: : : Social Venture Partners : : :

OUR MISSION

PROMOTING PHILANTHROPY WHILE DOING PHILANTROPY

Social Venture Partners Minnesota is an entrepreneurial organization that leverages the money and expertise of its members to promote philanthropy and improve the lives of ‘at risk’ youth.

We give both our money and our talents to help the organizations that help the children of Minnesota.

Using our experience as business entrepreneurs and investors, we seek out social enterepreneurs who are finding new ways to solve social problems. We support nonprofit innovators in the area of:

Early childhood development (pre-school kids 0-5 years)
Academic, creative, & business literacy (middle & charter school age)
Continuing & advanced educational services (elementary & middle school)

WHAT WE DO

Social Venture Partners Minnesota invests our partners' charitable dollars, time and expertise in innovative organizations serving 'at risk' youth.

By opening our hearts and checkbooks, we provide rewarding experiences for our partners, their families and employees by engaging in:

Hands-on service experiences;
Education that highlights the latest trends in social venture philanthropy and;
Fun social and networking events

OUR MEMBERS

Our members, called partners, are successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and professionals skilled at growing organizations with a heart for making a better world. We are business entrepreneurs working alongside social entrepreneurs to solve social problems.

Social Venture Partners Minnesota spouses (or significant others) work with our organization as equal partners by giving generously of their time and expertise. Most partners are actively involved with their families, faith community, and schools and serve on local and national boards.

Social Venture Partner members gain satisfaction from giving of their talents, as well as their money, forming personal relationships with the nonprofit staff they work with and the children served by the nonprofit. Members often involve their teenage children in philanthropy through our youth program, SVP Teens.

OUR MN CHAPTER IS PART OF A NATIONAL NETWORK OF VENTURE PHILANTHROPISTS

Social Venture Partners Minnesota is part of the international venture philanthrophy movement. The first Social Venture Partner affiliate was founded in 1997 by Paul Brainerd, founder of Aldus Corporation, in Seattle. Brainerd's vision was to build a philanthropic network using the venture capital model, where partners invest in innovative social entrepreneurs, and actively nurture their financial investments with guidance and resources. He wanted Social Venture Partners to give partners a new way to engage in philanthropy, allowing them be active players in their giving. Today, the Social Venture Partner model has been replicated in more than 26 cities in the U.S., Canada and Japan.