How We Work
The Energy of
the Partners is The Core of HSVP!
One of the key
aspects differentiating HSVP from
"traditional" foundations is the degree
of involvement of our members in each aspect of
our operations. Partners choose the nonprofits
receiving HSVP investment, provide professional
expertise to those agencies funded, and are the
driving force in developing, managing and
expanding HSVP itself!
HSVP members have
the opportunity to share their experience and
abilities by participating on an Internal
Committee and/or Working with Investees. These groups form the
backbone of HSVP’s infrastructure and, as
such, their efforts directly impact the
organization….
Internal
Committees build and manage the
infrastructure of HSVP itself. In teams of
four or more people, partners work on:
Events
Committee
Events Committee members utilize their creativity
and community connections to develop an edifying
and entertaining calendar of events for
HSVP’s members and their guests.
Investment
Committee
Twice a year, a committee of 8-12 members convene
to learn HSVP’s grantmaking process,
establish grantmaking guidelines, carry out due
diligence on potential investees and recommend a
final pool of candidates to the entire
partnership for consideration. Touted as one of
the most valuable SVP experiences, this committee
is an excellent way for new partners to
"learn the ropes" and interact with
other partners; at the same time, many partners
choose to rejoin this committee year after year.
Board
Membership on HSVP’s Board of Directors is
determined through election by the current
members of HSVP. The Board is responsible for
organizational governance (setting policy and
procedure); management of HSVP’s fiscal
resources, including recommending available
funding limits to investment committees;
assisting with fundraising efforts, including
recruitment of new members; and providing
strategy-level guidance to HSVP’s Executive
Director.
WORKING WITH
INVESTEES
The mechanism for
funneling time and talent to funded agencies (aka
"investees") is through groups of HSVP
members that are each headed by a Lead Partner
who serves as the primary liaison and
"project manager" for the investment.
Each team consists
of the Investee Leadership, Lead Partner and
other Partners who are pulled in to answer
questions, complete specific tasks, utilize their
connections or otherwise provide expertise in
support of the Investee when the Lead Partner
needs expertise beyond his/her scope.
Setting a
Long-Term Vision
During the first year of the relationship, the
Lead Partner works with the leadership of the
agency to develop a long-term vision for the
HSVP-Investee relationship that lays out a plan
and specific goals pertaining to what we are
going to accomplish together; progress toward
these goals will be jointly assessed over time
and used to make decisions about the future of
the relationship.
Understanding
the HSVP Approach
HSVP's model is not appropriate or desirable for
all nonprofit agencies. Some organizations will
not want or need the combination of money and
hands-on expertise that HSVP provides. Most
non-profits are not accustomed to such an engaged
approach from a funder, or to a funder being so
involved with the "guts" of their
organizations. It takes appreciable time and
effort not only from HSVP, but also on the part
of the investee to develop:
- An
understanding of HSVP's approach and how
to effectively partner with and use
HSVP's resources,
- A level of
trust with HSVP that enables jointly
addressing core problems and
organizational needs, and
- A mechanism
for educating HSVP Partners, as needed,
about the agency so that volunteers can
effectively carry out their work.
To optimize the
relationship, the non-profit must be willing and
able to spend the time and resources to accrue
the benefits.
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