What To Expect

One of the key aspects differentiating Social Venture Partners from foundations and giving circles is the degree of involvement of our partners in each aspect of our operations. Each partner makes an individual or shared charitable donation of $5,000 or more annually, meaning that partners take a keen role in ensuring that their social investment is well used. Partners can chose to volunteer with SVP Toronto or not, and are involved in several ways.

  1. Partners choose the nonprofits receiving multi-year investments (Investment Committee);
  2. They provide professional expertise to those agencies funded (Volunteer/Consulting Team);
  3. Partners design and deliver educational events for partners and guests; and,
  4. They are the driving force in developing, expanding and managing our organization (SVP Committees currently include: Leadership, Investment, Education, Recruitment & Outreach, and Measurement & Evaluation, and Marketing).

SVP Toronto places an emphasis on partner education and regularly holds events for the partnership. Some examples of Partner Education Events include:

  • Lunchtime Panel about Social Enterprise with guests Anil Patel of Framework Foundation and Timeraiser (a partner), Ruth Richardson of Small Change Foundation and Peter Dietz of Social Actions
  • A "Fireside Chat" – in the home of SVP Partners – with Ken Richard of Native Child and Family Service
  • A Poverty Simulation workshop delivered in cooperation with the Toronto Social Planning Council and Opportunity For Advancement

Partners join and stay in SVP because they can give back and enjoy doing it. You’ll find a group of like-minded people whom you otherwise might not meet. Across North America, SVP partners are personally transformed through collaborative giving and its impact on community-based organizations. Partners become more strategic donors, usually giving and volunteering more than they did before joining SVP.