New Beginnings for VPP

June is a month of graduations, of endings with new beginnings. And so it is for Venture Philanthropy Partners. Like the students who walk across our region’s high school and college stages, we too have reached an important milestone—the completion of our first fund. Since our founding seven years ago, we have tested our investment partners, our investors, and ourselves. We have learned valuable and sometimes difficult lessons. Our experiences have helped to sharpen our thinking. And now, we look forward to the future, to charting a new course with a clear destination and a solid plan for how to get there. More »

Unveiling the Campaign for VPP: "The Best Days Are Ahead"

On June 4, more than 150 VPP investors, donors, board members, investment partners, community leaders, and friends gathered at the beautiful Katzen Arts Center at American University to celebrate the work of VPP and its investment partners and to formally unveil the Campaign for Venture Philanthropy Partners.

The program featured VPP Co-Founders Mario Morino, Raul Fernandez, and Governor Mark Warner, who spoke about VPP’s vision, results, and overall impact. More»

New Beginnings for VPP

June is a month of graduations, of endings with new beginnings. And so it is for Venture Philanthropy Partners. Like the students who walk across our region’s high school and college stages, we too have reached an important milestone—the completion of our first fund. Since our founding seven years ago, we have tested our investment partners, our investors, and ourselves. We have learned valuable and sometimes difficult lessons. Our experiences have helped to sharpen our thinking. And now, we look forward to the future, to charting a new course with a clear destination and a solid plan for how to get there.

A few weeks ago, I had the great privilege to participate in a major announcement of the expansion of the successful partnership between College Summit (our newest investment partner and the last one of our first fund) and Prince George’s County Public Schools (see story below). This partnership will make it possible for more than 3,000 students who otherwise might not think about attending college to do so.

It was a tremendously moving experience to see the faces of the students who have participated in this program and hear the positive difference it has made in their lives. They are now going to realize their dream of going to college, a dream they didn’t think was possible. And it was also gratifying to see how College Summit-National Capital Region has blossomed in the past few years and to know that VPP played an important role in helping that organization put down strong roots in the region so that more children can go to college.

The majority of what we do at VPP is not the “sexy” stuff but the very real and challenging work of helping organizations transform themselves into something bigger and better than they are today. We’re kind of like the company that said in its ads, “We don’t make the food; we make the food better.” We don’t work directly with children and families. Instead, we work with nonprofit leaders and their teams on strategic and business planning, developing organizational systems, sourcing talent, helping them develop solid strategies to raise funds for long-term sustainability, and a host of other management issues. We help build organizations that in turn change and save lives.

Nonetheless, it is very powerful when we do have the chance to see and feel our investment partners' results and know that our work with them helps them be more effective. VPP has much to celebrate in its first seven years. But it is now time to move ahead to the future.

What does the future hold? We have ambitious plans to carry on the work we’ve started and to execute even more effectively.

• First we plan to complete our own capitalization and fund structure and have begun our campaign to raise $50 million from individuals, institutions, and corporations to support our next stage. We are already more than halfway there. Earlier this week, we brought together our investors—those who have been with us from the beginning and those who have joined us more recently—to celebrate our accomplishments and to unveil the Campaign for VPP. The energy and excitement was palpable. Like seeing the joy and pride on the faces of the College Summit students, it was gratifying to see how VPP has influenced and guided many of our investors as they move forward in their own philanthropy. VPP has created a dynamic community of investors who are deeply committed to making the region a better place and to pushing the envelope of philanthropy. We will expand and engage this growing community in VPP’s next phase, sharing our learning and helping them connect in order to learn from and leverage each other’s work.

• We will seek new investment opportunities to provide the greatest impact for children in need. With those new investments, we will apply our original investment approach, refined and improved from the lessons we’ve learned. We will focus earlier and more intently on financial stability and outcomes assessment. And we will work harder to clarify our expectations and our nonprofit partners’ expectations of us. We will make sure the boards of our investment partners fully understand our investment approach at the beginning of the relationship.

• We will strive to serve as a trusted advisor to the leaders of our nonprofit partners, providing the guidance and help they need for their critical work. We feel we know even more now about how to establish that relationship, including the time it takes and its importance to a successful investment.

• We will continue to bridge the many worlds—geographic, class, race, gender, communities, and the sectors: business, nonprofit, and government—in this region. As our visibility and reputation grows, we find ourselves with increased opportunities to connect different groups in the pursuit of improving the region for all.

• We will carry on our tradition of learning, adapting, and constantly improving our approach, communicating in many mediums and forms to many audiences.

• And, through the demonstrated performance of VPP and our nonprofit partners, we will continue to inspire and influence change in this region and the nation.

As we stand at this crossroads in the life of VPP, we celebrate our successes and continue to learn from our experiences. The future looks bright and we look forward to continuing our work with our investment partners, investors, and other partners here in the region and beyond who are all united in the goal of improving lives and creating models and approaches that continue to foster social change.

-Carol Thompson Cole

Unveiling the Campaign for VPP: "The Best Days Are Ahead"

Guests celebrated the work of VPP and its investment partners.

On June 4, more than 150 VPP investors, donors, board members, investment partners, community leaders, and friends gathered at the beautiful Katzen Arts Center at American University to celebrate the work of VPP and its investment partners and to formally unveil the Campaign for Venture Philanthropy Partners.

The program featured VPP Co-Founders Mario Morino, Raul Fernandez, and Governor Mark Warner, who spoke about VPP’s vision, results, and overall impact. Warner listed the reasons he had decided to reinvest in VPP, including its value as a regional intermediary, its ability to bring “old” and “new” Washington together, its focus on building strong organizations to serve more children, and its work to help its investment partners leverage public funding, which he feels is critical for truly affecting transformative change. Warner said, “I’m proud to re-up and I believe the best days of VPP are in front of us.”

College Summit Founder and CEO JB Schramm gave his perspective as an investment partner. Schramm said, “What VPP understands better than anyone we’ve seen is the power of networks to drive system change in communities. How does VPP harness networks? I think the secret is in VPP’s second P, partners…On the investor side you’ve got VPP partners who get involved on boards and pull in that way, and on the staff side what VPP has gathered together are accomplished leaders who have been leaders in the community, whose word has currency in the community, whose Rolodex has phone numbers of people who can get things done in the community.”

Campaign Chair Jack Davies announced that more than $28M toward the campaign goal of $50M had been raised to date.

VPP Campaign Chair Jack Davies formally unveiled the Campaign for Venture Philanthropy Partners with the news that more than $28M towards the campaign goal of $50M had been raised to date through the generosity of more than 40 investor families, institutional investors, corporate partners, and donors.

The event, which also featured the launch of a new video on VPP and an update by President and CEO Carol Thompson Cole, ended with a poignant performance of "Seasons of Love" by Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington’s singing group Bella.

To learn more about VPP’s campaign, please contact Steve Whisnant, Vice President of Investor Relations and Development, at 202-263-4796 or swhisnant@vppartners.org.

Venture Philanthropy Partners Featured in Forbes.com

See Forever (SFF) , Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care, and Venture Philanthropy Partners are featured in a Forbes.com article, "The New Activist Givers" by Richard Morais. The story illustrates VPP's approach through the examples of SFF and Mary’s Center. Forbes.com receives more than 10 million hits each month.

Management Changes

SEED Names Head of School
Thanks to Elizabeth Frazier, Director of Communications, for this update.

Charles Adams will start as Head of School of The SEED School of Washington, DC, in July. Adams is currently Principal of Middle School 313/Satellite West in Brooklyn, NY, where he led the organization through a time of significant change in student population and established a positive culture and focus on academic achievement. He is an alumnus of the New Leaders for New Schools Principal Training Program, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and Howard University School of Law.

CentroNía Welcomes Three Staff Members
Thanks to Isabel Barranzuela, Communications Manager, for this update.

CentroNía welcomes Elias Arellano as Outcomes Manager. Arellano will work with a variety of teams to develop, conduct, and monitor outcome measures across all the programs in the organization. The implementation of an outcomes system to strengthen program quality and integration of program delivery is one of the major goals of CentroNía’s strategic plan. Outcomes data inform program analysis, problem-solving, and decision-making for performance management. Arrelano, whose experience is grounded in program analysis and evaluation, has spent time analyzing documentation related to the organization’s strategic goals and targets by department and will now begin a cycle of team sessions with staff and directors to receive input on their functioning and reporting needs.

Brocklin Qualls is the Director of Early Childhood Education and Professional Development at CentroNía. Qualls has served the early childhood community in various leadership roles, including Associate Director of Government Affairs (National Head Start Association) and Head Start Director. Prior to working for Head Start, he taught kindergarten, first, and third grades. He has been recognized by the Head Start/University of California Los Angeles Management Fellowship Program and other early leadership organizations for leadership and training and technical assistance. Qualls has also served on the North Carolina Governor’s More at Four Board and was Chairperson of the Central Piedmont Community College Early Childhood Board. He holds a Communications and Public Relations Bachelor’s Degree (1993) from Xavier University, New Orleans, and a Master’s Degree in Education (1999) from Trinity College, Washington, DC.

Liliana Nunez is the new Director for Information Technology. In this position, she will increase the use of technology throughout the organization by managing the business technology infrastructure, integrating technology into our programs, and creating a professional development component to offer computer literacy to staff. Her professional background spans information technology programs development, implementation, and management. Nunez has managed a multi-state technical support staff responsible for managing more than 70 sites with more than 2,000 devices. As an information systems project manager, she possesses hands-on skills in systems evaluation, network infrastructure (design, maintenance, administration, support), web development, and management of contractors/consultants in various information technology projects.

Programs & Services

CMHS Launches Lecture Series
Thanks to Dennis Hunt, Executive Director, for this update.

In an effort to help the community be more responsive to the complex psycho-social needs of immigrants and refugees, CMHS has launched an anniversary lecture series to celebrate its 25 years of service in the region. This series provides psychologists, counselors, teachers, and other professionals who work with immigrants and refugees the knowledge and skills they need to better serve this population. Topics offered include Working Effectively with the Middle Eastern Client: A Multicultural Perspective on Mental Health and Social Services; Understanding and Responding to the Psychological Needs of Refugee and Immigrant Children; and Understanding Children’s Creative Expressions: An Art Therapy Approach. CMHS is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to offer continuing education to psychologists and other mental health professionals who participate in the lecture series. Annually, the agency provides professional training to thousands of individuals locally and throughout the country through webinars and onsite workshops.

Partnerships & Alliances

College Summit, Prince George's County Schools, and VPP Announce Partnerships
Thanks to Tom Harrison, Marketing and PR Coordinator, for this update.

On May 22 at Crossland High School, the Prince George’s County community sounded a clarion call for educational opportunity. At a joint press conference, Prince George’s County Public Schools announced its three-year partnership with College Summit-National Capital Region, while VPP announced its three-year commitment of funding for the organization’s continued expansion in the region.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Deasy said, “College is for certain and it’s an attainable goal for all youth.” He then shared with the assembly of students, educators, parents, invited guests, and reporters the Langston Hughes’ poem, “A Dream Deferred” that captures why, for Dr. Deasy, “college can’t be a dream deferred for youth.” In the two years the school district has partnered thus far with College Summit, he has “seen fewer and fewer dreams deferred.”

Prince George’s County Public Schools is one of College Summit’s highest performing partner school districts. The percentage of participating seniors applying to college is dramatic evidence of success – 91 percent at Charles H. Flowers, 84 percent at Crossland, and 81 percent at Laurel high schools. The partnership will expand during the next school year to a total of six high schools in the county, including Suitland, Oxon Hill, and DuVal High Schools, to serve more than 1,500 seniors.

Carol Thompson Cole, President and CEO of Venture Philanthropy Partners, announced that VPP had committed $1.4 million to College Summit-National Capital Region over the next three years. “College Summit-National Capital Region is an organization that embodies the characteristics that we look for in an investment,” she said, “strong leadership, an ambitious vision for change, and a proven track record in achieving results.”

Derek Canty, College Summit’s Co-Founder and Vice President, praised the efforts of the senior students at Crossland High School for creating a powerful legacy at their school through applying to and enrolling in college and motivating their peers to do the same.

Two newly-minted graduates of Crossland High School, Jamie Holloway and Gabrielle Johnson, gave testimonials of their experience in applying to, enrolling, and financing their college educations. Johnson described her struggle to reach for her dream of college and then fund it. As a result, she will attend Johnson and Wales University in South Carolina in the fall and has “all but two thousand” of its $32,000 annual cost covered. She thanked College Summit for letting her and hundreds of other students know, “You can do this.”

Heads Up Staff Join Nonprofit Conversations
Thanks to Sara Brandspigel, Development Manager, for this update.

May was a month of growth and learning for Heads Up senior staff members, who attended two special events for influential nonprofits in the Northeast region.

New Profit Inc. hosted a one-day Gathering on Talent in New York City that brought together social entrepreneurs to discuss the human-capital management challenges faced by high-growth nonprofits. Three of Heads Up’s senior team members attended the event, where they joined other leaders to share knowledge, expertise, and best practices in recruiting, retaining and developing staff.

Heads Up senior staff also traveled to Connecticut for a partnership meeting with LEAP and Groundwork. Organized by Blue Ridge Foundation New York, the meeting was designed for these three nationally recognized youth development organizations to explore common challenges and solutions. The session focused on two critical issues identified by the participants—developing a pipeline of organizational leaders and conducting middle school programs.

“These are high quality agencies with common program elements and principles, and they have a genuine interest in helping one another. I’m looking forward to seeing how they continue to connect and further their collective work,” said Matthew Klein, Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Foundation New York.

Robin Minter, Deputy Executive Director for Heads Up, emphasized the value of these events. “These meetings gave me the chance to connect with leaders from peer organizations,” she said. “These relationships will be a great resource as we work to expand our program over the next several years.”

Awards & Recognition

AALEAD Recognizes Seniors
Thanks to Rosetta Lai, VP for Development and External Affairs, for this update.

Four seniors from AALEAD’s Secondary School Program—Anh Le, Lin Chen, Sesen Gidey, and Minh Phan—have received full scholarships to attend colleges this fall.

Le and Chen benefited from AALEAD’s English as a Second Language (ESL) and SAT/college preparation courses. With the support of AALEAD’s nomination, they won POSSE Foundation’s scholarships to attend Sewanee: The University of the South. “Without AALEAD,” Chen said, “I would not participate in extra-curricular activities or gain leadership experiences.”

Gidey, a first generation Eritrean and DC native, won two full-tuition scholarships from the POSSE Foundation and George Washington University, where she will attend this fall. She said, “I will never forget how hard AALEAD worked to find my college calculus tutor.”

Phan, a Gates Millennium Scholarship winner, will attend MIT this fall. Phan and his family have been a part of AALEAD for nearly a decade. “AALEAD has always been there,” he said. “ When we first arrived no one [in our family] knew English, and we really appreciated their translation services.” Phan’s sister, Lan Anh, once a youth leader at AALEAD, now sits on AALEAD’s board.

Announcements of Note

CFNC Hosts Fourth Annual Multicultural Event
Thanks to Kate Lyng, Manager of Development, for this update.

On May 2, more than three hundred attendees, including 117 children, attended the Child and Family Network Centers' (CFNC) 4th Annual Multicultural Event at its Birchmere location in Alexandria. Events included pie throwing, piñatas, face painting, pony rides, and the chance to pet friendly black and white goats.

Each year, parents from all of CFNC’s programs fundraise, plan, and organize this event and contribute food, entertainment, songs, and stories representative of their home countries and cultures. The Multicultural Event is one of the ways CFNC fosters parent involvement. Other opportunities include Parent Advisory Groups, Back to School nights and kindergarten transition activities with local public schools

CFNC received help for this year’s event from The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, an organization that provides college students with opportunities to work and learn in Washington, DC, for academic credit. CFNC’s Washington Center helpers from Mexico donated their time, energy, and resources to assist with event planning and execution.

See Forever Welcomes New Board and Staff Members at "Cooking Up a Future"
Thanks to Ingrid Padgett, Director of Development, for this update.

On May 18, See Forever Foundation (SFF)/Maya Angelou Public Charter School (MAPCS) celebrated increased organizational capacity at its tenth annual “Cooking Up a Future” event with Dr. Maya Angelou. “We are poised to effectively serve more DC youth,” said SFF Co-Founder and Board Chair, David Domenici as he welcomed the following new members of the SFF Board of Directors: Fred L. Bollerer, who recently retired as a partner at Venture Philanthropy Partners; Gertrude M. Eaton, former Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the University of Maryland; Joan Rector McGlockton, founding director of the Sodexho Foundation; Stacey Miller, Director of External Affairs for the Washington Ballet; and Ellen Folts, Executive Director of the Leonsis Foundation, who transitioned from the MAPCS Board to the SFF Board.

SFF Executive Director Cynthia Robbins greets Dr. Maya Angelou at "Cooking Up a Future."

In addition, SFF announced recent staff additions including: Development Director, Ingrid Padgett, former director of membership development and affiliate relations with the Black Women’s Health Imperative; and Robert Jackson, Interim Director of Operations and Finance, who has been guiding SFF through the selection and adoption of its new and enhanced financial system. “With Ingrid and Rob as valued new members of our leadership team, we are expanding our capacity to serve more young people better,“ noted Cynthia Robbins, SFF’s Executive Director.

The “Cooking Up a Future” event held at the school’s Shaw campus, featured an inspirational message from Dr. Angelou and showcased the work and voices of students.

Investment Partner Job Opportunities

These investment partners have the following positions available. Learn more by clicking on the organization's name.

Sharing Witness Blog Posts Special Discussion on Scaling and Growth

The Sharing Witness blog posted a four-part discussion between Paul Shoemaker, Executive Director of Social Venture Partners Seattle, and Mario Morino, Chairman of VPP. Drawn from a private exchange not originally intended for a public audience, the idea of posting this online conversation was suggested by an interested party who was "listening in."

Part I: Scaling and Growing Nonprofits (Shoemaker) and Part II: Rethinking Nonprofit Scaling: Should Our Focus Be On Growth? (Morino) explores the challenges of scaling for nonprofits and concepts that require further definition.

Part III: Calling on Funders to Lead Change (Shoemaker) and Part IV: Should the People With the "Power and the Bucks" Lead Nonprofit Change? (Morino) continues the point-counterpoint on what force will cause a change in dealing with social challenges.