(From the March 2006 Newsletter)
After serving for five years on the SVPP board, half of them as president, I'll be stepping down when my term expires in May. I can't help but reflect on how much SVPP has accomplished in these five brief years. Here is a brief summary of how it all started:
In the fall of 2000, a group of us with little to no experience in the nonprofit sector heard an inspirational lecture by Paul Brainerd, the founder and creative spirit behind the Social Venture Partners movement. We were energized, and after working with SVP Seattle and spending many months meeting in a partner's living room, we incorporated SVP Portland in December 2000 and were off and rolling. We borrowed heavily from Seattle, from our organizational structure to our investment processes to our marketing materials, adapting along the way to fit our local market. We had no office and no executive director for the first year and a half --- just a lot of very dedicated and committed partners who worked out of their homes and gave generously to this new organization. The biggest thrill that first year was distributing grants to our first two investees, Morrison Child & Family Services and Children's Relief Nursery.
Fast forward to today. We have grown to close to 100 partners and are on our fifth investment cycle. We have granted more than $700,000 and with each cycle our investments have become more strategic with broader impact. Our first four investees have "graduated" after successful completion of their programs. We have been designated a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and can now take contributions directly from partners. A redesigned website is in the works and will be rolled out later this month. We have an executive director who works tirelessly and arranges thought-provoking events with well-known speakers. We continue to attract committed and engaged new partners and have new members to introduce you to in this newsletter. And our most recent investees, CASH and PEP, are already making a measurable impact and receiving recognition from community leaders. You'll read more about them below.
Come October, I'll start my term representing Portland as a member of the SVP International board, so I will continue to stay active and involved. We are now the fifth largest affiliate out of the 21 across the US and Canada and I look forward to sharing our successes and challenges with the rest of the network. I hope you share my excitement about SVPP's progress and strong forward momentum. Thank you for continuing to be a part of the SVP Portland community.
Showing posts with label Children's Relief Nursery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children's Relief Nursery. Show all posts
From Our Investees - SVPP Investments Reaching Graduation
(From the December 2005 Newsletter)
In the period between 2001 and 2003, SVPP funded five programs which have either reached graduation (i.e., completion) or will be graduating soon. SVPP invested $622,000 in these projects but the total impact of these projects is estimated at $3.13 million. These projects include Morrison Child and Family Services, Children's Relief Nursery, Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, Metropolitan Family Service and Kids Café program of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland (mid-2006 graduation). SVPP is proud of the achievements made with each organization and they provided our partners excellent opportunities for involvement in worthy projects covering a wide variety of disciplines. This experience to date proves to us that the venture capital model for philanthropy truly works and can have a large impact in our community. Below is the summary of these investments:
Organization (Engagement Period): Direct Investment / Total Impact
Morrison Child and Family Services (Q4 '01 – Q2 '05): $154K / $1.71M
Children's Relief Nursery (Q4 '01 – Q4 '04): $126K / $357K
Free Clinic of SW Washington (Q4 '02 – Q3 '05): $111K / $141K
Metropolitan Family Service (Q1 '03 – Q4 '05): $101K / $283K
Kids Café Engagement Program (Q3 '05 - mid-2006): $130K / $637K
Below is a more detailed summary for each of these investments:
Morrison Child and Family Services
Engagement: Q4 '01 – Q2 ‘05
Lead Partner: Eli Lamb
Mission: Morrison provides a continuum of care for children from infancy through adolescence, including prevention and education, outpatient, day treatment, residential and day care programs.
SVPP Objective: Implement the "Connections for Children" (CFC) project, deployed throughout Morrison, an IT program for client tracking and multi-site communications
Accomplishments:
- Completed transition to new finance system, including implementation of electronic billing (reduced Medicaid cash flow cycle from 8 weeks to 5 days!).
- Completed site upgrades and E-time deployment (saving time, headcount, and dollars).
- Completed school-based services database merge.
Total impact: $1.71M
- SVPP direct financial contribution: $154K
- Donations from partners, friends, etc.: $81K
- Value of volunteer hours: $348K
- Operational impact from SVPP projects: $1.13M
Children's Relief Nursery
Engagement: Q4 '01 – Q4 ‘04
Lead Partner: Laura Finney
Mission: CRN is a community-based child abuse and neglect prevention organization that supports children and families by providing early intervention and family support services to high-risk families.
SVPP Objective: Provide volunteer leadership and support for infrastructure improvements at CRN.
Accomplishments:
- Multiple IT projects supported with funding and/or implementation (accounting system, networking software, website, email, fund raising database, etc.).
- Program managed the move to new facility.
- Active engagement in CRN's development committee.
- Evaluated and recommended client services database software.
Total impact: $357K
- SVPP direct financial contribution: $126K
- Donations from partners, friends, etc.: $81K
- Value of volunteer hours: $50K
- Operational impact from SVPP projects: $100K
Free Clinic of Southwest Washington
Engagement: Q4 '02 – Q3 '05
Lead Partner: Ed Mueller
Mission: The Free Clinic provides free, compassionate, and quality health care to low income and uninsured residents of SW Washington.
SVPP Objective: Improve FC infrastructure and increase the number of children served at the clinics.
Accomplishments:
- Worked with staff and board to complete and ratify the strategic plan.
- Supported BOD on hiring and mentoring EDs, improving board governance.
- Provided over 1500 volunteer hours and in-kind medical supply donations.
- Number of children served grew from 1746 in 2002 to a projected 5800 in 2005, a 3.3X increase versus an original goal of doubling.
Total impact: $141K
- SVPP direct financial contribution: $111K
- Donations from partners, friends, etc.:$8K
- Value of volunteer hours: $22K
Metropolitan Family Service
Engagement: Q1 '03 – Q4 '05
Lead Partner: Rupa Jack
Mission: MFS manages multiple programs focused on building stronger communities by providing services, connecting people with resources, and strengthening families while enhancing their participation in community life.
SVPP Objective: Introduce and enhance Make Parenting a Pleasure (MPAP) program (2003, 2004). Analyze and define database and communications software needs for the future (2005).
Accomplishments:
- 28 MPAP classes conducted, serving 268 parents; measured results demonstrate significant positive outcomes.
- MPAP will continue with support from several non-profit and government agencies.
- Database study nearing completion, intranet and file structure programs now being implemented.
Total impact: $283K
- SVPP direct financial contribution: $101K
- Donations from partners, friends, etc.: $58K
- Value of volunteer hours: $69K
- Operational impact from SVPP projects: $55K
Kids Café Program of Boys and Girls Club of Portland
Engagement: Q4 '03 – mid-2006
Lead Partner: Valerie Ilsley
Mission: The Kids Café program seeks to provide food security and nutritional education for disadvantaged youth at existing Boys and Girls Clubs.
SVPP Objective: As the "lead investor", fund and solicit other "investors" to fund three Kids Café kitchens. Once completed the kitchens will be self sufficient due to ongoing USDA funding.
Accomplishments:
- SVPP has been directly involved in raising $260K from other non-profits and has been the "program manager" for construction of two kitchens.
- Wattles Club (SE Portland) kitchen completed in July '04, is currently feeding 160 kids/day.
- Blazers Club (NE Portland) kitchen completed in September '05, is currently feeding 290 kids/day.
- Hillsboro Club is expected to begin kitchen construction by early/mid ‘06.
Total impact: $637K
- SVPP direct financial contribution: $130K
- SVPP conditional grant for Hillsboro Club: $30K
- Donations from partners and other non-profits: $260K
- Value of volunteer hours: $52K
- USDA Gross Reimbursements to date: $195K
In the period between 2001 and 2003, SVPP funded five programs which have either reached graduation (i.e., completion) or will be graduating soon. SVPP invested $622,000 in these projects but the total impact of these projects is estimated at $3.13 million. These projects include Morrison Child and Family Services, Children's Relief Nursery, Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, Metropolitan Family Service and Kids Café program of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland (mid-2006 graduation). SVPP is proud of the achievements made with each organization and they provided our partners excellent opportunities for involvement in worthy projects covering a wide variety of disciplines. This experience to date proves to us that the venture capital model for philanthropy truly works and can have a large impact in our community. Below is the summary of these investments:
Organization (Engagement Period): Direct Investment / Total Impact
Morrison Child and Family Services (Q4 '01 – Q2 '05): $154K / $1.71M
Children's Relief Nursery (Q4 '01 – Q4 '04): $126K / $357K
Free Clinic of SW Washington (Q4 '02 – Q3 '05): $111K / $141K
Metropolitan Family Service (Q1 '03 – Q4 '05): $101K / $283K
Kids Café Engagement Program (Q3 '05 - mid-2006): $130K / $637K
Below is a more detailed summary for each of these investments:
Morrison Child and Family Services
Engagement: Q4 '01 – Q2 ‘05
Lead Partner: Eli Lamb
Mission: Morrison provides a continuum of care for children from infancy through adolescence, including prevention and education, outpatient, day treatment, residential and day care programs.
SVPP Objective: Implement the "Connections for Children" (CFC) project, deployed throughout Morrison, an IT program for client tracking and multi-site communications
Accomplishments:
- Completed transition to new finance system, including implementation of electronic billing (reduced Medicaid cash flow cycle from 8 weeks to 5 days!).
- Completed site upgrades and E-time deployment (saving time, headcount, and dollars).
- Completed school-based services database merge.
Total impact: $1.71M
- SVPP direct financial contribution: $154K
- Donations from partners, friends, etc.: $81K
- Value of volunteer hours: $348K
- Operational impact from SVPP projects: $1.13M
Children's Relief Nursery
Engagement: Q4 '01 – Q4 ‘04
Lead Partner: Laura Finney
Mission: CRN is a community-based child abuse and neglect prevention organization that supports children and families by providing early intervention and family support services to high-risk families.
SVPP Objective: Provide volunteer leadership and support for infrastructure improvements at CRN.
Accomplishments:
- Multiple IT projects supported with funding and/or implementation (accounting system, networking software, website, email, fund raising database, etc.).
- Program managed the move to new facility.
- Active engagement in CRN's development committee.
- Evaluated and recommended client services database software.
Total impact: $357K
- SVPP direct financial contribution: $126K
- Donations from partners, friends, etc.: $81K
- Value of volunteer hours: $50K
- Operational impact from SVPP projects: $100K
Free Clinic of Southwest Washington
Engagement: Q4 '02 – Q3 '05
Lead Partner: Ed Mueller
Mission: The Free Clinic provides free, compassionate, and quality health care to low income and uninsured residents of SW Washington.
SVPP Objective: Improve FC infrastructure and increase the number of children served at the clinics.
Accomplishments:
- Worked with staff and board to complete and ratify the strategic plan.
- Supported BOD on hiring and mentoring EDs, improving board governance.
- Provided over 1500 volunteer hours and in-kind medical supply donations.
- Number of children served grew from 1746 in 2002 to a projected 5800 in 2005, a 3.3X increase versus an original goal of doubling.
Total impact: $141K
- SVPP direct financial contribution: $111K
- Donations from partners, friends, etc.:$8K
- Value of volunteer hours: $22K
Metropolitan Family Service
Engagement: Q1 '03 – Q4 '05
Lead Partner: Rupa Jack
Mission: MFS manages multiple programs focused on building stronger communities by providing services, connecting people with resources, and strengthening families while enhancing their participation in community life.
SVPP Objective: Introduce and enhance Make Parenting a Pleasure (MPAP) program (2003, 2004). Analyze and define database and communications software needs for the future (2005).
Accomplishments:
- 28 MPAP classes conducted, serving 268 parents; measured results demonstrate significant positive outcomes.
- MPAP will continue with support from several non-profit and government agencies.
- Database study nearing completion, intranet and file structure programs now being implemented.
Total impact: $283K
- SVPP direct financial contribution: $101K
- Donations from partners, friends, etc.: $58K
- Value of volunteer hours: $69K
- Operational impact from SVPP projects: $55K
Kids Café Program of Boys and Girls Club of Portland
Engagement: Q4 '03 – mid-2006
Lead Partner: Valerie Ilsley
Mission: The Kids Café program seeks to provide food security and nutritional education for disadvantaged youth at existing Boys and Girls Clubs.
SVPP Objective: As the "lead investor", fund and solicit other "investors" to fund three Kids Café kitchens. Once completed the kitchens will be self sufficient due to ongoing USDA funding.
Accomplishments:
- SVPP has been directly involved in raising $260K from other non-profits and has been the "program manager" for construction of two kitchens.
- Wattles Club (SE Portland) kitchen completed in July '04, is currently feeding 160 kids/day.
- Blazers Club (NE Portland) kitchen completed in September '05, is currently feeding 290 kids/day.
- Hillsboro Club is expected to begin kitchen construction by early/mid ‘06.
Total impact: $637K
- SVPP direct financial contribution: $130K
- SVPP conditional grant for Hillsboro Club: $30K
- Donations from partners and other non-profits: $260K
- Value of volunteer hours: $52K
- USDA Gross Reimbursements to date: $195K
From Our Investees
(From the March 2005 Newsletter)
Kids Cafe - Boys & Girls Club of Portland
The Wattles Kids Café is now fully operational and the kitchen is feeding an average of 200 kids per day plus snacks for an average of 75 more kids. This is up from zero last year! Nutritional education classes are held three times per week to teach members how to cook healthy meals and help design menus for the Club. These classes are called "The Power of Choice". An average of 50 youths participate each month in the nutrition programs. The Kids Café also works with the Athletics Coordinator to promote the importance of being active and showing how food and exercise work hand in hand.
Detailed plans for the construction of the Kids Café at Blazers, which will replace a current and outmoded operation, have been completed and will be out for bid this month. Construction is expected to begin shortly thereafter and the completion and grand opening is planned for July. The third Kids Café in Hillsboro, will be completed in conjunction with a significant expansion of the B&GC in that location. BGCP management and the Board are currently undergoing a fund raising effort for this project and hope to commence construction in late 2005.
Free Clinic of SW Washington
The new Executive Director, Paul Bollinger, was hired and he started on October 4, 2004. The focus in Q4 was integrating the new ED into the Free Clinic organizations and the Board of Directors. The Strategic Plan was completed and reviewed with the Board and its various subcommittees.
The redesign of the Free Clinic website is under way. We will also work with the staff to complete the marketing plan to improve education of the community on Free Clinic services and benefits. The Free Clinic will be holding a golf event fundraiser in June. Tee time anyone? If interested, please email Ed Mueller.
Metropolitan Family Service
SVPP has been instrumental in the success of the program "Make Parenting a Pleasure". The MPAP class is now offered in three languages and consists of a series of classes that focus on the basics of parenting. In addition, SVPP completed the development of a curriculum and activities program for young children whose parents are in MPAP.
SVPP has helped MFS determine appropriate technology for adding on-line donation capabilities to their website. We are also assisting MFS with their technology infrastructure assessment which will be followed by a formal implementation plan.
SVPP has assisted MFS in the interview process to hire an individual responsible for running the new "Ways to Work" Program. This Program helps low-income individuals maintain or own a car enabling them to drive to work. The program will offer low-interest loans for car repairs and purchases.
Morrison Child and Family Services
As part of the "Connections for Children" Information Technology project, all site upgrades have been completed as planned, merging databases for the School Based Services were completed and we are currently working on the Intakes database project.
Children Relief Nursery
After a three-year engagement with CRN, we have come to the end of our participation in further projects with this organization. Thanks to all the partners who volunteered their time with CRN projects over these last three years.
Kids Cafe - Boys & Girls Club of Portland
The Wattles Kids Café is now fully operational and the kitchen is feeding an average of 200 kids per day plus snacks for an average of 75 more kids. This is up from zero last year! Nutritional education classes are held three times per week to teach members how to cook healthy meals and help design menus for the Club. These classes are called "The Power of Choice". An average of 50 youths participate each month in the nutrition programs. The Kids Café also works with the Athletics Coordinator to promote the importance of being active and showing how food and exercise work hand in hand.
Detailed plans for the construction of the Kids Café at Blazers, which will replace a current and outmoded operation, have been completed and will be out for bid this month. Construction is expected to begin shortly thereafter and the completion and grand opening is planned for July. The third Kids Café in Hillsboro, will be completed in conjunction with a significant expansion of the B&GC in that location. BGCP management and the Board are currently undergoing a fund raising effort for this project and hope to commence construction in late 2005.
Free Clinic of SW Washington
The new Executive Director, Paul Bollinger, was hired and he started on October 4, 2004. The focus in Q4 was integrating the new ED into the Free Clinic organizations and the Board of Directors. The Strategic Plan was completed and reviewed with the Board and its various subcommittees.
The redesign of the Free Clinic website is under way. We will also work with the staff to complete the marketing plan to improve education of the community on Free Clinic services and benefits. The Free Clinic will be holding a golf event fundraiser in June. Tee time anyone? If interested, please email Ed Mueller.
Metropolitan Family Service
SVPP has been instrumental in the success of the program "Make Parenting a Pleasure". The MPAP class is now offered in three languages and consists of a series of classes that focus on the basics of parenting. In addition, SVPP completed the development of a curriculum and activities program for young children whose parents are in MPAP.
SVPP has helped MFS determine appropriate technology for adding on-line donation capabilities to their website. We are also assisting MFS with their technology infrastructure assessment which will be followed by a formal implementation plan.
SVPP has assisted MFS in the interview process to hire an individual responsible for running the new "Ways to Work" Program. This Program helps low-income individuals maintain or own a car enabling them to drive to work. The program will offer low-interest loans for car repairs and purchases.
Morrison Child and Family Services
As part of the "Connections for Children" Information Technology project, all site upgrades have been completed as planned, merging databases for the School Based Services were completed and we are currently working on the Intakes database project.
Children Relief Nursery
After a three-year engagement with CRN, we have come to the end of our participation in further projects with this organization. Thanks to all the partners who volunteered their time with CRN projects over these last three years.
Making A Different Difference
(From the September 2004 Newsletter)
When the new Kids Cafe opened this summer at the Wattles Boys and Girls Club, it represented the successul collaboration among numerous groups in the community, initiated and led by SVPP, to address child hunger. Hundreds more childen will be fed each day because of a project conceived and developed by our 2003 Investment Team, and now carried forward by our Kids Cafe Volunteer Team.
Social Venture Partners offers both financial resources and creative, skilled volunteer work like this at each of our investees. At the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, for example, SVPP is helping to develop a marketing plan to increase the number of professional medical volunteers who staff the clinic. SVP has carried out significant IT work at Morrison Child and Family Services and at Children's Relief Nursery (formerly Portland Relief Nursery). At Metropolitan Family Service, as well as at CRN, SVP volunteers are working to develop satellite businesses that will offer sustainable funding to the programs we support.
Partners get involved also with "direct services", such as socializing with toddlers at CRN, or helping at the prescription window at the Free Clinic. It is offering both the opportunity for investing well and for hands-on involvment that makes SVP distinctive.
When the new Kids Cafe opened this summer at the Wattles Boys and Girls Club, it represented the successul collaboration among numerous groups in the community, initiated and led by SVPP, to address child hunger. Hundreds more childen will be fed each day because of a project conceived and developed by our 2003 Investment Team, and now carried forward by our Kids Cafe Volunteer Team.
Social Venture Partners offers both financial resources and creative, skilled volunteer work like this at each of our investees. At the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, for example, SVPP is helping to develop a marketing plan to increase the number of professional medical volunteers who staff the clinic. SVP has carried out significant IT work at Morrison Child and Family Services and at Children's Relief Nursery (formerly Portland Relief Nursery). At Metropolitan Family Service, as well as at CRN, SVP volunteers are working to develop satellite businesses that will offer sustainable funding to the programs we support.
Partners get involved also with "direct services", such as socializing with toddlers at CRN, or helping at the prescription window at the Free Clinic. It is offering both the opportunity for investing well and for hands-on involvment that makes SVP distinctive.
Inside the Investees
(From the June 2004 Newsletter)
SVP Portland is very proud of the excellent organizations we have invested in during our first three years. These include Morrison Child and Family Services, Metropolitan Family Service, the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, and Children's Relief Nursery (formerly Portland Relief Nursery; please see article below). Altogether our investees represent over $500,000 and hundreds of hours of volunteer time donated by SVP Partners--as well as significant cash and in-kind donations from other individuals, businesses, foundations and government sources, generated by SVPP involvement.
The newest SVPP venture is Kids Cafe. This is a national initiative, established locally by the Boys and Girls Club of Portland in their Blazers' Club facility. This Kids Cafe serves hundreds of hot meals each week to low-income children attending the Club's after-school and summer programs.
Working together, the Boys and Girls Club and Social Venture Partners have secured funding that includes $130,000 from SVPP, and $200,000 from the Meyer Memorial Trust, to open a Kids Cafe at its Wattles Club in Southeast Portland.
The new Kids Cafe will have its grand opening celebration on July 13th, to which all Partners are cordially invited. SVPP Board Chair Jeff Grubb and Kids Cafe Lead Partner Mike Maerz will participate in the ribbon-cutting. Come tour the facility and join in celebrating this new resource in our community! Please see the Calendar for details.
Meanwhile SVPP is continuing to work with the Boys and Girls Club to open a Kids Cafe at their Hillsboro Club, and to expand service at their Blazers' Club.
SVP's involvement in this successful effort, hailed as an innovative model for addressing needs in the community, was the brainchild of our 2003 Investment Team. We expect to field a new Investment Team in 2004. Partners interested in joining the Team please email Miriam.
SVP Portland is very proud of the excellent organizations we have invested in during our first three years. These include Morrison Child and Family Services, Metropolitan Family Service, the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, and Children's Relief Nursery (formerly Portland Relief Nursery; please see article below). Altogether our investees represent over $500,000 and hundreds of hours of volunteer time donated by SVP Partners--as well as significant cash and in-kind donations from other individuals, businesses, foundations and government sources, generated by SVPP involvement.
The newest SVPP venture is Kids Cafe. This is a national initiative, established locally by the Boys and Girls Club of Portland in their Blazers' Club facility. This Kids Cafe serves hundreds of hot meals each week to low-income children attending the Club's after-school and summer programs.
Working together, the Boys and Girls Club and Social Venture Partners have secured funding that includes $130,000 from SVPP, and $200,000 from the Meyer Memorial Trust, to open a Kids Cafe at its Wattles Club in Southeast Portland.
The new Kids Cafe will have its grand opening celebration on July 13th, to which all Partners are cordially invited. SVPP Board Chair Jeff Grubb and Kids Cafe Lead Partner Mike Maerz will participate in the ribbon-cutting. Come tour the facility and join in celebrating this new resource in our community! Please see the Calendar for details.
Meanwhile SVPP is continuing to work with the Boys and Girls Club to open a Kids Cafe at their Hillsboro Club, and to expand service at their Blazers' Club.
SVP's involvement in this successful effort, hailed as an innovative model for addressing needs in the community, was the brainchild of our 2003 Investment Team. We expect to field a new Investment Team in 2004. Partners interested in joining the Team please email Miriam.
PRN becomes CRN
(From the June 2004 Newsletter)
Portland Relief Nursery has changed its name to Children's Relief Nursery. This reflects the Nursery's goal of expanding its child abuse prevention services, and establishing facilities in addition to its current Portland location. The next Children's Relief Nursery is tentatively planned to open in 2007, most likely in Washington County.
Children's Relief Nursery recently launched CRN Enterprises, a new entity that will foster several small businesses. CRN Enterprises is now soliciting donations of new or gently used items worth at least $50 for online resale on Ebay. Future plans include selling children's furniture and toys including hand painted wooden rocking horses. All proceeds from these endeavors will generate funds for child abuse prevention programs.
CRN Enterprises would love to get donations of saleable items from SVPP partners. They'll even come and pick your items up! For more information, go to www.childrensreliefnursery.org/enterprises or call the Lead Partner Laura Finney at 503-617-4598.
Portland Relief Nursery has changed its name to Children's Relief Nursery. This reflects the Nursery's goal of expanding its child abuse prevention services, and establishing facilities in addition to its current Portland location. The next Children's Relief Nursery is tentatively planned to open in 2007, most likely in Washington County.
Children's Relief Nursery recently launched CRN Enterprises, a new entity that will foster several small businesses. CRN Enterprises is now soliciting donations of new or gently used items worth at least $50 for online resale on Ebay. Future plans include selling children's furniture and toys including hand painted wooden rocking horses. All proceeds from these endeavors will generate funds for child abuse prevention programs.
CRN Enterprises would love to get donations of saleable items from SVPP partners. They'll even come and pick your items up! For more information, go to www.childrensreliefnursery.org/enterprises or call the Lead Partner Laura Finney at 503-617-4598.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
