Who We Are
Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners
PSVP is a partnership of philanthropic-minded individuals who invest their time, expertise and capital in innovative nonprofits serving at-risk youth. PSVP Provides a unique forum through which individuals can effect positive, lasting change in their communities.
Innovative Solutions & Strategic Investments
By applying their expertise, experience and capital, PSVP Partners help nonprofits develop high-impact solutions that catalyze positive social change. By pooling resources, our Partners influence and impact organizations in extraordinary ways to achieve a measurable impact on real social problems facing our community.
Getting Involved
PSVP provides a unique vehicle through which civic-minded individuals can effect positive, lasting change in our community. By engaging Partners in hands-on activities with nonprofits, from strategic planning, marketing and financial management to technology development and implementation, our Partners provide organizations focused on serving at-risk youth with the strategic and tactical support they need to achieve their missions.
Social Venture Partner Movement
The Social Venture Partner movement was founded in Seattle (www.svpseattle.org) in 1997 by a group led by Paul Brainerd, the founder of Aldus. SVP branches already exist in more than 21 cities across North America & Japan (www.svpi.org) and are in the process of forming on other continents at this time. The vision of the founders was to build a philanthropic organization using the venture capital model of investment where Partners actively nurture their financial investments with careful management, guidance and resources toward pre-defined outcomes (i.e. the social return on investment).
Investing in the Well-Being of Our Region’s Children
The Pittsburgh SVP is dedicated to impacting at-risk children and youth in Allegheny County through investing in nonprofits whose leaders have transformative solutions to, often, old problems. In evaluating a potential investment, we assess the Value of the Investment (i.e. its potential impact) and the probability that we will be successful.
Once we make an investment, we focus our resources (expertise, money and connections), over three to five years, on seeing our Investee’s vision become reality.
New Generation
Partners can get involved in a number of ways, as suits their individual goals and availability.
- participating on the Investment Committee to decide how to invest PSVP’s resources;
- working with PSVP staff on committees focused on building and managing PSVP’s infrastructure (Communications, Membership Development and Partner Education); or
- provide volunteer advisory and tactical assistance to “Investees” on specific objectives outlined in our grant agreements.
Partners can scale their level of involvement. Opportunities range from one-time tasks or time-based projects to ongoing 6-12 month (or more) commitments as a Lead Partner, committee chairperson, mentor, etc. Some Partners contribute for a while, take a break, and then get involved again, as professional and family lives allow.
Toward More Effective Philanthropy
PSVP also offers a range of information, workshops, and resources to further inform and develop the personal philanthropy goals of our Partners. Subject matter experts are invited to share their expertise on topics such as creating personal giving plans, social enterprise, gang violence and at-risk children and youth population issues. By informing and educating its Partnership, PSVP hopes to catalyze the philanthropic potential of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Becoming a PSVP Partner
PSVP is a partnership of civic-minded professionals who take a non-traditional approach to philanthropy, and engage in hands-on activities with nonprofit leaders. Our flexible partnerships and programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of each Partner. We enable individuals to explore the nonprofit landscape in Allegheny County, while identifying additional ways to contribute to their community.
As a partner, you will:
- Learn about our community’s specific needs and who is addressing them;
- Use your professional expertise and skills to benefit your community;
- Pool your resources with others to maximize the impact of your contributions;
- Network with others in your community;
- Develop a vision to give more effectively and make a difference.