(from the January 2009 Newsletter)
Times are tough, so what is a nonprofit to do? Panic? Protect? Pack it in? SVPP chose instead to charge into the future with a prudent,positive and proactive plan. This month, we introduce our 2009-2011 strategy for growing our partnership, honing the strategic impact of our community investments and deepening the value, engagement and power of our Partnership. Read on to learn more.
Mark Holloway
Executive Director
A Prudent, Positive and Proactive Plan for Our Future
In the January 2009 newsletter, we asked you for your thoughts, comments and questions on the new Strategic Plan. Have something you'd like to share? Click the "Post a Comment" link at the end of this article to join the conversation.
High-Impact Community Investment. Since choosing our first Investee in 2001, Morrison Child & Family Services, SVPP Partners have been deeply engaged in delivering help and value to nonprofits and the community at large. There has been great impact and experience to build upon for SVPP's future, but we also want to best utilize our unique model and resources to meet the greatest needs of the Portland area.
Deep Partner Value and Engagement. SVPP is deepening its knowledge of Partner interests, expertise and value to build a more responsive and energized Partnership community. Our Partnership demographic is changing – we now have an equal number of Partners over 50 as under, a growing number of Partners with children at home and a strong desire for integrated learning, giving and leading in community efforts.
These changes offer opportunities for a bright future. SVPP Family will enable our Partners with young children and adolescents to share lessons and engage together in 'giving back.' (See article below.) Our Resource Teams will allow Partners and volunteers to align their expertise and interests for serving related needs in the nonprofit community. And our new Education and Leadership curriculum will help partners to better understand community need, practices in strategic philanthropy and nonprofit leadership roles.
Enthusiastic Partner Recruitment. With a strong Partnership and reputation in the Portland community, the interest in joining SVPP continues to grow. We too are interested in new Partners and will be inviting area citizens who share our values and philosophy for 'giving back' to join us in the effort. We seek to grow our Partnership to 100 Partners in the coming years, doubling our current number. In the February SVPP eNews, we will highlight our plans for growth but you may learn more or become a Partner now at www.svpportland.org.
High-Impact Community Investment. Since choosing our first Investee in 2001, Morrison Child & Family Services, SVPP Partners have been deeply engaged in delivering help and value to nonprofits and the community at large. There has been great impact and experience to build upon for SVPP's future, but we also want to best utilize our unique model and resources to meet the greatest needs of the Portland area.Beginning in 2009, SVPP will invest in two primary objectives for the well being of children, youth and families in greater Portland:
- Seeding and growing efforts to meet persistent but largely unaddressed needs of children, youth and families in the Portland area; and,
- Building the capacity of strong and effective nonprofit organizations for greater success and outcomes for their clients.
Deep Partner Value and Engagement. SVPP is deepening its knowledge of Partner interests, expertise and value to build a more responsive and energized Partnership community. Our Partnership demographic is changing – we now have an equal number of Partners over 50 as under, a growing number of Partners with children at home and a strong desire for integrated learning, giving and leading in community efforts.These changes offer opportunities for a bright future. SVPP Family will enable our Partners with young children and adolescents to share lessons and engage together in 'giving back.' (See article below.) Our Resource Teams will allow Partners and volunteers to align their expertise and interests for serving related needs in the nonprofit community. And our new Education and Leadership curriculum will help partners to better understand community need, practices in strategic philanthropy and nonprofit leadership roles.
Enthusiastic Partner Recruitment. With a strong Partnership and reputation in the Portland community, the interest in joining SVPP continues to grow. We too are interested in new Partners and will be inviting area citizens who share our values and philosophy for 'giving back' to join us in the effort. We seek to grow our Partnership to 100 Partners in the coming years, doubling our current number. In the February SVPP eNews, we will highlight our plans for growth but you may learn more or become a Partner now at www.svpportland.org.
Announcing SVPP Family
(from the January 2009 Newsletter)
There is no more important task than effectively communicating the concepts of giving and serving to our children. Since philanthropy literally means “love of humankind,” the SVPP Family Program offers parents, caregivers and grandparents great books, ideas, activities and resources to raise a child who “gives, shares and cares.”
Our goal of introducing our children to thinking philanthropically is to build a base at an early age so that their awareness will increase and will encourage them to take active part in our community. Since the concept of philanthropy is an abstract term, children will be introduced to it through opportunities that demonstrate caring and giving.
So far in 2009, we are planning two SVPP Family “classes” and two SVPP Service days that are appropriate for school-aged children. If you'd like to know more, contact Marissa Crouch at marissabc@yahoo.com.
There is no more important task than effectively communicating the concepts of giving and serving to our children. Since philanthropy literally means “love of humankind,” the SVPP Family Program offers parents, caregivers and grandparents great books, ideas, activities and resources to raise a child who “gives, shares and cares.”
Our goal of introducing our children to thinking philanthropically is to build a base at an early age so that their awareness will increase and will encourage them to take active part in our community. Since the concept of philanthropy is an abstract term, children will be introduced to it through opportunities that demonstrate caring and giving.So far in 2009, we are planning two SVPP Family “classes” and two SVPP Service days that are appropriate for school-aged children. If you'd like to know more, contact Marissa Crouch at marissabc@yahoo.com.
OCF Continues Support for SVPP
(from January 2009 Newsletter)
We are pleased to announce the continuing commitment and support of the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) with the $25,000 January 2009 funding of the remaining portion of the grant awarded in May 2008. This funding was contingent upon receiving matching funds from our partners, over and above minimum contributions. Despite these challenging economic times, we are pleased to report that our partners, and the SVPP Board, rose to this challenge, and contributed a total of $28,500 in additional contributions from the date the grant was awarded through our financial year ending December 31, 2008.
With this funding, SVPP has received a total of $105,000 in capacity building grant proceeds from OCF, of which $25,000 has been designated as a reserve for the future, and $80,000 of which has been budgeted to fund administrative costs, marketing materials and the strategic planning process recently concluded.
SVPP is deeply appreciative of the support of OCF and of all of our partners who are collectively working to help us develop our much-needed infrastructure and staying power that will allow our partnership to grow and our impact to deepen for years to come.
We also wish to recognize – and thank – the Christine and C. F. Swigert Jr. Fund II and the Robert M. Stafrin Fund, an OCF donor advised fund which made this most recent grant possible.
We are pleased to announce the continuing commitment and support of the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) with the $25,000 January 2009 funding of the remaining portion of the grant awarded in May 2008. This funding was contingent upon receiving matching funds from our partners, over and above minimum contributions. Despite these challenging economic times, we are pleased to report that our partners, and the SVPP Board, rose to this challenge, and contributed a total of $28,500 in additional contributions from the date the grant was awarded through our financial year ending December 31, 2008.
With this funding, SVPP has received a total of $105,000 in capacity building grant proceeds from OCF, of which $25,000 has been designated as a reserve for the future, and $80,000 of which has been budgeted to fund administrative costs, marketing materials and the strategic planning process recently concluded.
SVPP is deeply appreciative of the support of OCF and of all of our partners who are collectively working to help us develop our much-needed infrastructure and staying power that will allow our partnership to grow and our impact to deepen for years to come.
We also wish to recognize – and thank – the Christine and C. F. Swigert Jr. Fund II and the Robert M. Stafrin Fund, an OCF donor advised fund which made this most recent grant possible.
Help Make a Real Difference for Someone in Poverty-- Become a Navigator for PovertyBridge
(from the January 2009 Newsletter)
At SVPP's 2007 Annual Meeting, Dr. Donna Beegle spoke movingly about the experience of being in generational poverty and the mentors who helped her carve a career and path to economic security. She urged each of us at the time to become a mentor to someone experiencing the desperation of poverty. Now you can!
Donna and PovertyBridge are sponsoring their signature "Opportunity Conference" in Portland, March 7, 2009 with 200 individuals in poverty. People with more economic security (likely you!) can serve in a mentor role--a "Navigator"--assisting people in moving out of poverty by connecting them with resources to build a network of support. Navigators agree to exchange contact information with at least one person and communicate with them weekly for a six-month period. To become a Navigator, Opportunity Conference volunteer or find additional information, see PovertyBridge Navigator or www.povertybridge.org.
At SVPP's 2007 Annual Meeting, Dr. Donna Beegle spoke movingly about the experience of being in generational poverty and the mentors who helped her carve a career and path to economic security. She urged each of us at the time to become a mentor to someone experiencing the desperation of poverty. Now you can!Donna and PovertyBridge are sponsoring their signature "Opportunity Conference" in Portland, March 7, 2009 with 200 individuals in poverty. People with more economic security (likely you!) can serve in a mentor role--a "Navigator"--assisting people in moving out of poverty by connecting them with resources to build a network of support. Navigators agree to exchange contact information with at least one person and communicate with them weekly for a six-month period. To become a Navigator, Opportunity Conference volunteer or find additional information, see PovertyBridge Navigator or www.povertybridge.org.
Partner Profile: Marissa Crouch
(from the January 2009 Newsletter)
Marissa Crouch is a vibrant young entrepreneur, a mom and an active SVPP Partner. Last year, Marissa and a friend started a successful online company, PakNak.com. PakNaks are are fun, soft and rubbery 3-D decorations that kids (and adults!) can use to personalize all of their stuff. The company has been featured on Nickelodeon, which Marissa says really helps sales. A University of Michigan graduate with a degree in Engineering, Marissa stays very busy at the International School. As a room parent, she organizes fundraisers, auctions, the Chinese New Year event and Run for the Arts.
Marissa Crouch is a vibrant young entrepreneur, a mom and an active SVPP Partner. Last year, Marissa and a friend started a successful online company, PakNak.com. PakNaks are are fun, soft and rubbery 3-D decorations that kids (and adults!) can use to personalize all of their stuff. The company has been featured on Nickelodeon, which Marissa says really helps sales. A University of Michigan graduate with a degree in Engineering, Marissa stays very busy at the International School. As a room parent, she organizes fundraisers, auctions, the Chinese New Year event and Run for the Arts.
She and her husband, Alan Crouch, have been Partners since early 2006. Marissa was on the 2007 Investment Team and says she really enjoyed the experience. She is now serving on the Partnership Committee, and has taken the lead on the SVPP Family initiative with enthusiasm and skill. Marissa says, “I'm really excited about SVPP Family. It's a great opportunity for us to teach the children in our lives about compassion, kindness and social responsibility.” If interested, please contact her at marissabc@yahoo.com.
Alan is a VP at Intel and currently a member of the SVPP Recruitment Committee. Daughter Bella is eight and attends the International School, quickly becoming fluent in Mandarin Chinese. On a trip to China last summer, Bella served as the family interpreter, only occasionally withholding her skills to see her parents squirm.
For fun the family settles in to read, cook, play board games and watch movies. When energetic they go skiing and snowboarding.
New Partners
(from the January 2009 Newsletter)
New Partners Tony and Holly Haber moved to Oregon in 1996 from Jacksonville, Florida. Originally from Roseburg, Oregon, Tony joined the U.S. Navy and then went into the computer industry. He has been with Serena Software for the last five years. He says it took him a long time to convince Holly to leave her native Florida to come to Oregon, but they report being quite happy with the move. If nothing else, Holly was glad to leave the Florida heat behind. Holly feels fortunate to be able to stay home with their three children. Tony and Holly are really enthused about SVPP and are eager to step into volunteer roles.
Tony and Holly have three children: Francesca, “Franki” (15), Anthony (13), and Emma (6). The family enjoys spending time together, including an active involvement with their church. Holly and Franki are active in the Girls Scouts; Holly has held several leadership positions in the organization. Franki attends an art school and has aspirations of being an author. Anthony loves to play golf and would like to become a chef. Emma loves the Disney princesses and playing with Play-Doh.
New Partners Tony and Holly Haber moved to Oregon in 1996 from Jacksonville, Florida. Originally from Roseburg, Oregon, Tony joined the U.S. Navy and then went into the computer industry. He has been with Serena Software for the last five years. He says it took him a long time to convince Holly to leave her native Florida to come to Oregon, but they report being quite happy with the move. If nothing else, Holly was glad to leave the Florida heat behind. Holly feels fortunate to be able to stay home with their three children. Tony and Holly are really enthused about SVPP and are eager to step into volunteer roles.
Tony and Holly have three children: Francesca, “Franki” (15), Anthony (13), and Emma (6). The family enjoys spending time together, including an active involvement with their church. Holly and Franki are active in the Girls Scouts; Holly has held several leadership positions in the organization. Franki attends an art school and has aspirations of being an author. Anthony loves to play golf and would like to become a chef. Emma loves the Disney princesses and playing with Play-Doh.
Partner Ventures
(from the January 2009 Newsletter)
- Scott Langen has assumed the role of Lead Partner for SVPP’s investment in Friends of the Children.
- Melissa Light has joined the marketing and communications team of the Multnomah Education Service District E2 Foundation.
- Kirt Nilsson has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations at Insight Schools.
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