VPP as an organization has emerged as a catalyst for change and key asset and resource for the region—having the knowledge and ability to navigate the political, bureaucratic, and other systems that often impede new initiatives; the capacity and network to raise and invest large amounts of capital; and the expertise and access to resources necessary to manage complex investments, lead organizational transformation, and solve difficult problems facing organizations, funders, and others in the sector. VPP's collective capacity includes:

• A pool of growth capital, the scarcest form of funding in the field. Having the capacity and mission to invest several million dollars into a nonprofit organization for the exclusive purpose of helping build a stronger, more effective, high-performing institution places VPP within a remarkable few set of funders in the nation.
• A field-tested investment approach that incorporates the strategy, rigor, and analysis of private equity investment firms and applies it in a way that responds to the uniqueness of nonprofit organizations. This approach is ingrained in the VPP organization and codified in a suite of systems and tools that are continually improved through an ongoing knowledge capture and learning process.
• An in-house team of professionals made up of individuals with executive experience who understand how to build organizations, possess relevant domain expertise, and are directed by strong leadership anchored in Managing Partner Carol Thompson Cole and Chairman Mario Morino.
• A high-powered network of regional and national contacts from multiple sectors helps open up new opportunities for our nonprofit partners, introduces them to new circles of influence and support and ways to leverage their organization and resources, and increases their access to the talent, tools, information, and perspectives they need.
• A growing knowledge base of the experience, achievements, and lessons learned by VPP, our nonprofit partners, and investors has been systematically captured and contributes to the continuous improvement of our organization and investment approach. This knowledge base represents a growing, important asset to be shared with the field for broader impact beyond our investment partners.
• A brand that is earning credibility in the region, clearly benefiting the investment partners, helping to attract top talent and providers, and starting to impact the field as VPP is increasingly invited into important regional and national venues and initiatives. And, our demonstrated performance and growing brand are helping us emerge as a preferred advisor, partner, broker, and co-investor for foundations, individual donors, and more.

What made all this possible was the creation of the VPP organization and the investment in its own capacity. Separate from the $30+ million from our founding investors, an additional significant investment was used to build the VPP organization, attract and develop its team of in-house professionals, define and codify its investment analysis and approach, and develop the resulting systems and tools, establish a knowledge capture and transfer capability, and build the surrounding web of relationships and brand.

The Morino Institute took the lead in providing the capital to create and build VPP, and this was augmented by additional strategic in-kind support from McKinsey & Co., Community Wealth Ventures, and The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region.

As Ed Skloot, Executive Director of the Surdna Foundation, said, "VPP is an innovative, determined, investment hybrid that brings high net worth people to the table to significantly improve the lot of human service deliverers and the people they assist."