From Our Executive Director - Jean Hart

(From the September 2005 Newsletter)

"The fish is the last to know it swims in the water." -- Chinese proverb

This haiku-like proverb is a lovely way of saying it is hard to see what is going on when one is in the middle of it. Change can often only be seen in hindsight.

Philanthropic habits are clearly changing. It was not long ago, perhaps a generation, when giving at the office constituted the extent of many people's philanthropy. Today, traditional ideas of philanthropy are being questioned and ways to improve and reinvent giving are being explored informally and formally. Choices for every type of gift and giver are out there. Numerous books, reports and articles have been written on this topic. Recently a friend sent a link to The Future of Philanthropy, addressing these "seeds of change." New patterns of behavior were compared to old. I'd like to pass these on as food for thought. I think you may recognize the origins of Social Venture Partners.

Old Habits of Giving / New Ways to Consider
Late in life / Give throughout life
Foundations as key institution / Foundations are one form
Social benefits come from nonprofits / Social benefits come from any sector
Philanthropy corrects for the market / Philanthropy connects to the market
Older, white, male dominated / Diverse leadership
Focus on one's community / Focus on home and global problems
General giving goals / Specific goals
Donors make gifts / Donors make investments
Money is the resource, grants are tools / Influence is resource, money is tool
Donors are moved from recipient / Donors are engaged
Donors content to do good / Donors assess impact
Donors learn from their own work / Donors learn and share their results

Sound familiar? SVPP is one model for "new ways" to give. We collaborate, pool our resources, share our results, use our influence, engage with our investees, measure our impact and strive for diversity in our membership and leadership. One comment in this lengthy report that resonated with me is the following: "In the new ecology, it may make as much sense to identify a useful network and join or incubate it as to seek a distinctive niche and occupy it". We at SVPP agree!