Dallas Social Venture Partners seeks to develop philanthropy

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Dallas Social Venture Partners seeks to develop
philanthropy volunteerism to achieve positive
social change in Dallas County. Using the venture
capital approach as a model, DSVP commits to
giving time, money expertise to create
partnerships with not for profit organizations.

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Venture Philanthropy

• is the philanthropic application of venture
  capital principles and practice. Venture
  Philanthropy assists non profit organizations in
  the plan, launch and management of new programs
  or social purpose enterprises. In addition to
  grants Venture Philanthropists provide
  networking, management advice and an array of
  other supports to organizations within a given
  portfolio of charitable investments.

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How did this all get started?

• Harvard Business Review
• High tech wealth exploding economy
• Traditional philanthropist versus the new
  donor
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Robin Hood Foundation Roberts Enterprise
  Development Fund

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After about 6 lunches in Seattle

• Paul Brainerd, SVP founder, sold Aldus in 95
  started brainerd.org
• Start talking, listening in 97
• What he heard vacuum to be filled, catalytic
  organization to be formed
• Inspired by Robin Hood, Letts
• Business leader(s) core nucleus admin.
  Support SVP launch!

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MUCH ADO ABOUT SOMETING IN DALLAS

• Initiative of The Dallas Foundation
• Paul Shoemaker in Seattle and David Lunsford in
  Austin
• Southwest Venture Forum
• David Lunsford presents in Dallas
• Bob Wright and Chad Coben become founding
  partners
• DSVP has eighty partners

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SVP EXPLOSION

• Groups in Seattle,Austin, Phoenix, Dallas
  Pittsburgh and Denver
• Groups in developmental stages in Cleveland,
  Boston, St. Louis, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, San
  Diego, San Francisco, NYC, Calgary, Chicago,
  Vancouver, Tampa and London
• First Summit in Dallas April 2000

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DSVPs Approach Venture Philanthropy

• Long Term Sustained, Consistent
• Skills Expertise (V Teams)
• Measurable Outcomes
• Partnership with investees
• Grants fund general operations
• Portfolio approach

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Core Goals Themes for first year

• Dual Mission!!
• Building SVP infrastructure
• Making good grant decisions
• Ensuring Grant success strong volunteer
  partnerships
• Sustaining Partner involvement initiating
  Partner Education

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DSVPs Building Blocks
Grant Committees
Working Groups
Building SVPs Infrastructure
Investing our Pooled Funds
15
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Volunteer Teams
Working w/ Our Investees
50
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DSVPs V Team Approach
INVESTEE
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Management Financial
Mentoring Tutoring
Funding
INVESTEE
Replication Expansion
Web Computing
Marketing Media
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Management Financial
Mentoring Tutoring
Funding
V-Team
INVESTEE
Replication Expansion
Web Computing
Marketing Media
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Management Financial
Mentoring Tutoring
Partners
Funding
V-Team
INVESTEE
Replication Expansion
Web Computing
Marketing Media
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Management Financial
Extended Support
Mentoring Tutoring
Funding
Partners
V-Team
INVESTEE
Replication Expansion
Web Computing
Marketing Media
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• Executive Director
• DSVP work plans
• Facilitate grantmaking evaluation
• Community building
• Partner recruitment events
• Administration financials
• Glue

• Board of Directors
• Final Grant approval
• Oversees exec. director
• Oversees budget, legal
• Guidance, counsel
• Grievances

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Administration of DSVP

• 2.5 staff
• Admin costs paid for by 10 of Partner
  contributions interest 1 Time contribution
  other investors
• Stay lean
• Convene connect catalyze
• Partner, bottoms up, organic driven

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Partner Development Education
Partner Interest Groups
Partner Interest Groups
Childrens Education
Partner Interest Groups
Partner Interests, Passions, Needs
Personal Philanthropy Why How
Social Entrepreneurism
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Recruiting New Partners!

• This isnt a hard sell
• Has been very much 11 w/ a few small group get
  togethers
• Use word of mouth, grow the web
• Personal stories, experiences
• Use opportunities like speakers, education
• Diligent tracking and follow up
• Make sure to welcome and orient new Partners!

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Risk Success Factors

• Risk Factors
• Virtual organization structure (email and the
  Web are vital organs)
• High maintenance / Learning challenge
• Partner Connection (Year 3 is coming!)
• Keys to Success
• Partner engagement
• Sense of community connectedness
• Lead Partners as fulcrums, points of leadership
  throughout the organization

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And some lessons learned

• Grant Committees
• Set a schedule early on!
• Make sure people commit from the start
• Meet in peoples homes!
• Mix of experience new
• Volunteer Teams
• Lead Partner as fulcrum, vital cog
• Create Teamness
• Definition of project and matching skills
• Start narrow, build trust, and let it grow
• Dating, engaged, married!