SVPP Investments: Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How does a nonprofit get SVPP’s attention for consideration?
A. If your organization is within our current focus area and meets our eligibility requirements (see Apply for Investment), during the next investment cycle you may submit a brief proposal. At this time, no out-of-cycle ideas are being considered. To receive the next request for proposal, contact us.
Q. What is the application process?
A. For the Ready for Kindergarten Fund, we issue an RFP and accept proposals several weeks later. We acknowledge receipt of all proposals and select a number of finalists for site visits. Our Partners evaluate the proposals and conduct the site visits to determine Investees.
Q. How are organizations evaluated and how are selections made?
A. Organizations are evaluated on the strength of their leadership both at the operational and board level, the creativity and effectiveness of their approach, their reputation for success, the measurability of their outcomes, and the ways in which SVPP’s investment package might serve as leverage to achieve the organization’s goals, among other criteria. Selections are made by the investment committee and ratified by the SVPP board of directors.
Q. How are subsequent funding decisions made?
A. In the Ready for Kindergarten Fund, we make a multi-year commitment with a $15,000 general operating grant made at the beginning of the investment (after SVP and the nonprofit Investee agree on a Memorandum of Understanding for the investment). Assuming the investment partnership continues making progress and the nonprofit Investee remains a going concern, we make a second investment of $10,000 after one year. Approval for this investment is based on performance against the Memo of Understanding.
Q. Some of your Investees are not serving your Ready for Kindergarten goal (LEP Charter High School, CASH Oregon, Portland Reading Foundation). Why is that? Do you consider organizations addressing problems outside of ths goal area?
A. In our first ten years, we invested in organizations that helped to change life for our children, youth and families at risk. That has taken us into excellent investments in literacy, charter schools, mentoring and poverty reduction, among others. We continue working them until we reach the investment vision developed in our MOU. In 2011, we made a commitment to achieve a focused community goal to ensure all children are prepared for kindergarten in the Portland metro area. Through 2021, all new investments will focus exclusively on organizations and solutions addressing the most significant barriers to the children being ready for kindergarten.
Q. If SVPP invites my organization to submit a proposal, does that mean I have a better chance of getting funded?
A. No, this is not a guarantee that funding will result.
Q. How many investments does SVPP make per grant cycle?
A. In the Ready for Kindergarten Fund, we typically choose one or two new Investees every year. This could vary depending on the complexity and difficulty of the proposals submitted and SVP’s own capacity to deliver successfully on multiple investments.
Q. What is the typical size of an SVPP grant?
A. Investees receive a $15,000 gift upon SVPP’s decision to invest. and $10,000 in the second year based on goals against performance.
Q. I know that some of your Investees have received or currently receive $25,000-$40,000? This seems different than the funding amounts and timing described above. Why is this?
A. SVPP has made investment commitments to several nonprofits before 2009 based on previously-determined funding guidelines and levels. These funding commitments will renew (as appropriate) based on those guidelines through the life of those investments.
