Our Pathways to Opportunity Kickoff Session, the first of a three-part series, explored several key levers in creating greater pathways to opportunity, including education and workforce development. Partner co-Leaders Alison Elliott and Linda Lazor skillfully introduced and facilitated our excellent panel of speakers. In order to share this dynamic session with as many Partners as possible, we are sharing the full audio recording (embedded below), as well as a video of the panel on our YouTube channel.

Like what you’ve heard? Join us for our next session, Community Schools – An Integrated Approach, coming up on October 12th, RSVP here.

We are proud to announce that SV2’s newest  Lightning Grant Round will be focused on increasing opportunities for Resilient Youth (previously called At-Risk Youth), an issue in which Partners expressed interest in our recent all-Partner survey. This Round will be led by SV2 Board Member Shalyn Eason with staff support from Ashley Clark.

What do we mean by Resilient Youth? Resilient youth are young people, ages 14 to 26, who face significant barriers to life success. This population  could include foster youth, homeless/formerly homeless youth, disconnected young adults who are neither working nor in school, and incarcerated and formerly incarcerated young adults. This is a particularly vulnerable population where intervention and the right supports at the right time can transform life trajectories.

What is a Lightning Grant Round?

Lightning Grant Rounds are a shortened grantmaking experience, taking place over four to six weeks with only two in-person meetings. For the Lightning Rounds, SV2 collaborates with funder allies who nominate organizations from their own portfolios and share their diligence materials with us. Working with funder allies lessens the burden for nonprofits and allows Partners to learn how to conduct due diligence from experienced philanthropy professionals. For this Round, we’re delighted to work with the Walter S. Johnson Foundation and the California Wellness Foundation.

During Lightning Rounds, participating Partners have the opportunity to research 6-7 organizations in the sector, learn from other funders about these organizations and their grantmaking processes, hear presentations from the leaders of three finalist organizations, and collectively select a single Grantee. Lightning Round Grantees receive a one-year general operating support grant of up to $30,000, and participating Partners get to engage in a fantastic hands-on learning experience!

This sounds amazing! Tell me how to sign up…

In-person meetings for this spring’s Lightning Grant Round will be on Thursday, February 1 and Thursday, February 15 from 12:00pm-2:30pm at SV2. The Round will kick-off in early January, before the first meeting, with diligence pre-work, which includes reading and optional conference calls with our funder allies.

What’s the deadline?

Because of the pre-work, we ask that you RSVP for this Round as soon as possible but no later than January 5 by emailing Ashley Clark.

The SV2 Teens Philanthropy program, now going into its tenth year, engages 7th-12th grade children of SV2 Partners in hands-on learning about philanthropy, the nonprofit sector, and local community organizations. SV2 Teens got some fabulous media coverage in Gentry Magazine’s Philanthropy edition this past spring. This year’s program will build on last year’s high-powered philanthropy curriculum and hands-on site visits, and will include refreshed content. Teens are encouraged to fill out the brief application form here as soon as possible to let us know of your interest.

The Teens program officially kicks off on January 21, 2018 – but we will also have a pre-meeting on December 3 from 1:30-3:00pm, at which this year’s grantmaking focus area will be selected. Any teen is welcome to attend the December 3 pre-meeting, and all teens who are interested in serving as leaders should plan to attend. Please RSVP here for the December 3 pre-meeting. Read more about the program, including meeting dates and descriptions, on our website here.