Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners (PSVP) is a network of partners connecting passion and purpose. Partners give their skills, their time, and their resources to support innovative nonprofits in Allegheny County. We call this engaged giving — working together to unleash the potential of our local organizations who serve the underserved — fostering change right here at home.
PSVP’s model for putting these ideals into action include “pitch” events where leading-edge programs are given a platform to be heard. What results is networking, grant making and relationship-building among the nonprofits and the greater Pittsburgh philanthropic community.
Historically, PSVP’s programs have focused on creating impact in two distinct areas:
- Philanthropy Development: PSVP fosters a community of lifelong, informed and inspired philanthropists. Partners are high-achieving individuals who make strategic and substantial contributions to nonprofit organizations through their skills, their time, and their resources.
- Capacity Building: PSVP supports nonprofit organizations (investees) that seek new resources and innovative approaches for addressing a variety of issues that affect at-risk youth. Capacity building investments focus on increasing the ability of each nonprofit we assist to fulfill its mission. This includes cash grants, highly-skilled volunteers, professional consultants, leadership development and management training opportunities.
Our Approach
The Partners are committed to six shared principles:
Engaged Venture Philanthropy. Partners invest time, expertise and money in nonprofits. They seek collaborative relationships with nonprofits that last for at least three years.
Entrepreneurial Spirit. Partners use innovative approaches to achieve leveraged results in their nonprofit partnerships and communities. They delegate decisions, resources, and authority to those closest to the work.
Philanthropic Education. Partners educate themselves and become informed, effective, lifetime philanthropists. Ongoing individual philanthropy is catalyzed through hands-on experience and education.
Community & Collaborative Action. Partners believe in the power of collective, self-organized effort. They encourage and maintain highly participatory, Partner-driven organizations that use non-hierarchical communications and operating practices. SVPs support an open exchange of knowledge and lessons learned, and avoid partisan, religious or political activities.
Mutual Respect. Partners respect the expertise of community nonprofit organizations. They form close working relationships with organizations where the partners are mutually vested in the nonprofit’s success.
Accountability & Results. Partners are mutually accountable to each other, their Investees (grant recipients) and community. They achieve and document measurable results, both in their own work and through their nonprofit partnerships.
Just the Facts
PSVP: 501 (c)3 non profit
Founded in: 2001
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Geographical reach: Allegheny County, PA
Focus on: At-risk children
Number of current partners: 47
Total grants since inception: $900,000+
Hours of professional, hands-on support to Investees from our partners: 2,500+
Additional funding leveraged: $10 million