Grantmaking FAQs

What are Social Venture Partners' funding priorities? 

SVP funds programs in the following categories: Early Childhood Development, Environment, K-12 Education, and Out-of-School Time.   Eligible organizations must be located in King County. Applicants must qualify as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)3 or 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Service code. 

What is capacity building?  Why is capacity building important to SVP?

We define Organizational Capacity Building as the development of core skills, management practices, strategies and systems to enhance an organization’s effectiveness, sustainability and ability to fulfill its mission.

SVP believes that stronger management, systems and infrastructure result in stronger organizations that can more effectively achieve their programs and fulfill their mission. To achieve this, SVP works in partnership with nonprofits. SVP is not only a grantmaking organization, but also a capacity building organization. In addition to cash grants, SVP provides skilled volunteers, professional consultants, leadership development and management training opportunities. 

SVP matches our Partners’ expertise with the needs of our Investees. By working together, our Partners and Investees develop a unique mutually beneficial relationship.

SVP develops "long-term strategic relationships" with non-profit organizations, but only gives 12-month grants in its first year. That seems contradictory, can you explain? 

SVP gives initial 12-month grants to new Investees with a long-term approach in mind. During the first year of a funding relationship, the nonprofit Investee and SVP have a chance to get to know each other and mutually decide if there is a basis for a longer-term relationship. After the first year, SVP will make individual refunding grant decisions based on a review of annual objectives. Although the refunding decisions are made annually, SVP expects relationships with many of its Investees will span three to five years.

How large are the individual grants given by SVP? 

New grants are $40,000. Refunding grants range from $35,000 to $65,000. SVP makes initial single-year grants with the intent of establishing longer-term partnerships with its Investees (typically three to five years).

What are the key characteristics you are looking for in an Investee?

The organizations that SVP currently funds fit SVP's Guiding Principles. The value we add to these organizations includes not only cash grants but capacity-building assistance. We seek organizations that have a clear vision for their organization over the next three to five years, and a vision for how SVP can help them accomplish this. These organizations are committed to an infusion of SVP volunteer support to build and strengthen their organization's capacity to deliver programs, and they are committed to program evaluation and measuring outcomes. For more details see the SVP Capacity-Building Model and the SVP’s Grant Evaluation Criteria.

What are the qualities of a leader you look for in an Investee?  

SVP's Investees are led by passionate leaders with vision and ideas about effecting change and solving problems in the community. They often use traditional business skills to achieve their goals and make creative use of limited resources to doggedly pursue their social mission!  They are open to working with high-level volunteers and embrace collaboration.