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VPP Hosts youthCONNECT Briefing for Funders Last month, VPP hosted a briefing that brought together a wide range of organizations to discuss youthCONNECT, VPP’s new collaborative initiative to improve the lives of youth in the National Capital Region. The room included representatives from government, funders, and nonprofits. For two hours, speakers, panelists, and audience participants discussed the details of the effort. The presentations touched on several aspects of youthCONNECT, from its localized focus on the needs of the National Capital Region, the difficulties of measuring social outcomes, and how partnerships and collaboration can tackle large-scale social problems. VPP's Carol Thompson Cole Speaks to National YWCA Gathering Last month, Carol Thompson Cole, VPP’s President and CEO, and Eleanor Rutland, VPP’s Chief Operating Officer, were featured at speaking events where they presented on their areas of expertise. Thompson Cole spoke to the YWCA Metro Association, which is a collection of the largest urban YWCAs across the country. She was joined by Mary Lundy Semela of YWCA USA and Maria Elena Campisteguy of the Metropolitan Group, who spoke on innovative fundraising and being a community change agent, respectively. Cole discussed the shift in the nonprofit sector towards a collaborative environment, citing Share our Strength’s work on ending hunger and VPP’s youthCONNECT initiative as examples of this collaboration in practice. |
 MAY 2011
Leaving the Silos Behind Last month, VPP staff brought together a group of funders to hear from the nonprofits in our youthCONNECT initiative. It was your typical two-hour, Friday-morning event, but I could feel the electricity in the air grow as the program continued. Representatives from our six nonprofit network partners answered audience questions on collaboration, evaluation, and replication, and each of their answers showed the immense dedication these individuals have to improving the lives of youth in the National Capital Region. I’ve written before about the benefits for children and youth when nonprofits work together on common outcomes, and we saw how the first buds of those benefits are emerging at our briefing last month. Our youthCONNECT network will make a substantial impact on the region through our nonprofit partners, but that is only one side of the network equation. As I looked over the audience of about 30 people, I was reminded of the incredibly deep collective power and reach on the other side of the equation: Funders. |
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VPP Hosts youthCONNECT Briefing for Funders
For two hours, speakers, panelists, and audience participants discussed the details of the effort. The presentations touched on several aspects of youthCONNECT, from its localized focus on the needs of the National Capital Region, the difficulties of measuring social outcomes, and how partnerships and collaboration can tackle large-scale social problems. Carol Thompson Cole, VPP’s President and CEO, started the event by announcing the six match funders who have committed to support youthCONNECT’s network partners: Citi, the Freddie Mac Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, and the World Bank Group.
Then special guest Paul Carttar, Director of the Social Innovation Fund, took the stage to talk about the inaugural portfolio of the Social Innovation Fund (SIF), which includes youthCONNECT. He laid out his analysis of the social sector across the country and described SIF as an innovative model from the Obama Administration for public-private partnerships. He said it is based on the belief that government can create social innovation, and we can solve problems working together across sectors, rather than alone. Questions from the audience were directed at a panel of six representatives from the network partners: College Summit, KIPP DC, Latin American Youth Center, Metro TeenAIDS, Urban Alliance, and Year Up. The questions focused on the collaborative and sharing aspect of the youthCONNECT initiative, and the nonprofit partners recounted their experiences with working with each other and across sectors. “There are literally dozens of opportunities for us to work together to refer partners,” said Isaac Castillo, Director of Learning and Evaluation at the Latin American Youth Center. “We have some high-risk youth, but some do get to the point where they re-enroll in school and have college aspirations. We can refer them to multiple partners in the network in that situation.” “There is a power in the network of youthCONNECT and the ability of some of the finest executive directors in the city working together to really create that system change,” said Molly Singer, Deputy Director of Metro TeenAIDS. “And partnering with VPP and bringing that gravity to the table with city officials, elected officials, school board members, to say collectively, this is what our data is demonstrating, this is what we know anecdotally, let’s work together.” A constant theme that ran throughout the discussion was the importance of evaluation. Kris Moore, Senior Scholar at Child Trends, VPP’s evaluation partner for youthCONNECT, presented on what it means for youthCONNECT to have a “rigorous evaluation and a common outcome measures framework.” “We are delighted for our first community briefing to receive such a positive response,” said VPP Partner Shirley Marcus Allen. “This is a testament to the overall interest in and commitment to social innovation, particularly in the National Capital Region.” To see video from the event, visit VPP’s YouTube page. VPP’s Carol Thompson Cole Speaks to National YWCA Gathering
Last month, Carol Thompson Cole, VPP’s President and CEO, and Eleanor Rutland, VPP’s Chief Operating Officer, were featured at speaking events where they presented on their areas of expertise. Thompson Cole spoke to the YWCA Metro Association, which is a collection of the largest urban YWCAs across the country. She was joined by Mary Lundy Semela of YWCA USA and Maria Elena Campisteguy of the Metropolitan Group, who spoke on innovative fundraising and being a community change agent, respectively. Cole discussed the shift in the nonprofit sector towards a collaborative environment, citing Share our Strength’s work on ending hunger and VPP’s youthCONNECT initiative as examples of this collaboration in practice. Rutland spoke at Commongood Careers’ “Uncommon Conversations,” where she discussed the benefits for nonprofits that invest in their human capital. She was joined by Dean Furbush of College Summit, Jean Martin of the Corporate Leadership Council, and Max Stier of the Partnership for Public Service. The panelists spoke to their own experience of investing in human resources and the results of doing so, as well as the constraints on the nonprofit sector that prevent organizations from fully committing to these strategies. Rutland gave her perspective as a funder and said that grantmakers need to provide the money for nonprofits to invest appropriately in talent and create timelines that are long enough to see returns. Omar Woodard Joins VPP Team as Principal
Omar Woodard became the newest addition to the VPP team this month as Principal. Omar comes to VPP from the Advisory Board Company, where he was a Healthcare Consultant and Associate Director of Business Development. In this role, he was responsible for advising corporations, hospitals, colleges, and universities on cost-saving initiatives and best practice implementation. He has served in a diverse number of roles across all sectors; nonprofit, corporate, and government. During the 2008 election, he played an integral role in the 2008 Obama Campaign in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which voted Democratic for the first time since 1964. Prior to that, he worked as a lobbyist at the Whitaker Group, a premier strategic consulting firm committed to creating sustainable prosperity in Africa. He also worked at George Washington University in the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations, where he received his undergraduate degree in International Affairs and his Masters in Public Administration. Omar started his career on Capitol Hill as an aide to Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA). In addition to his professional expertise, Mr. Woodard serves on several nonprofit boards, including The Board of Trustees of The George Washington University (GWU); the Board of Governors of the Girard College Alumni Association; and the Board of Directors of the Black Philanthropic Alliance. He is a former Chair of the DC Chapter of the NAACP International Affairs Committee. This month, VPP launched its new YouTube page. The page is a compilation of all videos from VPP, as well as our investment partners and investors. It also contains videos from other leading philanthropic investment organizations and social entrepreneurs. You can visit the page here and subscribe to our feed. Check out the recent video from our youthCONNECT briefing.
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Nonprofit Outcomes Toolbox Features VPP Capacity Assessment A new resource on measuring outcomes in the nonprofit sector was released last month. The Nonprofit Outcomes Toolbox, written by Robert M. Penna, PhD, includes the basics of how nonprofits can harness performance management and create effective programs, as well as practical advice on how to achieve high outcome levels. It also includes a number of outcomes management tools, including the SEED Diagnostic, the Six Sigma, and VPP’s Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool. You can learn more about the book here. Echoing Green Publishes Book to Inspire Changemakers Last month, the social entrepreneurship organization Echoing Green released a new book directed at millennials to help them focus their careers on social impact. The book, Work on Purpose, tells the stories of five different social entrepreneurs and their struggles as they tried to create change in the world. The stories aim to serve as a model for other young social entrepreneurs, and after each chapter, there are questions for the reader to answer about his or her own career. Echoing Green, which sponsors and cultivates social entrepreneurs through a fellowship program, has created a new section of their website devoted to the book and its teachings. You can learn more about the book here. |
Last month, VPP hosted a briefing that brought together a wide range of organizations to discuss youthCONNECT, VPP’s new collaborative initiative to improve the lives of youth in the National Capital Region. The room included representatives from government, funders, and nonprofits.
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AALEAD students organize fundraiser for Japan during Spring Break Thanks to Rick Chen, Director of Development, for this update.
Over 60 students from Maryland and DC, staff, and volunteers came out to two car wash locations: the Comfort Inn-College Park and the Wheaton Community Center. One student in particular helped the cause by making and selling his own lemonade. Many students were heavily involved as station leaders, while other students stepped up by waving signs, talking to customers, and even playing the ukulele for waiting customers. After four hours of washing cars, over $600 was collected! This amount and a percentage of the money raised at AALEAD’s recent Annual Dinner will go to Direct Relief International to benefit Japan. “It was a cold day, but worth it to help Japan.” said one middle-school student in response to the windy weather. “I would do it again; they just need to provide sweaters!” Boys & Girls Clubs Participates in "FIRST" Robotics Competition Thanks to Andrea James, Communications Manager, for this update.
After six intense weeks designing and building an original robot, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW), FBR Branch participated in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by JCPenney, the BGCGW F-B-R’botz team, received this year’s challenge, “LOGO MOTION” and a kit of parts—made up of motors, batteries, a control system, a PC and a mix of automation components—but no instructions. Alongside professional engineering mentors, the BGCGW F-B-R’botz team worked together to build a robot to maneuver the competition’s field and earned points by hanging triangle, circle, and square logo pieces on poles that flanked the course. Each team was measured on the effectiveness of the robot and the students’ ability to collaborate effectively. Currently in its 20th season, the FIRST Robotics Competition continues to inspire young people’s interest in science and technology, while increasing aptitudes in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through innovative robotics competitions and programming. Nearly 2,100 FIRST Robotics teams will compete in 48 regional competitions in the U.S., Canada and Israel―all leading up to the 2011 FIRST Championship at the Edward Jones Dome, April 27-30, in St. Louis, Mo. Editor’s note: Another VPP investment partner also competed in FIRST. You can read about their experience here. CFNC Announces New Chief Executive Officer/ Executive Director Thanks to Manager of Development Anna Berke for this update.
Margaret Patterson, a 30-year advocate for children, has been hired as Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director of The Child & Family Network Centers (CFNC). She will start at CFNC on May 2. Patterson most recently served as Chief Executive/President of ChildCareGroup in Dallas, a $15-million nonprofit with a mission of providing and improving child care in the state of Texas. Prior to that, she served for 17 years as the Executive Director of Child Abuse Prevention Center of Dallas/Fort Worth. “We are thrilled that a person of Margaret’s experience, commitment and caliber chose to take us to the next level,” CFNC Board Chair Steve Nearman said. “There are way too many children on our waiting list.” CFNC was founded in 1984 by Barbara Fox Mason, whose vision and pioneer work grew the program to serve nearly 200 at-risk children and their families in Alexandria and Arlington each year. Mason, known for her commitment, passion and success, retired last year. CFNC’s Chief Operating Officer, Lee Jackson, has been serving in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director in the interim. You can read the full press release from CFNC’s Board of Directors here. CentroNía receives grant through PNC volunteer partnership Thanks to Laura Anduze, Communications and Marketing Manager, for this update.
PNC Bank employees recently donated $6,000 to CentroNia after two PNC teams completed 100 hours of volunteer work each in CentroNia’s bilingual early childhood programs. “We have built a great relationship with PNC volunteers over the last two years,” said Myrna Peralta, Acting President and CEO of CentroNía. “The PNC volunteers are a wonderful asset to our classrooms, they truly support our staff every time they visit, and we are very grateful to receive these funds.” Through PNC’s signature philanthropic program, “Grow Up Great”, a ten-year, $100 million initiative to enhance early childhood education and school readiness, employees are encouraged to partner with Pre-K centers in the community. Those that volunteer 100 hours or more within a 12-month period are awarded a $3,000 “Grant for Great Hours” check to deliver to their partner. At CentroNía, two teams of ten volunteered over 200 hours of service, thus earning not one, but two, $3,000 checks. Over the past 12 months, PNC’s Grow Up Great volunteers took CentroNía’s students to the Smithsonian’s Air & Space Museum to see the “One World One Sky” planetarium show; helped with CentroNía’s DC Bilingual Public Charter School book fair; and participated in a number of school maintenance projects, such as painting, cleaning, records filing, and library organization. Friendship Wins Multiple Awards Thanks to Barry Lofton, Director, Corporate and Community Relations, for this update.
The Friendship Academy of Engineering and Technology (FAET) in Baltimore, Maryland was recently named a nationally, fully certified “Project Lead The Way” school. This distinction will allow FAET students to receive college credits from either Rochester Institute of Technology or University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). To receive this certification, they went through a rigorous certification process with Maryland State Department of Education. FPCS Founder and Chairman, Donald L. Hense, will be inducted into the Charter Schools Hall of Fame in June at the 2011 National Charter Schools Conference in Atlanta, Georgia sponsored by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. You can learn more here: http://www.publiccharters.org/nationalconference KIPP DC’s Symbiotic Titans Take Home the Gold Medal Thanks to Kristin Jackson, Development Associate, for this update.
Last month the Symbiotic Titans, KIPP DC: AIM Academy’s robotics team, won first place in presentation and robotics at their first regional competition, the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics Competition (FIRST). Teams were asked to build robots that could perform surgical tasks with Legos and to consider possible robotic solutions to medical problems. The Titans used a robot to patch a Lego heart with a Lego piece. The Titans are part of a growing program that uses Legos to make engineering exciting and available to students in elementary, middle and high school. The Titans’ equipment and entrance fees are sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton. Their coaches are software designers, engineers, parents, and teachers who volunteer on weekends. In the fall, they met twice a week to train, starting with basics that other teams had learned years ago. KIPP’s extended day program, which includes mandatory Saturday class, provided the Titans extra hours to study robotics. The team has flourished in a community of young engineers. “At those tournaments, we became a part of this really cool community,” said Brittany Robinson, 14. The Titans winning first place in their first year in the league gave Brittany, “a true sense of honor”. DeMarcus Hicks, 12, arrived at school the following day wearing the Lego League medal around his neck. When asked what it was for, he said: “We build Legos! They act like robots!” Editor’s note: Another VPP investment partner also competed in FIRST. You can read about their experience here. The Latin American Youth Center Honors Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month Thanks to Araceli Curiel Rosenberger, Communications Specialist/ Grant Writer, for this update.
The Latin American Youth Center’s Foster Care and Host Home programs honored Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month (April) with “Stories of Courage to Inspire Action and Advocacy.” Former foster care youth shared their stories and inspired listeners to raise awareness about the need for foster families, especially Latino homes.
LAYC is also pleased to report that it received the All Souls Church Neighborhood Justice Award for its Foster Care and Host Home Programs. Family Resource Specialists Elizabeth Jenkins-Sahlin and Vanessa León received the award on behalf of LAYC. LAYC trains both English and Spanish-speaking individuals and families and licenses them as traditional foster families or kinship caretakers. Once a child is placed, LAYC supports the foster family and child by providing ongoing training and supervision, financial support, and invitations to special events for foster families. LAYC also supports the child’s biological family by providing regular updates on the child’s wellbeing and referrals to social services. MTA now offers pregnancy tests and counseling Thanks to Colleen Hughes, Development Manager , for this update.
Metro TeenAIDS’ Clinical Services team has been trained on pregnancy counseling by MTA’s community partner, Teen Alliance for Prepared Parenting (TAPP), enabling MTA to start offering pregnancy testing as part of its direct services. MTA’s Clinical Services Director, Michelle Palmer, explained that this service is being added to ensure the sexually active young women who visit MTA have a more comprehensive health experience. “Pregnancy testing is a natural complement to the HIV and STI testing that we have been doing—we just needed to first find a strong referral program for the young ladies,” she said. Under the program, young women who are pregnant are referred to TAPP, a program based at the Washington Hospital Center that counsels young women on their options, and supports them in whatever choice they make. TAPP also engages young women with a team of social workers/nurses for two years and provides tangible support, such as formula and diapers, as needed. MTA’s clinical team uses the early pregnancy dip strip urinalysis, a five-minute test that detects pregnancy as early as one day after a missed period or five days after fertilization. Palmer says the addition of this test makes MTA’s direct service component complete: “This is the logical final component. Young women who are sexually active and want to be tested for HIV and STIs should also be able to have a pregnancy test if they want one.” The SEED Foundation Is Awarded Federal Social Innovation Fund Grant by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation Thanks to Laura O'Connor, Director of Communications, for this update.
The SEED Foundation has been awarded a three-year investment of up to $3.5 million, with a first-year award of $2 million, from the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation (EMCF) and the federal government’s Social Innovation Fund (SIF). The investment will support SEED’s planning work to expand its public boarding school model, the development of a detailed blueprint to guide high-quality replication to establish two to four new schools in different states, the costs of opening the schools, and rigorous evaluations of current and new schools to further build SEED’s evidence base. Over the past six months, EMCF conducted a highly competitive process to select nonprofits throughout the nation. Following an intensive review of 225 applications, EMCF selected nine organizations and awarded them SIF grants. Read more about the grant and recipients here. Urban Alliance Receives Grant from W.K. Kellogg Foundation Thanks to Jee Pae, Development Director, for this update.
Urban Alliance was recently awarded a $500,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to increase high school graduation rates and provide the most vulnerable youth a pathway to meaningful employment. With support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Urban Alliance will scale-up its services to reach more youth, while further assessing the impact of the program model. Part of this grant award is a match funding for Urban Alliance’s participation in youthCONNECT, an initiative of Venture Philanthropy Partners. “We believe a partnership with Urban Alliance, which has demonstrated success for reaching disconnected youth, offers a great opportunity to serve more youth at a time when it’s critical for their future success,” says Nadia Brigham, Program Officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. “It’s really an impressive program and we’re pleased to support its expansion.” |
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| Venture Philanthropy Partners (VPP) is a philanthropic investment organization that helps great leaders build strong, high-performing nonprofit institutions. It concentrates money, expertise, and personal contacts to improve the lives of and boost the opportunities for children and youth low-income families in the National Capital Region and cultivates a growing donor community of high net worth families to generate funding and influence in support of these institutions and of social change. | ||||||||||
While Spring Break is typically a time for vacations and relaxing for many young people and their families, AALEAD students were inspired to organize a Japan Relief car wash event. Originally scheduled for April 19th, but canceled due to rain, the students decided that they would give up their Field Day to reschedule the car wash for April 21.
Friendship Public Charter School is proud to announce that this year three of their seniors were honored as Gates Millennium Scholars: Kiana Murphy and Angel Jackson, Early College seniors from Friendship Collegiate Academy; and Andre Williams from Academies at Anacostia. Each of their scholarships is potentially worth over a half a million dollars and will cover undergraduate and graduate work through doctoral studies. There were 23,000 applicants from across the nation for this prestigious and valuable honor and only 1,000 were selected.
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