San Diego Social Venture Partners Selects Innovative Nonprofits for Funding in Education

SAN DIEGO (March 25, 2010) – During economic times when educational funding is drastically reduced, San Diego Social Venture Partners chose to invest in two San Diego nonprofits in the education sector – Reality Changers and Audeo Charter School – for funding and support up to three years. SDSVP support will strengthen each organization’s infrastructure and capacity building in areas such as board development, strategic planning, operations and financial systems, outcome measurement and marketing communication.

San Diego Social Venture Partners are community minded professionals who contribute time, money and business expertise to help innovative nonprofits chosen through a rigorous selection process. The organizations selected for investment – called Investees – have a clear vision, strong leadership, a commitment to measuring successful outcomes and a desire to collaborate with high-level volunteers.

SDSVP’s mission is to accelerate social change by developing the organizational capacity and sustainability of each nonprofit they support, empowering them to serve the community more effectively and efficiently. Its Partners are diverse in their interests, but all are united in their commitment to strengthening San Diego County, helping its people achieve long-term social change.

REALITY CHANGERS - Building First-generation College Students

Founded in 2001 by a former teacher, Executive Director Christopher Yanov, Reality Changers is a powerful after-school mentoring program that helps disadvantaged youth in San Diego County become first-generation college students. Through tutoring, academic support and financial assistance, low-income students from 38 middle and high schools have turned their lives around to become college-bound leaders in our community. The program supports 120 students who otherwise might be expelled from school or involved with gangs and drugs.

Reality Changers is California’s leading tutoring program for scholarships where students have earned $5 million in financial aid from all sources. Of the 87 students who completed the program, 83 have gone on to college, including Ivy League schools. The Reality Changers program is seen as a model for other cities and is highly praised by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Yet there are more students on Reality Changers’ waiting list of 150 than those currently served. This is an ideal fit for expanded services and capacity building through the involvement of SDSVP volunteers. For more information, visit http://www.realitychangers.org/.

Audeo Charter School – Nurturing Student Achievement

Founded in 2001 by Board President Mary Searcy Bixby, Audeo Charter School is part of the Altus Institute – a network of charter schools for students in grades six through twelve who seek an advanced and self-motivating alternative to traditional education. Audeo provides a successful model of collaborative learning, high-level curriculum, self-paced lessons and year-round enrollment.


Audeo teachers have designed a curriculum that meets the learning needs of each student and is aligned with California State Course Requirements. Located in classrooms in neighborhoods and malls throughout San Diego County, Audeo’s independent study model provides skills development, career exploration, high-level thinking and enrichment of the core curriculum.


Students master learning skills including the ability to read, write, compute, solve problems and work independently and in teams. Students must also be proficient in the use of technology, effective time management, performance accountability, wellness and relating to others. SDSVP sees involvement with Audeo Charter School as an exciting way to support successful educational alternatives. For more information, visit http://www.audeocharterschool.net/.


ABOUT SAN DIEGO SOCIAL VENTURE PARTNERS Established in 2001, San Diego Social Venture Partners (SDSVP) is a nonprofit organization of engaged professionals who invest time and money in innovative nonprofits in San Diego County while becoming more educated and involved givers. Other Investees include A Reason to Survive, Tariq Khamisa Foundation, Community Resource Center, Corporation for Supportive Housing and ElderHelp of San Diego.


SDSVP is an affiliate of SVP International (SVPI), a network of more than 1,900 Partners who support a shared mission of philanthropy in 26 cities and 3 countries and have given more than $32.2 million in cash and six times that amount through in-kind contributions to more than 335 nonprofit organizations. To learn more about SDSVP or become involved as a Partner, visit http://sandiegosvp.ning.com/.