History of SVP
The first Social Venture Partners (SVP) organization was founded in Seattle in 1997. It was the inspiration of former Aldus Corporation president Paul Brainerd and his friends. Paul’s vision was to apply a venture capital model to philanthropy, creating alliances that actively nurtured organizations with guidance as well as financial support.
There are now 24 SVP affiliates in the U.S., Canada and Japan with almost 2,000 Partners. SVP’s combined grants to more than 335 non-profit organizations exceed $32.2 million.
SVP Portland
Our Portland chapter (SVPP) was founded by 20 business leaders in late 2000. Today, SVPP has approximately 57 Partnerships comprising nearly 100 members and has given more than $1.4 million in direct grants to 14 organizations with invaluable impact beyond the grants. Our members include professionals in law, finance, education, technology, social services, medicine and more.
- 2000 – Organized through the Oregon Community Foundation
- 2001 – Awarded $80,000 in our first grantmaking cycle
- 2004 – Completed our first three-year, long-term investments
- 2007 – Exceeded $1 million in cumulative grant awards to 11 community organizations
- 2008 – Membership exceeds 50 Partners, 100 individuals
- 2008 – Recipient of capacity-building grant from Oregon Community Foundation to expand SVPP Partnership
- 2009 – Launch of 2009-2011 Strategic Plan to double SVPP Partnership and establish a dual investment strategy: the Capacity Building and Social Venture Funds.
- 2011 – Announcement of our new community goal to make sure that every child in Portland is ready for kindergarten by 2021
