcomes
• Strategic Planning Process in place
• Fund Development Plan created with case statement
• More stable funding base (individual donors and foundations that give funds in consistent years)

Program Accomplishments

Growth in Babies Placed

• Year 1 – 33 babies
• Year 2 – 64 babies
• Year 3 – 54 babies (as of May 31)

Growth in Foster Familes Certified

• Year 1 – 9 certified
• Year 2 – 29 certified
• Year 3 - 18 certfied (As of May 31)

Growth in Revenue

Revenue generated in Calendar Year:

• Year 2006 $298,480
• Year 2007 $317,812
• Year 2008: $387,168
• Five months into May 2009: $210,753

SDSVP Partner Support

• Accounting & Financial Management - JoAnne Berg
• Bookkeeping set-up (in house) – Lenore Hawkins
• Board Development and By-Laws Revision - Joyce Ross, Richard Bockoff and Gary Kloehn
• Marketing and Mission – Richard Bockoff , Alan Sorkin, Sherri Neasham and Amy Larson
• Executive Selection - Joyce Ross
• Grant Assistance – Callie Craig
• Event Support – Diane Wintress and Amy Larson
• SVP Liaison - Peggy Kidd
• Lead Partners – Amy Larson and Joyce Ross

Social Venture Partners Gave $3.4 Million in Grants and Thousands of Hours in Volunteer Service to 132 Nonprofit Organizations in 2008

Social Venture Partners International (SVPI) announced its latest numbers associated with organizational growth, grant making and volunteer service. Based on 2008 affiliate network data and capacity building outcomes, the network contributed $3.4 million to 132 nonprofits in 2008. SVP Partners also contributed thousands of hours of volunteer service to nonprofits in cities throughout North America and Japan.

A key finding from the report on capacity building is that nonprofit organizations funded by SVP gave an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5.0 when asked to rate the value of Partner time and talent in helping an organization build its capacity.

San Diego Social Venture Partners (SDSVP) is one of 24 chapters in the SVP network. SDSVP Partners currently make grants and provide business expertise to nonprofit organizations in the San Diego community serving youth and children, the elderly, and the homeless. In 2008, SDSVP gave $193,000 to 6 nonprofits along with 13,000 hours of volunteer service. Since 2001, San Diego Partners have given more than $1.45 million in grants to local recipients.

“SVP Partners were more engaged in 2008 than any year to date,” says Peggy Kidd, Executive Director at San Diego Social Venture Partners. “Despite the economic downturn, people are eager to get involved in their communities and give more than a financial contribution to a cause. The data shows new people are joining SVP because they see its model as a proven and effective way to make a difference.”

Fundamental to the SVP model is engagement in which members give of their time, professional experience and creativity to work in partnership with nonprofits and local leaders to meet community needs. Therefore, cash grants are only a portion of the value that grant recipients gain through their relationship with SVP. Partners also volunteer professional skills and strategic counsel to help nonprofits build capacity and make vital connections within the community. This level of engagement translates to a high level of satisfaction among donors/volunteers throughout the SVP network which is comprised of 24 affiliates in the United States, Canada and Tokyo.

“I think SDSVP is a place where people can contribute a little money and some time in a meaningful way to help the San Diego community,” said Alan Sorkin, SDSVP Partner and SVP International President-Elect. “It is extremely rewarding. Whatever you contribute, you will get back many times over.”

The total number of grants awarded by an SVP affiliate in 2008 ranged from $25,000 to $855,500, with a median of $115,000. Since its inception in 1997, the SVP network has made $32.2 million in grant investments to 335 nonprofit organizations.

About San Diego SVP
San Diego Social Venture Partners (SDSVP) develops philanthropy and volunteerism for the purpose of positive social change in San Diego County. Using the venture capital approach – contributing expertise, time and money – we are committed to creating partnerships that build successful and sustainable nonprofit organizations. To learn more about SDSVP, please visit http://www.sdsvp.org/.

About Social Venture Partners International
Social Venture Partners International (SVPI) is the membership association for Social Venture Partners – an international network comprised of 2,000 accomplished individuals who combine their professional skills and financial contributions with a passion for philanthropy. Partners belong to local SVP affiliates and SVPI supports each affiliate by providing technology, professional development, an annual conference and peer networking opportunities designed to share knowledge and promote best practices throughout the network. The Social Venture Partners network currently has 24 affiliates located throughout the United States, Canada and Tokyo. To learn about starting an SVP affiliate in your city or for more information on Social Venture Partners, please visit http://www.svpi.org/.

Magnifying SDSVP’s Impact

This past year, SDSVP has created 5 best practices capacity assessment checklists which have proven quite useful for our Investees and other nonprofits in San Diego. As other SVPI affiliates have asked for copies, we have been looking for an efficient way to extend the scope of our impact to help the broader nonprofit community.

A newly launched San Diego social venture provided the solution. IdeaEncore Network is peer-to-peer, on-line learning marketplace (like Amazon or eBay) for nonprofits and those who support them to share, sell, and buy all types and forms of practical knowledge and information assets. Almost anything nonprofits might need can be shared and found - including ready-to-use tools, templates, grant proposals, grant tracking tools, training content, policies, procedures and plans. Started by Scott Bechtler-Levin (co-founder of Pacific Ridge School and technology entrepreneur) and Flo Green (recently retired ED for the California Association of Nonprofits), the website launched in February and has quickly attracted quality content and the attention of nonprofit executives around the country.

Checkout SDSVP’s “Best Practices Checklists.” Just a week since we posted these checklists, 180 nonprofits from across the country have already viewed them and 2 organizations have bought the “bundle” for $45 each. So, with very little effort, SDSVP has created our own social enterprise while helping spread our mission to other nonprofit communities. Sharing documented knowledge is another great way SDSVP is increasing the return on our philanthropic investments. Everyone wins!

Meet Partner, Angela Hill!

By Paul Thiel

When Angela Hill engages with a client she follows an unusual path for a creative agency owner: she works through a deliberate and structured branding analysis of the client firm to develop their personality, promise and positioning. One she and the client have agreement on those attributes, she says, she can be highly efficient in producing designs that the client will love. The secret is alignment.

“Most creative agencies use what I call the ‘spaghetti method:’ they throw a bunch of designs up and hope something sticks,” says Hill, owner of San Diego-based Incitrio, who says that as a result of such haphazard processes, final logo design can easily take a dozen back-and-forths between agency and client before a final design is selected. In contrast, Incitrio’s clients usually settle on a design in just two or three rounds. “When you have agreement on your personality, promise and positioning prior to design, the process always goes much more smoothly.”

Such a structured approach to business is one of the things Hill loves about San Diego Social Venture Partners. The group’s thoughtful deliberation and structured processes resonate with Hill. Hill became involved with SDSVP after meeting Alan Sorkin at the American Marketing Association Cause Conference. Her firm designed SDSVP's annual report for the past two years, and she eventually became a Partner. “What I really like about SDSVP is that there are really strong processes that support any action the group takes,” she says.

“You get to work with talented, dedicated and knowledgeable people who are coming together for non-profits,” says Hill. “It’s not just money, and it’s not just expertise, but it’s the collaboration of the two coming together that creates great results.”

Hill started her branding agency Incitrio in 2004, after a series of design and computer positions in San Diego, San Francisco and her native St. Louis. Her trek to design was highly unusual: she used to be a computer nerd! “I did programming in grade school and high school, and programmed my own games,” she says, adding that teaching FORTRAN to engineering students was one of the things that helped pay her way through college at Washington University in St. Louis.

Now that computer gaming is a red-hot industry, does Hill regret abandoning it? Not at all, she says, citing the archetypal working conditions of the gaming industry. “I really like computers, but I don’t like living and working in a cave. I realized I am a social person and that I would never be happy spending all day in the dark.”

After working several post-graduation jobs, Hill decided she needed to escape Missouri: “I am a very open, creative and accepting person, and in St. Louis there tend to be a lot of very conservative close-minded people,” she says. “I did not belong in St. Louis.”

After attending a conference in San Francisco and falling in love with the city, she moved there without a job or a home. Answering an ad, she within a week became a computer services manager at a Kinko’s, where she honed her technology, design and business management skills. In addition to managing technology, Hill was put in charge of a 10-person internal design shop that became the 3rd largest in the chain, generating $100,000 in revenue a month.

Eventually moving on, Hill worked for several firms where she did design work for companies such as Intel, Ford, Sega, Hallmark, Williams Sonoma, Foster Farms, Visa, Sun Microsystems and Merrill Lynch.

Hill met her future husband, real estate developer Daniel Kornbluth, in San Francisco and moved back to his hometown of San Diego to get married and start a family. It was here, that after receiving what she considered an extremely low offer of partnership at a design firm, she decided to strike out on her own.

Hill’s big break came just six months after she started when she acquired the business of another design firm, whose husband-and-wife owners were divorcing and leaving the area. The couple’s primary concern was design consistency, and Hill’s designs fit well with theirs. Incitrio took over the business and grew exponentially.

Business takes a great deal of Hill’s time, but she treasures her time at home with her husband and boys, Max, 7, and Sammy, 5. The family enjoys Disneyland once a month and hiking every other week at Torrey Pines, and on a random trail on the weekends in between. On Saturday mornings, you’ll often find her singing and dancing with the kids playing air instruments for their imaginary fans, while Daniel cooks up a hearty breakfast in the kitchen nearby.

When she’s not busy, singing rock ballads with the kids, she enjoys singing opera at home or in the car. “I am a classically trained coloratura soprano,” says Hill, who has sung Italian Opera. “It’s funny because my kids tell me to stop singing and my husband tells them they don’t know how lucky they are to have a mother who can actually sing on pitch!”

Angels Places 300th Foster Baby

On Track to reach record goal for 2009

San Diego, CA – This week the Angels Foster Family Network placed its 300th foster baby. Angels is on track to place more than 60 foster babies this year – a record for Angels. The organization is also celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

“This is a great way to kick-off National Foster Care Month by celebrating our 300th placement,” said Angels Founder, Cathy Richman. “But baby number 300 isn't just a number, she isn't just another child we tally up along with the other 299 babies placed thus far. She trembles from the agony of withdrawals her little body must ward off from her exposure in the womb to toxic drugs. She is now safe from further harm with her Angels foster parents.”

This newborn baby girl went home to Jim and Janet O’Leary. The O’Leary family became foster parents with Angels because “We wanted to do something meaningful. Angels really touched our hearts and we knew this is what we had to do.”

As mentioned above, May is National Foster Care Month (www.nationalfostercare.org). There are more than 7,000 children in the San Diego County foster care system, one third whom are under the age of three. The distinctive Angels program is the only California licensed foster agency that focuses on and exclusively meets the critical needs for babies from newborn to 24 months.

Angels placed its first baby in 1999 and this year will celebrate its 10th year of rescuing babies who have fallen victim to neglect and abuse.

Learn more about Angels at www.angelsfoster.com.

Meet Program Associate, Mandy Sherlock!

By Paul Thiel

San Diego Social Venture Partners hear about each other every month in the newsletter. But what about the people who keep the programs moving forward every day – the professional staff? This month we decided to spend a few minutes with Mandy Sherlock, SDSVP’s Program Associate.

Having spent her career specializing in children with special challenges – she came to her present position last year after working as a teacher and sign language interpreter for the Los Angeles Unified School District – SDSVP is a natural fit. “I envision SDSVP making a deeper commitment to the area of youth and children in San Diego,” she says, adding that one of her most rewarding experiences so far has been her work with this year’s Investment Team, a group that selected SDSVP’s two new Investees who help children facing life-threatening challenges.

A native of Carlsbad where her mother owned a dance studio, Mandy left home in 1996 to go to Texas Christian University, which Charger fans will recognize as the place where another prominent San Diegan – LaDainian Tomlinson – attended college. In fact, football was one of the things that attracted Mandy to TCU: It was a small school that nonetheless fields a Division 1-A football team.

At TCU Mandy was on the dance team and earned a degree in Deaf Education before coming back to California. For the next several years she worked in the deaf community at the National Center on Deafness at California State University Northridge and LAUSD.

Introduced to the deaf community by an aunt who was an interpreter, Mandy loved her work but saw an opportunity to return to San Diego with SDSVP. She remains involved in the community, however, with friends. Mandy is part of a group that travels to Big Bear annually for scrapbooking. “It’s like silent weekend,” she says. “Everyone is signing. No one is talking.”

At SDSVP, Mandy does a little bit of a lot of things, ranging from handling the database, web site and intranet to the newsletters, events, the annual report and administrative chores. “My favorite part of the job is getting to interact with Partners,” she says. “They are such brilliant people who want to make an impact and create social change. It is very inspiring to see them at work.”

When not working, Mandy continues to dance (ballet, jazz and hip-hop) and spend time with her dog, Rylee. “She’s a spaniel mix and a rescue dog,” says Mandy. “She is my baby. She is with me all the time.”

That will change for at least a couple of weeks this September, when Mandy heads to Kenya to work with the deaf and abandoned street children. Long interested in the East African republic – she sponsors a boy there and exchanges letters with him throughout the year – Mandy is in the process of raising $3,000 to pay for the two-week trip. “Kenya has always had a special place in my heart,” Mandy says. “So when this opportunity came up I knew I had to go.”

SDSVP Investee Emeritus - Human Development Foundation’s Open Gate

Grooming the Young, Gifted and Disadvantaged

From Voice of San Diego
March 29, 2009

Brandon Tamariz was once deemed a problem student. He cried and screamed before going to school, racked up bad grades, and complained that other children called him "un tonto" -- a fool. His mother, Norma Perez, worried that he might have a learning disability. It turned out he was highly gifted….The story might have ended there had it not been for an unusual program called Open Gate, which aims to chip away at the underrepresentation of students from disadvantaged families in programs for gifted youth.

Click here to read the full article.

SDSVP Investee Emeritus - Second Chance on KPBS Radio

From KPBS.org
April 13, 2009

There are some people and some programs that are trying to chip away at the system and make a difference. One such program, Prisoner Re-entry Employment Program is in San Diego and its run by a local organization called Second Chance. Last year, KPBS talked with Scott Silverman, founder and executive director of the Second Chance program, and Regina Nolte-Ware, a graduate of Second Chance's Prisoner Reentry Employment Program.

Click here to read more and listen to the broadcast.

Social Network with SDSVP!

San Diego Social Venture Partners has joined the online world of social media networking! Maybe you’re wondering…what is social media? You may have heard of social media networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. Social media combines technology and social interaction with the sharing of words, pictures, video and audio. Rather, social media is a conversation that happens online. Why join in? We want to keep you up-to-date with the latest SDSVP news, allow you to build better connections with like-minded people and inspire you to action!

Click on the links to join the SDSVP Groups on Facebook and LinkedIn and follow us on Twitter!

SDSVP Selects New Investees!

SDSVP is thrilled to announce our two newest Investees, A Reason To Survive (ARTS) and the Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF)!

The Investment Working Group (IWG) worked very diligently this year in selecting SDSVP’s two new Investees in the area of youth and children. The process was exciting and the Partners were passionate in looking for the perfect fit for us to lend our time, expertise and resources. The IWG divided into teams and reviewed 42 Letters of Intents, then regrouped and requested 16 organizations to submit proposals. After a thorough review, we requested 8 nonprofits to make a presentation, then we conducted 6 site visits and selected two incredible organizations. Hats off to Joyce Ross, Sherri Neasham and the entire IWG team for a job well done! Partners, your investment will go a long way with these two groups… let us tell you more about them.

ARTS focuses on empowering children facing life challenges to unleash their creative abilities and discover hidden talent to boost self-esteem and propel them to future success.

TKF envisions a world free from youth violence, using a powerful, personal story to motivate students in schools to realize that personal responsibility and respect are the foundation for building strong neighborhoods and strong communities.

In addition to a financial commitment over the next 3 years, each organization will benefit from gifts of Partners’ time and expertise to assist with strategic planning, financial review, technology implementation and publicity to insure their growth and sustainability.

SDSVP’s unique model for long-term success is especially crucial today, as the current economic downturn is requiring all organizations – especially non-profits – to do more with less.

Our passionate and dynamic Partners continue to make a difference for our Investees and San Diego by leveraging their decades of business and community leadership, cementing SDSVP’s position as a leader in the philanthropic community.

Thanks to Wendy Gibson, Lead Partner for TKF, and Scott Tritt, Lead Partner for ARTS. There are lots of opportunities to get involved this year, so please contact Wendy or Scott if you’re interested.

Social Media for SDSVP

We are pleased to announce that SDSVP is in the process of developing and integrating an online marketing and social media campaign as we rebrand ourselves and begin to develop our new website. Please stay tuned for more updates as we continue to evolve our online strategies.

Investment Team Update - March 2009

The Investment Team selected two nonprofit organizations to become SDSVP's 2009 Investees. This year's cycle was one of the best yet! The decision process was tough as all the applicants were top notch and doing great work in the community with youth and children. The two new Investees will be announced in May.

Historic Senate Vote in Favor Serve America Act

By Stacy Caldwell, Executive Director of Dallas Social Venture Partners

Last week on Capital Hill, Social Venture Partners successfully helped gain the attention of the Senate to add the National Capacity Building Act and the Social Innovation Fund to the Serve America Act. I want to alert everyone that the hard work of our social sector has paid off! Now that the senate has passed the Serve America Act, it will go back to the House to reconcile any differences and then send over to President Obama to sign into law.

These two amendments are potentially VERY important to our SVP work (see descriptions below). The Nonprofit Capacity Building Act promotes federal dollars distributed in our communities to help build non-profit capacity. These funds would be available to non-federal grantmaking organizations to match grant dollars to help build capacity in the nonprofit sector. This could be an opportunity to find matching dollars for the work we already do!

The Service Nation Coalition says it is “a historic vote in the United States Senate authorizing the Serve America Act- the largest expansion of national and community service in this country since the 1930s. The bill was passed by an overwhelmingly bi-partisan vote of 78 to 20. In addition to earning the support of the entire Democratic caucus and two Independents, the bill was also supported by a majority of the Republican caucus. What this represents, beyond broad recognition that service is a critical strategy in addressing our most pressing challenges, is the opportunity to move our country's national and community service program forward in a powerful way that is fully embraced by both parties.”

Thank you to everyone who took an interest in this work, picked up the phone, and made your voice heard.

I feel so optimistic to see a piece of legislation that puts the best we have to offer to work for our Country!

Well Done!

National Capacity Building Act
Creates an innovative $25 million fund in the budget of the Corporation for National and Community Service to make matching grants to intermediary nonprofit training and technical assistance entities. Those intermediaries will then provide organizational development assistance (training and technical assistance for capacity building) to small and midsize nonprofits, especially those in areas where nonprofits face "significant resource hardship challenges." Nonprofit intermediaries would need to secure a non-federal 50% match to be eligible for a grant. http://www.cctv.org/news/senator-baucus-introduces-nonprofit-capacity-building-act-2009-1

Social Innovation Fund
A public-private social innovation fund can leverage taxpayer dollars with private funds to make resources available for funding social-entrepreneurial solutions. Creating a fund specifically designated to advance social entrepreneurship would enable government to follow a performance-based model for investment, not unlike venture capital funds, to both seed and scale initiatives. The two related models to follow show how such a fund could work structurally and operationally.
http://www.socialedge.org/blogs/government-engagement/topics/social%20innovation%20fund

Meet Partner, Louarn Sorkin!

By Paul Thiel

San Diego native Louarn Sorkin and her husband Alan, a transplant from Chicago, were very intrigued when they were first introduced to the concept of Social Venture Partners nearly a decade ago. She was frustrated with the level of philanthropy in San Diego and “SDSVP was a delightfully creative idea,” says Louarn. “Pooling money and giving expertise – it just sounded like a great concept.”

That was the beginning of San Diego Social Venture Partners, as the Sorkin’s helped to launch the group locally in 2001. Alan is now chairman of Social Venture Partners International, while both he and Louarn remain deeply involved in San Diego philanthropy.

“Much of the appeal of the Social Venture Partner model was the opportunity to play an ongoing role,” says Louarn, who spent most of her career as a corporate trainer in the real estate, securities and insurance businesses. “It wouldn’t be just writing a check to a nonprofit organization,” she says, “but writing a check and having a part in their growth and sustainability.”

That ongoing relationship is a key point of the value of SDSVP. Louarn says she is particularly impressed with the SDSVP Partners’ expertise and expanded services through the resource teams and their goal to help our nonprofits grow become sustainable and strategic.

Part of her role as a member of the Investment Working Group is helping determine which candidates are the best fits. “One of the most important things we need to know is if the nonprofit organization is coachable,” she says. “Do they only want our money or do they also want our expertise?”

Social Venture Partners has grown since it began, but is staying true to its mission, Louarn says. “It’s morphing a bit, however it is all about the same theme: making good choices about investing in the nonprofit organizations of San Diego County,” she says. “Because of our experience with SDSVP, Alan and I feel much better equipped to make wise choices as to whom we give our time and money.” Louarn served as the Social Chairman for five years, planning quarterly parties, and has served on the Investment Working Group, fund development, board development working groups and the nominating committee.

In addition to being one of the Founding Partners of SDSVP, Louarn also co-founded Just in Time For Foster Youth, a nonprofit organization that furnishes apartments and dorm rooms for young adults who are transitioning from foster care to independent life on their own. After serving on their board for four years and organizing their fundraising events, she transitioned off the board to serve as their advisor. Louarn served two terms as the board president of the La Jolla Guild for the San Diego Opera, and has been involved with many charitable organizations such as St. Germaine Children’s Charity, the Salvation Army Woman’s Auxiliary, Country Friends, San Diego Opera Counsel of Guilds, San Diego Grantmakers, the Single Professional Society for the Performing Arts, Friends of Children and several groups working with abused children.

In March, Louarn was honored by being named a “Woman of Distinction” at the 44th Annual Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Luncheon. “I like to fly beneath the radar,” she says, “however this was a wonderful honor.” She also received the 10News Leadership Award for her charitable work in San Diego. “So much for flying under the radar!”

Louarn’s philanthropic activities were one of the things that led her to Alan, who was also deeply involved in San Diego’s philanthropic scene.

Alan and Louarn met on a blind date, to which both consented to only after the nagging of their friends. Neither liking the idea of a blind date, they agreed to meet once and talk business only, Louarn says. Turned out their friends were right about the match, and now the pair enjoy occasionally matchmaking for other friends – for romance and business. “We are connectors,” says Louarn”. “We love to connect people and resources.”

The pair stay connected to each other in part by extensive traveling, with a particular focus on river rafting around the world. Among their favorite venues: the Kicking Horse River in the Canadian Rockies.

They also love commuting to Boise to visit Louarn’s son, Craig, daughter-in-law, Wendy and granddaughters, Rileigh, 5-years old and Parker, 8 months old. Alan has two daughters, Jillian and Lainie, with a new granddaughter due in September.

Boise, Louarn says, reminds her of long ago San Diego. “It is just delightful up there,” she says, “it’s like San Diego in the ‘60s. Everyone knows each other, you can walk the streets safely at night and they still have a lot of street fairs and family activities.”

When back in San Diego, Louarn has two unusual hobbies: crocheting hats and scarves and rescuing rabbits.

From 2005 until 2007, Louarn crocheted more than 200 hats and scarves that were distributed through the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary for seniors, homeless and transitioning foster youth. In 2008, she institutionalized the practice by starting the “Creative Yarn Group” organization to crochet hats and scarves for the 2008 holiday season. She set a group goal of 300 and the group exceeded that their goal by creating 342 items. This year they have added children going through chemotherapy for cancer as recipients of the “wild colored” crocheted hats.

And the rabbits. “Yes, we have a house rabbit – she weighs less than three pounds, is litter box trained and eats food out of a little rabbit shaped bowl,” Louarn says of her eighth rescued bunny. “She is basic black with a tremendous amount of attitude, so we call her Coco Chanel.”

Investment Working Group Update - February 2009

At the Investment Working Group meeting on February 17th, the final four agencies made presentations. At the end of the meeting, the committee decided to make site visits to 6 agencies. On March 17th, the Investment Working Group will make the final decision on the 2 agencies who will become SDSVP's 2009 Investees.

Meet Partner, Scott Tritt!

By Paul Thiel

Formerly a television news producer – the guy who decides what gets on the news and what doesn’t – Scott Tritt knows the power of publicity. And that’s a power he intends to bring on behalf of SDSVP Investees.

“My background in public relations and media is something non-profits can make use of,” says Tritt, who worked in television news in Los Angeles, Monterrey and Bakersfield in addition to San Diego. “I’m certainly willing to help wherever I am needed, but I suspect that’s where I will start.”

Among the highlights of Tritt’s media career was reporting on the first Gulf War, which was started and largely took place at night. He was working the normally quiet overnight shift at his station. “What otherwise would have been a very boring job was one of my best experiences,” he says.

Tritt started working for non-profits with the Disability Awareness Network. “The group works to help people understand people with disabilities and discredits stereotypes like blind people can’t cook and people in wheelchairs can’t drive,” says Tritt.

Over time his interests grew and he saw that other non-profits had needs. Tritt wanted to become involved in more things, but needed a framework. “SDSVP appealed to me because it gives organization and structure to my volunteer time,” he says. “To a large degree the appeal of SDSVP lies in the fact that it reaches across many types of non-profits.”

Tritt was born and raised in Glendale and attended college at Claremont McKenna. It was a college friend – ironically someone who is not associated with SDSVP – that turned him on to the group. He joined last month, adding that the social networking with other Partners was an important part of the appeal.

Tritt enjoys eating out (among his favorites: Piatti in La Jolla Shores) and following Kobe Bryant and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers. Earlier in life he was a trumpeter. “My trumpet is still in Glendale,” says Tritt, “so if there is a desire to put together a band for SDSVP, I could probably be recruited!”

Welcome to the team, Scott!

La Cuna Overhalls Website

I wanted to say a huge THANKS to SDSVP for forwarding my name to SDSU’s Entrepreneurial Management Center. WOW, has Bernie and his team done an impressive job at very thoughtfully updating our website. Down to the little details, they really have done a complete overhaul so that it is far more helpful in allowing us to achieve our two critical goals that all other needs fall under at La Cuna--- finding parents and funding. His multidisciplinary team was totally on the ball and had very professional skills. We hustled, and we got the whole project done in 6 weeks, which took a lot of work, including some weekend work. They took the project incredibly seriously and came to the table with a lot of talent.

Any nonprofit that is chosen to work with them is incredibly fortunate.

Again, thank you!!!

Rachel Humphreys
Founder/Executive Director, La Cuna Inc.
http://www.lacuna.org/

Angels Recruiting Through Website

By Monica Schrader - Executive Director, Angels Foster Family Network

When San Diego Social Venture Partners notified Angels Foster Family Network of their three-year grant award, founder Cathy Richman knew exactly how to put that funding to good use. Angels immediately hired a web designer to overhaul their web site with a fresh new look and feel as well as improved flow. The primary goal for the website was to recruit new foster families.

Angel’s mission is to rescue abused, abandoned and neglected babies by matching them with a select group of foster parents to ensure maximum emotional, social and intellectual development of each child. With such a powerful mission and newly revised website, the campaign was launched to reach more children than ever by recruiting more foster families. The new website was also listed on multiple search engines to ensure Angels name was predominate when individuals were tooling around the internet looking for fostering options.

The launch was a success with Angels going from 25 placements in 2006 to 54 placements in 2007 and nearly at goal for placing 60 children to date in 2008. The Angels website has become the primary source to recruit families to become foster families. Check it out at http://www.angelsfoster.com/. Thank you SDSVP!

Elder Law & Advocacy’s Senior Shield

Elder Law & Advocacy (EL&A), 2008 SDSVP Investee, has been working on behalf of low-income seniors for thirty years, providing basic pro-bono legal services while at the same time responding to specific needs when they are identified. For example, increasing abuse and neglect of seniors in nursing homes led to the Nursing Home Rights Enforcement Project. Now EL&A hopes to respond to current threats to the well-being of unsuspecting seniors – scams and Medicare fraud – through an ambitious education and prevention initiative, Senior Shield…thanks to co-funding generated through the help of SDSVP!

Senior Shield addresses a critical need for information that alerts seniors, families and caregivers about scams and the potential for Medicare fraud. Seniors are lured into situations that jeopardize their health and financial well-being – sometimes forcing them out of their homes or negatively impacting their health – because they are either too trusting or simply unaware.

The result of scams and fraud victimizing seniors can be devastating. Senior Shield has three primary goals. The first is to increase public awareness about financial scams and Medicare fraud, with a focus on reaching seniors and the people who care for them. The second is to advocate for seniors by educating lawmakers about predatory schemes and trends in San Diego and Imperial Counties and throughout California. As a result of this work, EL&A will help seniors preserve their assets, decreasing the risk of displacement from their homes and helping them to maintain their health and achieve the best quality of life possible.

No-sweat Boot Camp for SDSVP Partners & Guests

By Cathy Yarbrough

No one had to perform pushups, drill or stand in formation at SDSVP’s first Boot Camp.

Instead the Partners and guests, including several San Diego nonprofit agency leaders, underwent eight hours of training in strategic and annual outcome planning, fund and revenue development, finance, legal affairs, information technology, marketing and public relations, and board development and governance.

The goal: to maximize Partners’ efforts to help SDSVP’s Investees and other San Diego nonprofits to become more effective and sustainable.

Partners who missed the inaugural Boot Camp can register for the repeat sessions on Saturday, Feb 7, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and Thursday, Feb 12, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., at AMN Healthcare, 12400 High Bluff Dr. To register, please contact Mandy Sherlock at mandy@sdsvp.org or (760) 269-3836.

Boot Camp instructors were Partners skilled in applying the commercial sector’s performance standards, metrics and practices to SDSVP’s outcomes-based venture philanthropy.

At the inaugural Boot Camp, Duane Trombly reminded attendees that “SDSVP is leading the way” in applying strategic outcomes-based investment to nonprofit agencies. Philanthropic giving, Trombly pointed out, is shifting from giving based solely on the worthiness of a cause, to giving that holds nonprofits accountable for achieving long-lasting, measurable social change.

Outcome planning begins with the end in mind and defines success measurably and quantifiably through pre-defined performance targets and milestones.

In the commercial sector, success is measured by market share, revenue and profits, Trombly said. In the nonprofit world, it’s measured by impact: “what we boldly aspire to occur”.

Sherri Neasham emphasized the importance of “keeping what you’re measuring very simple” and adopting easy-to-use tools, whether they be Excel or Salesforce.com to track outcomes. “Milestones are clearly defined steps to achieve outcomes. They are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-driven,” she pointed out.

Neasham used Volunteer San Diego as a case study in developing a strategic plan with bold initiatives and measures that will enable the agency’s board to monitor its success.

Ray Ellis and Joyce Ross spoke about nonprofit boards. Members of these boards must “educate, motivate, be part of the sales team,” said Ellis. Ross reviewed the 10 key enablers for board performance, with number one being, “Board clearly understands its roles and responsibilities and acts upon them.

”Unfortunately, “most board chairs don’t know what their responsibilities are, and most board members don’t know either,” said Ross. Many attendees agreed.

A good board must have timely and accurate financial reporting. “In the quickly changing economic times we live in, it is critical to evaluate current information,” said JoAnne Berg, who spoke about the basic concepts, skills and assessment tools of accounting and financial management.

For attendees who might view information technology as a foreign language, David Lynn introduced the grammar and punctuation of his career. He emphasized the importance of IT support and security, and backups and disaster recovery to “business continuity,” the ability of the nonprofit – or the for-profit -- to maintain its momentum.

Based on the post-event evaluations, the Boot Camp helps Partners and other volunteers to firm up their volunteer muscles. The workshop, attendees said, provided "concentrated instructions in key nonprofit areas" along with a "good overview of subjects with good insights from experienced people in their field."

Meet Eva Parsons!

Eva J. Parsons has coached executives of Fortune 500 companies nationally and internationally for more than a decade. She views executive coaching as a means of providing customized learning to highly successful professionals. Eva specializes in leadership development for senior executives. In that capacity, she frequently consults with executive teams in order to develop, align, and integrate the organization’s vision and values. Eva also consults with executives of regional companies and not-for-profit organizations, primarily on a pro bono basis.

Eva works with clients in the areas of leadership development, executive performance, emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills and communication, influencing skills, and people development. She has led clients through organizational change that encompasses leadership transition, restructuring, and succession planning. Eva facilitates executive level, senior management board retreats and teambuilding sessions.

Eva has been affiliated with Executive Coaching Network (EXCN), a global executive coaching firm serving Fortune 500 companies, for 12 years. Prior to that, she served as Director of People Development for AT&T Wireless Services in Portland and Seattle. Eva is the past Executive Director of the Business Youth Exchange in Oregon. She served as Human Resources Manager for one of the largest law firms in the Northwest, Stoel Rives, Attorneys at Law. In addition, Eva’s career includes ten years as a communications consultant, college instructor, and psychotherapist.

Eva has held numerous community leadership positions throughout her career. She chaired the Portland, Oregon, Mayor’s Business Roundtable Workforce Development Task Force. Eva has been involved in numerous think tank projects for the City of Portland and the State of Oregon. Additional activities in the Northwest included Chairperson, City Club Education Committee; Vice-Chairperson, Business Youth Exchange; and member, Regional Strategies Board. Since moving to California Eva has provided pro bono services to the Business Volunteers for the Arts of the San Diego Performing Arts League, and consulted with Nonprofit Management Solutions.

Eva holds an MA degree in education and counseling from Portland State University and a BA degree, cum laude, in German literature from the University of Maryland. She was born in Prague and raised in Munich, where she attended American schools. She is bilingual in English and German and speaks French and Czech. Eva has lived and worked in the United States for more than 30 years.

Eva and her husband, Jim, enjoy traveling. They often visit their loft in Portland and spend time with their kids and 6 grandkids, all of whom live nearby. Eva is an avid hiker who loves being outdoors. She’s a current events “junkie”, and she and Jim love the arts.

Eva has been doing pro bono work with local arts organizations, and when she learned about SDSVP from her friend and Partner, Linda Bernstein, she was immediately interested. “It makes so much sense to be able to leverage my interests and abilities with other professionals to make a real difference in the non-profit world,” Eva says. Linda thought SDSVP was a good fit for Eva because “she has a great deal of consulting experience with non-profits, especially those in the arts, and is extremely passionate about these commitments. She is a clear thinker and a wonderful, compassionate listener.”

Thank you, Linda, for recommending SDSVP to Eva; and thank you to Eva to joining our team!

Investment Working Group Update - January 2009

Four of the final eight agencies made presentations. At the end of the meeting, we discussed whether to schedule the agencies for a site visit. However, no official decisions have been made. The other four agencies will be presenting to the IWG on Feb. 17. Afterward, the committee will make final decisions on site visits.