SVPP Support for Friends of the Children

(from the April 2009 Newsletter)

In May 2008, SVPP invested in Friends of the Children to support their capacity building goal of increasing the number of youth served by the organization to 400 by 2011, and to support their operational excellence during this time of unprecedented growth.

More recently, in January 2009, Friends of the Children assumed ownership of three facilities that they had previously been leasing. SVPP is helping to develop a comprehensive facilities maintenance plan for the successful management of these assets over the long term, led by Partner Noel Johnson. SVPP is also assisting Friends of the Children to explore opportunities to expand services by establishing a facility in outer Southeast Portland that serves as a resources and activity center for program participants and staff. This will allow the organization to better serve youth currently enrolled in the program who have migrated out of North and Northeast Portland. Len Schulwitz, Bruce Murray and Boyce Smith have also been integral to this team.

SVPP is also working with Friends of the Children to aggregate years worth of program data in preparation for a conversion to a new database. Partner Adam Light and Kelly Jensen, a Point B consultant and colleague of Partner Steve Brook, have spearheaded this project that will help program and management staff efficiently monitor program services and track outcome data. In doing so, Friends will be able to dedicate more time to direct service to children. They will also be able to capture demographic and service data with the new database. This will allow for more thorough internal monitoring of the quality of mentoring service and enable more rapid responses to emerging needs and trends.

Partner Profile - Boyce Smith

(From the March 2005 Newsletter)

Boyce is one of the founding members of SVPP and he has dedicated considerable time over the past four years in helping shape the partnership. He has also worked closely with several of our investees.

He is currently chairing the Investment Committee which consists of 11 partners who have been meeting since early October to determine SVPP's direction for 2005. Since then, the Committee has made excellent progress in identifying meaningful new opportunities for SVPP investment and participation (see article "SVPP Sets Direction for 2005 Investments" in this Newsletter). His experience and exposure to investment decisions in previous years have provided excellent direction and guidance to the committee which have enabled the team to remain highly focused and efficient. In addition, his strong organizational skills have been very effective in having a very cohesive group with clear goals, clear deliverables and timely team communications.

SVPP to Field Its 2004 Investment Team

(From the September 2004 Newsletter)

Social Venture Partners is ready to assemble its fourth Investment Team. Work will start this fall on identifying and evaluating opportunities in the four county area of Portland and Vancouver, and should conclude next summer with a financial and volunteering commitment to our next nonprofit investee.

The Investment Team provides some of the most educational and most exciting work SVPP has to offer. Members learn about the great variety of philanthropic work going on in our area, they learn about the due diligence of grant-making, and they have the satisfaction of helping to direct SVPP funds toward their best use. They have the opportunity, in addition, to work closely with other Partners and deepen their connection with SVPP.

Partner Boyce Smith, who served on SVPP's first Investment Team in 2001, as chair, and served again on the 2002 Team, will chair the 2004 Investment Team. For more information and to volunteer, please contact him at boycesmith1@comcast.net or at 503-591-0378.