Social Venture Kids Grantmaking

Social Venture Kids (SVK) is a program of Social Venture Partners that involves our Partners’ kids in grades 9–12 in grantmaking. By introducing young people to the needs of their community through grantmaking, we hope to get them involved in philanthropy at an early age and instill in them the desire to continue to give to their community throughout the rest of their lives.

Learn more about how Social Venture Kids works.

SVKids Grantmaking Process

While not as sophisticated as the SVP model, SVK tries to be thorough and rigorous in our grantmaking approach. Every fall we select a different focus area. We research it and host a panel discussion with experts from local nonprofits. We fundraise. We develop giving priorities based on what we have learned and solicit grant applications. We create a rating tool so that we can score each application more objectively. Criteria are weighted by importance and may include: fit with giving priorities, program execution, financial health, funding sources, mission/program match, outcomes, innovation, and measurability. The applications are read, reviewed, scored and discussed at length. The grant applications that receive the top four scores receive site visits. Site visits are summarized in reports and which are presented. The final grants are selected from the four finalists and awarded in May. 

2009-2010 Focus: Education

SVK chose to focus their 2009-10 grantmaking cycle on education. Providing a quality education to all youth is critical to our community's success. From the foundation of early childhood through high school, SVK has learned about education issues in King County and what makes a successful program. We refined our giving priorities as we learned more, and in late spring selected two organizations to receive grants.  

2009-2010 Grantees

Rainier Scholars is a support and education program for students of color designed to aid them in attaining success in education, all the way through college. Each year prior to their sixth-grade year, Rainier Scholars accepts 60 promising students, and through intensive academic help and leadership development, helps them to excel in school and finish college. SVK granted $6,000 to aid them in continuing their work in the Seattle area.

Friends of the Children - King County is a 12-year mentoring program that supports children from kindergarten through high school. It is designed to help keep at-risk youth in school. Each child in the program spends at least four hours a week with their mentor, who helps the child with school work and social activities. SVK has invested $6,000 in Friends of the Children - King County.