Social Ventures Partner (SVP) Seattle – Brainerd Fellowship
SVP is a network of accomplished individuals who combine financial contributions and professional skills with a passion for philanthropy. Leveraging our collective expertise and resources, we partner with and strengthen promising nonprofits for maximum community impact.
The SVP model is built around:
• Engaged Philanthropy - Opportunities for SVP Partners to make hands-on contributions to the community by volunteering strategically with the local SVP and the nonprofits it funds
• Pooled Resources – Donations from Partners are pooled to fund multi-year grants and leverage their impact on the community
• Donor Education – Opportunities for philanthropists to learn through workshops, serving on grant committees and internal working groups, and experiential learning from direct engagement with nonprofits
• Capacity Building – SVP provides nonprofits with funding and pro bono consulting to strengthen their organizational capacity
Our 240 members (referred to as “Partners”) each contribute $6,000 annually to fund local children’s, education and environment nonprofit organizations and support our philanthropy development mission. We aim to inspire and educate individuals to give more, give strategically and engage in their communities. For more information, visit www.svpseattle.org.
Why a Fellowship?
To ensure a strong, healthy network of people, SVP continually strives to increase the diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures represented in the organization. In this spirit, SVP invites interested individuals in King County to apply for a two-year “Brainerd Fellowship.” We wish to attract people that couldn’t otherwise make the required financial commitment and that will add value to and find personal reward from SVP’s work. Past fellows have added a great deal to the
work of SVP, particularly serving on grant committees where they brought perspective and insight that would otherwise have been lacking.
This two-year Fellowship is intended to widen and strengthen the circle of partners involved in SVP. This fellowship is named in honor of SVP’s co-founder, Paul Brainerd, and reflects his spirit and ethos. The fellowships are funded by current Partners, and cover the annual $6,000 partner contribution.
Why Would I Want to Be a Fellow?
Fellows participate in as many SVP activities as they wish. We estimate the time commitment to be 4 to 8 hours a month (some more than others), depending on the interests of the Fellow. Opportunities include the following:
Serving on a grant committee
This is a six-month process with a group of 12-14 Partners.Committees this year will make grants in the areas of K-12 Education and Out of School Time Programs. Committee members gain an understanding about the nonprofit sector, insight into issue areas, the local nonprofit landscape, how to evaluate grant proposals and nonprofits, and how to make group funding decisions.
Serving on an internal working group
SVP relies on volunteer working groups to help get our work done. These working groups include Partner Recruiting, Partner Engagement, and Diversity & Cultural Competency. Fellows are invited to participate in any of these groups. Fellows will also be invited to attend a few Board meetings if they wish.
Volunteer Consulting
SVP annually provides over 1500 hours of volunteer consulting hours to our investees (grantees) in the following areas:
• Strategy and planning
• Legal counsel
• Management consulting
• Marketing, PR, communications
• Human resources
• Leadership development
• Information technology
• Mentoring and tutoring
• Financial management
Fellows are invited to participate in consulting projects of interest.
Workshops and Seminars
Fellows are welcome to attend any of the 20 plus workshops and seminars SVP offers each year that address the following topics:
• Financial planning and giving vehicles
• Community issues
• Grantmaking
• Volunteering
• Diversity and Cultural Competency
• Values, motivations and integration in philanthropy
• Nonprofit sector
How Do I Apply?
SVP will award two Fellowships. We encourage people of all backgrounds that meet the following criteria to apply:
• You have an historical or emerging desire to make a significant contribution to your community. You see yourself continuing and growing that commitment in the years ahead.
• You are someone that will add diverse perspectives and experiences to the partnership.
• You would not otherwise have the financial means to make the annual $6,000 contribution and participate in SVP.
• You are at least 21 years of age.
To apply, please submit a resume and answers to the following questions. Please limit your responses to the questions to two pages.
• Why do you want to be a part of SVP? What do you hope to learn from the experience?
• What will you bring to SVP? What will other partners learn from you?
• What are your core values and the values of those groups of which you are a part?
• What volunteer, community and civic engagement experience have you had? What have you learned from it?
The deadline for application is July 31, 2009. If you are a finalist, you will likely be asked for references as well. An internal committee will review all applications, interview finalists, and notify the two Fellows of their acceptance by August 21, 2009. Fellows will be asked to submit a final (two page) report on their experience and recommendations at the end of their two-year fellowship. If you have any questions, please email info@svpseattle.org.
Email applications to info@svpseattle.org or mail to SVP Seattle, 1601 2nd Ave Ste 615, Seattle, WA 98101.
Thank you!
Filed under: Jobs, Training and Volunteer Opportunities
