VPP Investor Community: Diverse, Vibrant, Engaged
 As I travel around the region, I continue to be surprised the number of people who think VPP is an organization supported solely by the Northern Virginia technology world. In fact, VPP’s investors come from throughout the region with a variety of personal and professional backgrounds—high tech, real estate, finance, publishing, and other enterprises. They have a wide range of interests, philanthropic goals, and varying levels of philanthropic experience. As our investor community grows, we aim to reflect the diversity and vibrancy of the National Capital Region. We also share what we’re learning with our investor community for application in their own philanthropy. We work every day to meet these goals.
One of things that I am most proud of at VPP is the very active and robust ways that we connect with our investors and they connect with us. In early October, investors Kristin Ehrgood, Kathy Bushkin CalvinCalvin, and Caren DeWitt Merrick co-hosted a dinner and discussion about women in philanthropy. This dinner was the third in a series of what we are calling “salon conversations” for VPP investors and friends on this topic. These intimate gatherings have been warm and lively with provocative discussions covering everything from trends women see in philanthropy, to how our region’s changing demographics affect women, to the use of celebrity to galvanize social change, to the challenges for women in balancing work, family, and philanthropy. The response to these dinners has been enthusiastic, so much so that we plan to extend this dialogue with a larger gathering of investors and friends as well as through our VPP Speakers series. These gatherings reinforce two things for me: first, the desire among our investors to be part of a community, and second, how exciting it is for people to come together in small groups to discuss their philanthropy and the pressing issues in our region and in their lives.
Kathy Bushkin CalvinCalvin, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, UN Foundation said, “I became a VPP investor because it represented a big opportunity to join with others who had a similar vision and to give together and learn together. Going forward, I’m excited that VPP is reaching out to two categories: 1) the more established donors in the region, because I believe VPP is a hybrid of the best of both new and old philanthropy; and 2) more women, because it’s good to have that diversity in our group."
Regardless of our investors’ backgrounds, the big questions for each are: “How can I make a meaningful impact on improving the lives of children? How should we invest our dollars and our time? Where can we be most effective?” The answers for each person are, of course, different. But a common thread emerges; they see VPP as a valuable and insightful guide for their philanthropic journey.
Knowing that, we strive to work individually with each of them to their desired level of engagement, consistent with their interests and availability. Some want to be heavily engaged, even joining the boards of our investment partners, while others prefer to get involved with specific efforts as their schedules permit. We offer our investors a number of ways to connect with us and with each other through intimate gatherings like the Women’s Dinners I described earlier, and through our Speakers Series where we introduce our investors to renowned people on the front lines of social change. We have been fortunate to hear from Mohammed Yunus, Founder of the Grameen Bank and recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize; DC Public School Chancellor Michelle Rhee; Patty Stonesifer, who heads the Gates Foundation; and CNN founder and philanthropist, Ted Turner.
Some investors have found a means to extend their own philanthropy through VPP. For instance, Steve and Jean Case of the Case Foundation wanted to strengthen and deepen their involvement with VPP’s investment partners. Working closely with us, the Case Foundation staff has designed a quarterly professional development series for all of our investment partners that complements the strategic assistance provided by VPP. This program will help investment partners address some of their newfound organizational capacity needs brought on by growth.
Other investors find that they can apply what they learn from VPP’s processes to their personal philanthropic efforts. VPP Co-Founder and Board member Raul Fernandez puts it this way: “My involvement with VPP has made me think about the right questions to ask when looking at organizations to fund and has given me guiding principles to apply to my own philanthropy.”
At VPP, we have focused our work on two fronts—first, helping strong nonprofit leaders be better, stronger, and more effective in delivering services that improve children’s lives; and second, enabling people and institutions who have the resources—financial and otherwise—to invest to bring the highest levels of social return. Most of the time, we talk about the former. But creating a strong, engaged, and informed investor community is critical to our work. It is essential to our success, to the success of our nonprofit investment partners, and to the success of the region.
Throughout my career I have been a bridge builder, bringing together disparate groups to work together for a common purpose. I like to think that VPP is also a place that builds bridges—linking people from many places, from different backgrounds, with different skills and resources—to focus on the common goal of making life better for children and families in our region. We can only be as effective as the people who join us, so we work daily to cultivate and involve our diverse and highly engaged investor community in the work of VPP and its investment partners.
- Carol Thompson Cole
Ellen Lazar Joins Team
Venture Philanthropy Partners has named Ellen Lazar, a nonprofit and philanthropic leader with expertise in community development and affordable housing nationally and in the Washington region, as Partner. Lazar will lead a number of VPP investment partnerships with high-performing area nonprofits serving youth and families. Her expertise complements the overall capacity of the VPP team of investment professionals.
"Ellen comes to VPP with a superb reputation as a regional and national leader in the philanthropic, nonprofit, and public sectors. Throughout her career, Ellen has worked to level the playing field for low-income families. Her commitment to children and families has been strengthened by her experiences as a foundation executive, as a nonprofit CEO, and as a director of a multi-million dollar community development corporation. Her understanding of the issues, particularly finance, and her strong networks will add critical skills and capacity to the VPP team and directly benefit our portfolio organizations," said Carol Thompson Cole, President and CEO of VPP.
Lazar served as Senior Vice President for Housing and Community Initiatives at the Fannie Mae Foundation where she was responsible for grantmaking of approximately $35 million. She also served as Executive Director of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation (dba NeighborWorks America), a $100 million plus nonprofit corporation that works to revitalize rural and urban communities by mobilizing public, private and community resources at the neighborhood level. During the Clinton Administration, she was Director of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund ($95 million) of the U.S. Treasury department. She also held leadership positions at the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders and Enterprise Community Partners, where she served as Vice President and General Counsel.
Throughout her career, Lazar has been active in the community. She currently serves on several national boards including CFED, the Nonprofit Finance Fund, and Community Wealth Ventures, a subsidiary of Share Our Strength. She also serves on the Board of the OpenDoor Housing Fund and the Montgomery County Affordable Housing Task Force.
Expansion Actions
 Heads Up Launches Program for Older Youth
Thanks to Sara Brandspigl, Development Manager, for this update.
On October 1, Heads Up launched a new program at Hart Middle School in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Southeast DC. In conjunction with Project My Time, an initiative of the DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation, Heads Up is providing academic support and leadership opportunities to teenagers.
Project My Time selected Heads Up to serve as an “academic anchor” program at Hart. The Heads Up program combines homework help and tutoring with service-learning opportunities that build leadership skills. Trained college students provide intensive academic support and mentoring to Hart students during after-school hours.
In addition to academic help, approximately 15 Heads Up participants are planning a service-learning project to clean, organize, and restore their school library. To put the project in context, students and tutors will take field trips to the Library of Congress and other libraries in the city.
Heads Up hired Kenneth Carroll, an icon in DC’s literacy and education community, to serve as site director for the program at Hart Middle School. He joins Heads Up after serving 14 years as the founding Executive Director of DC Writers Corps.
Expansion to serve older youth was one of the goals of Heads Up’s strategic direction, developed by the Board in November 2006. “The success of our elementary school programs on students’ literacy skills helped to inspire Heads Up’s decision to open a middle school program,” said Robin Minter, Interim Executive Director. “We can deepen our impact on students by helping them transition to new schools and face the challenges of adolescence.”
Several other providers offer safe and constructive activities through Project My Time. In addition to Heads Up, Hart students can participate in activities like African drumming and dance, creative writing, boxing, and martial arts. More than 500 students in grades 6 through 8 attend Hart, and 75 percent are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches.
Awards & Recognition
 LAYC Recognized for Contributions
Thanks to Lori Kaplan, Executive Director, for this update.
Latin American Youth Center (LAYC), YouthBuild Public Charter School, and Lori Kaplan, LAYC Executive Director, were recognized recently for contributions to the city’s youth, families, and neighborhoods.
On September 27, City First Bank Honored the LAYC and the YouthBuild Public Charter School with the Baptist Award. The Baptist Award honors Debbi Hurd Baptist, City First’s founding President and Chief Executive Officer who dedicated her life to expanding economic opportunities for low-income people. The award reads “For your work demonstrating extraordinary impact, innovation, and a commitment to community development in Washington, DC’s neighborhoods.”
On October 9, Kaplan was presented with the Asian American Lead’s (AALEAD) Trailblazer Award in recognition of her service and contributions to the Asian American community and the growth of AALEAD. The following night, the Capital Area Asset Building Corporation presented its Founder Award to the LAYC at the 10th anniversary event. This award was presented in recognition of LAYC’s pioneering efforts to create and sustain a collaborative model of Individual Development Account (IDA) savings program delivery in the District of Columbia.
Finally, the LAYC was selected as the Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s 2007 Neighborhood Builder Award recipient through the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative. This award is designed to recognize, nurture, and reward organizations who are helping neighborhoods achieve excellence. In addition to the recognition, the award comes with $200,000 in core operating support and leadership training.
 Mary's Center Gomez Honored by DC Courts
Thanks to Yesenia Sarabia-Peiker, Director of Advocacy and Communications, for this update.
Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care President and CEO Maria Gomez was honored by the DC Courts’ Hispanic Heritage Celebration Committee at the Community, Outreach, Recognition, and Opportunity Awards Ceremony on October 12. Gomez was presented with the achievement recognition award for the vision she has demonstrated in the establishment of Mary’s Center and her dedication to enhancing the health, education and social well-being of the immigrant and underserved communities in DC.
 SFF/MAPCS to Dedicate New Alternative Middle School
Thanks to Ingrid Padgett, Director of Development, for this update.
On Thursday, November 15, SFF/MAPCS will host a dedication ceremony at the new middle school located at 4650 Benning Road, SE. School tours will be conducted from 10:00 to 10:45 am. A short program at 11:00 am will include participation from DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee. Other stakeholders and supporters from throughout the city, including DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, have been invited. The school will host the Leadership Greater Washington “Education Day” Program at its middle school campus that day as well. Concurrent sessions sponsored by the group will focus on school system reforms, with a spotlight on Washington, DC, and other education policy issues.
The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony. For more information or directions, please call SFF/MAPCS Director of Development Ingrid Padgett at 202-797-8250 or visit the website for updates on confirmed guests.
Announcements of Note
 AALEAD Progresses with Organizational Transition
Thanks to Rosetta Lai, Interim Executive Director, for this update.
At AALEAD’s Annual Board Retreat on October 20, Board Chair Teresa Lee noted that the organizational transition from the departure of a founder to a new management team can be fraught with danger unless the accompanying challenges are identified early on, well-managed, and leveraged for future opportunities. This was the case during AALEAD’s six-month transition management, which culminated in a public farewell on October 9 for Sandy Dang, founder and former Executive Director, and a welcome to the new management team led by Interim Executive Director, Rosetta Lai, and recently recruited COO Katherine Lum.
Guided by the five-year strategic plan, the Board has been vigilant in its stewardship of AALEAD’s mission and vision. AALEAD has made significant progress in sustainability and institutionalization, by expanding a year ago into Montgomery County, MD, where there is a growing population of low-income Asian American immigrant families. Emphasis on program quality, measurement of impact, and staff development has enabled AALEAD to offer services tailored specifically to meet the needs of its clients. The alumni who spoke at the October 9 event were testaments to AALEAD’s success in community building and the lives it has transformed and touched.
BGCGW Introduces Technology Pilot, Honors Supporters
Thanks to Kerrin Torres, Communications Specialist, for this update.
Verizon and IBM have partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW) to present an interactive technology pilot program offered through the FBR Branch’s Intel Computer Clubhouse. The curriculum designed by Verizon and IBM called Techno Stars combines technology, engineering, science, and the creation of video games to encourage innovative technological programming for preteens and teens. Upon completion of the program, youth may be presented with a certificate from Verizon and IBM in one of the following areas: HTML design, C++ programming, or networking.
Every Wednesday at 7:00 pm during the school year, volunteers and consultants with positions ranging from IBM IT Specialist to Verizon Software Engineer work with Club members between the ages of 12 and 18.
BGCGW honored Washington area real estate industry leaders, developers, brokers, and architects at the Third Annual Youth in Real Estate Luncheon. 
(l to r) Raheem Bailey, Germantown Branch; Michele Hagans, Fort Lincoln New Town Corp.; James Lee, Opus East, L.L.C.; Hyejin Sul, Culmore Character Club Branch; B. Francis Saul III, Saul Center, Inc.; and Andrea Barrow, Germantown Branch. Photo by Adam Donohue.
These leaders have donated time, made financial contributions, and provided in-kind donations such as construction, renovation, and landscaping projects to benefit children.
This year's honorees included B. Francis Saul III, President of Saul Centers, Inc.; Michele Hagans, President, Fort Lincoln New Town Corp.; and James Lee, President and CEO, Opus East, LLC. Saul assisted with the opening of THEARC, a 27,000 square foot facility in Southeast DC housing area nonprofits including a Boys & Girls Clubs, during his tenure as BGCGW Chairman of the Board. Hagans continues to give back to her own community by supporting various youth efforts. Opus East, under Lee’s leadership, devotes 10% of its profits to the community and is actively involved with Boys & Girls Clubs around the country. Honorees were presented plaques for their dedication to youth causes.
"Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington has been in the business of helping the youth of our community for over 120 years," said Rebecca Owen of Clark Enterprises and Chairman of the Real Estate Luncheon. “We are honoring these three real estate industry leaders for their work in ensuring the integrity of this industry while giving back to those in need."
Investment Partner Opportunities
Mary’s Center Vice President of Medicine
LAYC Chief Operating Officer
Urban Institute Releases Report
Federal investment in children is likely to decline within the next decade, according to a new report from the Urban Institute. Sponsored by the Partnership for America's Economic Success—a project of the Pew Charitable Trusts—the report, Investing in Children (26 pages, PDF), points to large federal programs with built-in growth assumptions to explain why the portion of the federal budget earmarked for children gets progressively smaller. Under current policies, the share of the federal budget earmarked for programs that enhance kids' future productivity or income—by improving education, promoting good health, and/or supporting parents' ability to work—is forecast to decrease from 1.6 percent of GDP in 2006 to 1.3 percent by 2017.
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