Volunteer Your Time and Talent

Develop a Style Usage Guide for Team Read

Willow Saranna Russell — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:32:57 -0700

Team Read is looking for an SVP volunteer who will work with the staff and board to develop a Style Usage Guide to help create consistency and continuity across all Team Read communications.

A more detailed volunteer description & scope are available upon request.

Interested in volunteering for this project? Send us an email >>

About Team Read

Team Read is an after school reading program with the mission of “Teens tutoring kids to achieve reading success.” We provide 2^nd and 3^rd grade students who are reading significantly below grade level with one-on-one reading support from highly trained teenage tutors.

Provide Salesforce Training for Team Read

Willow Saranna Russell — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:25:00 -0700

As Team Read moves into a more sophisticated strategy for donor communications, they want to engage Salesforce as a more comprehensive tool. They are looking for a volunteer that can look at their annual fundraising and communications plan and help determine the ways in which Salesforce can be used to further advance this work.

A more detailed volunteer description & scope are available upon request.

Interested in volunteering for this project? Send us an email >>

About Team Read

Join the Portfolio Grant Committee

Willow Saranna Russell — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:10:00 -0700

Want to help nonprofits get the most out of their ongoing relationship with SVP? Interested in getting to know the whole range of organizations we work with?

Join the Portfolio Grant Committee!

SVP funds 12-15 organizations in any given year, and the resulting Investee Portfolio is overseen by a committee of 9-12 SVP Partners. PGC members connect with Lead Partners and Investee executive directors on an ongoing basis and meet with each organization twice a year. At these meetings they review the Investee's mission-based results, and the progress they’ve made on strengthening their internal systems (e.g. financial management, communications, etc.)

In this way the PGC ensures that SVP continues to invest in organizations that are having a great impact in our community and are optimizing their relationship with SVP. Participating on the PGC also offers our Partners a unique experience, because rather than getting to know one or two organizations, members get a broad perspective of all the organizations SVP works with.

PGC members also advance their own learning through workshops and education sessions that can help shape and evolve SVP’s Capacity Building Model. Partners make a 3-year commitment to serve on the PGC. Partners who have previously served on an SVP grant committee and who have some nonprofit experience usually find the PGC to be a good fit.

Interested in joining? Shoot Lynn Coriano an email.

Hear What Past Members Have to Say

“One of the things I value most is having the chance to see lots of nonprofits, to get to know what a good nonprofit looks like, and what makes them strong. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. It's been a huge learning experience that will help me in all my future work with nonprofits."

- SVP Partner, Lisa Bontje

“Every time I go to a review I am inspired by the organizations we work with, and the work they do for the community. One of my favorite parts is getting to ask: ‘How can we help you over the next 6 months?’ There is a time when a switch goes on and they really understand the potential, and that’s fantastic.”

- SVP Partner, Todd Vogel

Dive Deep as a Lead Partner

Willow Saranna Russell — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 23:15:00 -0700

Do you have project management experience and a passion for education or the environment? Do you want to dive deep with one of SVP’s new Investees?

Consider becoming a Lead Partner!

SVP will be selected two new Investees this year, one in K-12 Education and one focused on the Environment. Each of these organizations will be ready to take their organization’s work to the next level, and you can help them get there! Lead Partners are the primary liaisons between SVP and our Investees, managing volunteer projects and advocating on their behalf.

They often volunteer with an organization for 3-5 years, spending from 4–10 hours a month working with the executive director and other Investee staff. Lead Partners generally have strong project management skills, allowing them to optimize capacity building relationships between SVP and the nonprofits we support.

If you interested in learning more about becoming a Lead Partner, please contact Lynn Coriano. Plus, hear a little bit about the role from Ron Tanemura...

Help Develop a Communications Strategy for SESEC

Willow Saranna Russell — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:25:00 -0700

The South East Seattle Education Coalition (SESEC) is looking for assistance scoping and developing a communications plan to fit their All Fives in Five Campaign (bringing all schools in Southeast Seattle up to a level 5 status in 5 years). SESEC is gaining momentum and a strong communications strategy will help the collaborative build and disseminate clear messaging on their goals.

SESEC seeks a thought partner who can aid in assessing SESEC’s communication strategy needs (determining audience, implementation roles and defining objectives) as well as building a communications plan for the leadership team and staff to follow. With increased interest in SESEC’s work from other foundations, clear and consistent communications is even more important- this project will help set SESEC up for success.

Estimated Timeline: May-September 2013 | Interested? Please email Mike Quinn.

More Information about SESEC

The Vietnamese Friendship Association (an SVP Investee) serves as the convener and fiscal sponsor for the South East Seattle Education Coalition (SESEC).

SESEC’s vision is to rally communities of color and allies to improve Southeast Seattle Schools so that all students succeed and all families are empowered.

Census 2010 indicated that 98118, located in Southeast Seattle, was the most diverse zip code in the US. This zip code is rich with cultures, languages, and ethnic community-based organizations. Unfortunately, schools in Southeast Seattle historically and currently perform significantly worse than schools in other parts of the city and out children face a widening opportunity gap.

The SESEC aims to close this opportunity gap and improve our schools’ performance through our All Fives in Five Campaign: bringing all schools in Southeast Seattle up to level 5 status in 5 years. We do this through aligning the work of all education stakeholders: CBOs, administrators, teachers, students, families and the entire community.

Lend your Marketing & Internal Communications Skills

Mike Quinn — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0700

Child Care Resources promotes school readiness, a stable community and equity for children by building a quality child care system. They help families in challenging situations find answers to child care questions.

CCR works with families and child care providers throughout Washington State. They hear and learn from them about child care needs and solutions. Part of their mission is to advocate on behalf of these families. Because the majority of their funding and direct services are aimed at formal child care settings, the world of Family, Friend & Neighbor (FFN) care often is seen as separate or other. Yet to carry out their mission for every child, resources must be directed toward the families who provide so much care for the youngest children.

CCR wants all of their staff to be able to fluently, confidently speak out about how families care for their young children, and what they need to be successful in supporting healthy child development. In order for CCR staff to adequately speak to the needs of all children in Collective Action conversations and coordination, they seek assistance in increasing all staff understanding of FFN.

CCR is looking for a volunteer to assist in assessing how they are currently messaging FFN and building communication tools (deeper than talking pts) to aid CCR staff while advocating for all children (including those in FFN) in community wide collective action efforts. In the end, they seek to have a strong, broad message to take to Collective Action table with backbone efforts as to the needs of children in FFN.

A more detailed volunteer description & scope are available upon request.

Interested in volunteering for this project? Send us an email >>

Use your HR Skills to Conduct a Salary Study & Update Job Descriptions

Mike Quinn — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0800

Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) works to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed in challenging high school courses.

As a young and growing organization, EOS is looking to recruit and retain top quality staff for the future. In order to accomplish this, they are looking for a volunteer to review their current position descriptions and salary ranges and make recommendations for revisions. This project would involve conducting a salary study of comparable nonprofit and for profit organizations and also result new job descriptions.

More information available upon request.

Anticipated Dates: March 2013 - April 2013

Interested in volunteering for this project? Send us an email >>

Help Create Leadership Development Plans for Powerful Schools

Mike Quinn — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Powerful Schools reduces the academic achievement gap by creating strong partnerships with public schools to help children thrive. Through literacy, arts, after-school and leadership programs, they ensure all children succeed both in and out of school.

Powerful Schools is looking for assistance with developing leadership development plans for several key staff positions. The goal for the project is for the organization to have a good understanding of the current and future responsibilities for several positions and also identify future leadership paths for those roles.

More detail available upon request.

Interested in volunteering for this project? Send us an email >>

Assess Feasibility of New Social Enterprise for DLEC

Mike Quinn — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Denise Louie Education Center recently brainstormed a few new social enterprise ideas that fit with the mission of the organization. They are looking for volunteers who can help assess the feasibility of this new idea.

We already have one person interested. Would you like to join them for a team approach? This team would create a market research report that can be used to make a case for expansion, and present findings to the board. More detailed information available upon request.

Anticipated Dates: December 2012 - March 2013

Interested in volunteering for this project? Send us an email >>

Interested in Joining a Nonprofit Board? Here are Investees Looking!

Mike Quinn — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0800

We often ask our Investees if they are looking for additional Board members. Below you will find a list of organizations and any specific skill set that they are looking for. While we are happy to provide introductions, we encourage all of our Investees to follow their own Board recruitment process.

Denise Louie Education Center: Currently recruiting for several positions including a Board Treasurer
Child Care Resources: More Information Here!
Boyer Children's Clinic
Dynamic Partners

Advisory Council:

Boyer Children's Clinic is also looking to add Advisory Council Members. The Council will identify and provide potential sources of support for the agency as well as expand outreach efforts with key community partners.

Interested in learning more about joining one of these boards? Send us an email >>

Help VFA's Board Update Its Governance Manual

Mike Quinn — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Help the Vietnamese Friendship Association refresh their Board governance manual to reflect the new Board. They are looking for a volunteer who is knowledgeable of board governance, has facilitation skills and experience working with ethnic organizations (or a willingness to adapt skills to a cultural setting)

Anticipated Dates: Dec. 2012 - February, 2013

Interested in volunteering for this project? Send us an email >>

Create a Marketing & Messaging Strategy for College Access Now

Mike Quinn — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0700

College Access Now (CAN) is dedicated to making college admission possible for talented, motivated and economically disadvantaged students who are in the first generation of their families to attend college. Its methodology is unique; it promotes college attendance through a best practice combination of full-time on-site staffing and services, after-school class sessions, campus visits and individualized coaching.

Clear, concise messaging will set CAN apart from others in the college access and success arena. Ensuring that the Board, staff and volunteers, and collateral are aligned and speak to the impact of the organization is critical as CAN looks to scale significantly over the next few years. CAN is looking for volunteers to help with a few projects around creating this new marketing strategy for the organization. Possible engagements include:

Lead a CAN task force through a Marketing Strategy process that will help the organization develop clear, concise and consistent messaging for use in fund development and community outreach. This may lead to possible re-branding and updating the mission statement.
This new framework would lead to new concept, creative and production of new CAN style sheet, collateral, annual report, and related graphic design elements. This work may be taken on by a different volunteer if needed.

More details upon request

Anticipated Dates: August - December 2012

Interested in volunteering for this project? Send us an email >>

Quickbooks Training for VFA

Willow Saranna Russell — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:10:00 -0700

Help train Vietnamese Friendship Association staff how to effectively use Quickbooks and increase their ability to pull the right reports at the right time.

Anticipated Dates: 3/1/12 - 5/1/2012

Interested in volunteering for this project? Send us an email >>