Latest News

Latest News

From the Executive Director

We hope you enjoy  the new "look" of our eNews! I have a few pieces of exciting news to share. First, the Saratoga News recently featured SV2. Special thanks to SV2 Partners Nancy Yu and Laura Kupor for leading the way! Second, SV2’s new film just won the prestigious Aurora Award, an international competition designed to recognize excellence in the film and video industries. Third, I'm delighted to share that I gave birth to a healthy baby girl last Wednesday – Kaya Austin Louie. Click here to see photos!

Social Venture Partners International is currently planning to host a Partner trip to Japan in May 2012. This will be an opportunity for Partners from SV2 and similar partnerships to see the impact of SVP Tokyo's work, to gain understanding about the role of engaged philanthropy in Japan and other parts of Asia, and to witness and assist firsthand the recovery efforts following last spring's devastating earthquake and tsunami. If you would be interested in attending, SVPI wants the trip to reflect your goals and interests. Please take a moment to complete this brief (7 question) survey. If you have any questions, contact SVPI Programs Director Rona Pryor at rona@svpi.org.

Partner Advisory Board meeting – Best Practices and R&D

Please join us on Monday 2/13 for a special PAB meeting (special time: 5:00-7:30pm) -- we will have the opportunity to hear from the leaders of Social Venture Partnerships around the country about what’s going really well in each of their cities.

We’ll also discuss the status of the R&D ideas you proposed at the last meeting. All Partners are welcome to participate in the Partner Advisory Board to help shape the future strategic direction for SV2. 

PLEASE NOTE that the meeting will start at 5:00pm and end at 7:30pm. Dinner will be provided during the meeting, rather than having a pre-meeting dinner as we usually do. This is to accommodate our guests from out of town who need meet with us at 5:00pm.

SV2 Board of Directors - Openings to be Filled this Spring
We are pleased to announce that we have seats on the Board of Directors to be filled this Spring. There will be an open application process -- anyone who is interested in being on the SV2 Board should fill out the Statement of Interest form.

If you are interested in joining the Board, please email your completed form back to Lindsay by Friday, February 17th at midnight (llouie@sv2.org). The Nominating & Governance Committee will review all statements in late-February/early-March and be in touch with you individually at that time. New Board Members be oriented in May and will begin their terms at the June 4th Board Meeting. If you have any questions about the process, Board service, etc., please do not hesitate to talk to Board Chairman Lance Fors (lfors@sbcglobal.net) or Executive Director Lindsay Austin Louie (llouie@sv2.org).

14 SV2 Partners advising Blue Planet Network

Our newest International Grantee (2011-2013) Blue Planet Network, is making several important changes that will help them scale to help solve the global clean water problem. 

CEO Lisa Nash reports, “SV2's support of Blue Planet Network has opened doors for us and made people sit up and take notice.” BPN is currently working on hiring a Development Director, and has run into some snags, since there is a shortage of good-fit candidates interested in part time work. The BPN Board is now considering making this a full time position.  In addition, BPN has raised money to work with an outside software developer on redesigning their web site and online platform to better serve their constituents.

Fourteen SV2 Partners have met individually as advisors to BPN’s Executive Director Lisa Nash since we kicked off our relationship last Spring. We’d like to thank Partners Jane Burgess, Joe Cullinane, Lance Fors, Nancy Heinen, Ann Iverson, Celia Lawren, Mark Parnes, Clara Roa, Jacob Sills, Jamie Wang, Eric Wong, and Chris Vargasfor lending their expertise so far.

To learn more about Blue Planet Network, please check out this film and contact SV2 Lead Partners Dave Meader (dave@meaderconsulting.com) or Peter Raisbeck (peterais@aol.com). (Dave and Peter are pictured above at International Kickoff with Kenyan Maasai Elder Sabore Oyie, whose village will benefit from a new well.)