Social Venture Partners are engaged citizens committed to achieving measurable social change in the four county area surrounding Portland, Oregon. Our partners give time, money, and expertise to strengthen innovative nonprofit organizations and develop strategic solutions to community problems.

SVPP is a dual mission organization. We seek to be both an engaged grant-maker as well as a catalyst for informed giving. An important part of the total SVPP experience includes educating individuals to be well-informed, effective, and engaged philanthropists. We host quarterly meetings with community leaders to educate Partners and friends on issues of both local and national importance. Our unique value lies in providing partners with experiential lessons gained by working directly with our investees.

Our History
The first Social Venture Partners organization was founded in Seattle in 1997 as the inspiration of former Aldus Corporation president Paul Brainerd and friends. His vision was to pursue philanthropy using a venture capital model where partners actively nurture their financial "investments" with guidance as well as financial resources.

SVP Portland was founded by 20 business leaders in late 2000. Its members include professionals in technology, law, finance, education, human resources, social services, and medicine. Today we have approximately 50 partnerships comprising nearly 100 members and have given more than $1 million in grants to date.