SVP Community Newsletter – Apr 2023

YOUTH-LED GRANT MAKING TASK-FORCE ISSUES 1st GRANT

As part of our strategic priorities, Social Venture Partners MN is committed to embedding  youth voice into all aspects of our organization and  decision-making.  At the beginning of the year, we launched our Youth-Led Grantmaking Taskforce.   We recruited 13 young people from Investee organizations (current and alumni) and community partners. Over the past 8 weeks, the Taskforce used a modified curriculum from Youth Bank International to identify the issues they felt were the most pressing for young people in our community, research organizations doing good work in these areas, reach out to discover more about their work, and decide as a group which organization they wanted to fund.  We also incorporated Trust-Based philanthropy principles into this discovery and due diligence process.

After much deliberation, the Taskforce selected to issue a grant to Transforming Generations, a nonprofit organization located in East St. Paul that works predominantly with Hmong and SE Asian youth in the areas of mental health and wellness issues, queer justice programming,  addressing violence, advocacy, as well as arts and adventure programming.   Transforming Generations is working to create a world where gender equity is the norm and violence is not accepted.

We are grateful for all of the Taskforce members who fully engaged in this process as well as set the framework for future SVP MN youth-led philanthropy efforts.  A big shout out to Youthprise for their partnership and the University of Minnesota Youth Studies department who helped facilitate the working sessions. This cohort of young people are now eligible to participate in a training led by the U of M so that they can become facilitators of our next session.

We will be launching more youth-led philanthropy efforts in the near future. If you are interested in learning more about how to become involved
or want to be notified when we start recruiting our next cohort of youth leaders, please email SVP MN Executive Director Deb Salls.

SVP Fellows Nominations and Applications now OPEN!

Social Venture Partners Minnesota is delighted to announce that we are actively recruiting for the next cohort of our SVP Fellows program!

The SVP Fellows program is a two-year, skills-based volunteer experience for community-minded professionals, leaders and social entrepreneurs who are Black, Indigenous and/or
People of Color who:

• Believe better futures are imperative for under-resourced youth
• Seek to use their skills to collaborate with nonprofits on organizational capacity building
• Demonstrate a commitment to racial equity and eliminating systemic injustices
• Desire working shoulder-to-shoulder with others on highly strategic initiatives
• Are eager to hone current skills and learn new skills via a cohort experience
• Are
  critical thinkers and embrace SVP’s vision that every young person’s future unfolds uncompromised by systemic injustice.

SVP seeks individuals who meet the criteria outlined above, are connected to populations we serve and have a passion for strengthening the Twin Cities community through hands-on work with innovative nonprofits. An ideal SVP Fellow has skills needed for nonprofit impact building projects (i.e., program evaluation, fund and/or business development, nonprofit leadership, strategic planning, etc.) and is committed to co-creating opportunities for all to thrive.

 SVP Fellows are selected through a nomination or application process. Applications can be found here. Materials will still be accepted on a rolling basis until Fellowships are filled.

Here are some upcoming opportunities to engage with SVP MN’s current and former Investees: 

Connections to Independence

May 6th Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby celebration at Lake Monster Brewing: May is National Foster Care Month  and C2i is kicking off the month with their 8th Annual Kentucky Derby Run for the Roses Fundraiser! Come enjoy a Kentucky Derby Experience while giving back to young people in foster
care. This year’s fund the need is C2i’s Housing Program to support their master leased homes and increase their “Covered Fund” for emergency housing and basic needs.  Come dressed in your favorite Kentucky Derby attire: enter the best dressed contest, enjoy craft beer and cocktails, poker tables, silent auction, cigar bar, and light bites.

MN Urban Debate League

MN Urban Debate League really needs volunteers for their Spanish debate tournaments. The only requirement is that
people are fluent in Spanish.  They will compensate the judges per tournament, but they welcome folks who just want to volunteer their time and services. MNUDL will provide training on how to judge the debate. MNUDL also needs volunteers for their East African debate tournaments and Financial Literacy Leadership debates. For East Africa debates they are looking for people from the East African community. Students debate in English, but have a cultural focus on the East African community. For the Financial Literacy Leadership debates they are looking for women or non-binary people who work in the financial services sector. Participating debaters are girls or non-binary students who debate about the trade-offs of different personal financial decisions.   See here for more info on volunteering.

Breakthrough Twin Cities

May 13th, 2023 Breakthrough Twin Cities Senior Celebration: Friends, sponsors, community partners, and Breakthrough Twin Cities alumni are invited to participate in this joyous event on May 13, 2023 at Union Depot in Saint Paul. They’ll have a program, present graduation tassels and cords to be worn at their school
graduations, as well as a certificate commemorating their 6-year commitment to Breakthrough Twin Cities. The program will be followed by a luncheon, catered by Breaking Bread, and time to come together as a community and be proud of our collective growth and momentum.  https://www.breakthroughtwincities.org/events/

Bolder Options

May 31st Golf Classic at Legends Golf Course.  Come and be part of their annual event to raise funding to support the Bolder Options youth mentoring program. https://one.bidpal.net/2023golf/welcome

SVP catalyzes equitable social change by expanding the impact of youth-serving organizations, and building an effective community of engaged philanthropists. Together we’re building better futures!