Social Venture Partners Invests in Nonprofit Start-up, KairosPDX

Social Venture Partners will provide support to refine growth strategies, solidify operating plans and build core infrastructure in addition to a $10,000 general operating grant to the developing charter school and early learning program in North Portland.

Portland, OR.  March 14, 2014 — KairosPDX won’t open its K-5 charter school and early learning center programs until fall of 2014, but Social Venture Partners (SVP) is investing significant human capitol now to support a successful launch. Over the next six months KairosPDX will receive $10,000 in addition to facilitation and strategy support to build its operating capacity.

KairosPDX rose to the top during SVP’s investment decision process for its commitment to early childhood learning for vulnerable children in North Portland and its innovative models for impacting children and families. In addition to the Learning Academy and the Early Learning Center, which will use the world-renown Reggio Emilia learning model, KairosPDX  has and will continue to provide culturally –relevant training for parents of young children and in-home care providers while connecting families to additional wrap-around supports.

“KairosPDX is right in SVP’s investment “sweet spot.” We want to support leaders and organizations that are thinking ambitiously and creatively about ending early childhood inequities and aren’t afraid to go after those challenges head-on,” commented Mark Holloway, Executive Director of SVP in Portland. “SVP Partners are honored to bring their skills and experience to work side-by-side with this organization and contribute to its impact and long-term success.”

SVP Partners will be facilitating sessions with KairosPDX leadership on business strategy, fund development, marketing, organizational infrastructure, and program evaluation. These Partners bring with them a wide range of expertise from professional education policy consulting and program management, to careers at Nike, Hewlett-Packard and Intel.

Kali Ladd, KairosPDX’s Executive Director, commented, “This investment from SVP brings with it the right focus at the right time for our organization. Funders can often be focused on programmatic outcomes, but SVP is helping us build the organizational foundation upon which the success of our mission relies. The knowledge and facilitation that SVP Partners are bringing to the table will allow the education expertise and the community connections we have at KairosPDX make that much more of an impact.”

KairosPDX is committed to serving the diverse neighborhoods of North Portland by cultivating confident, creative, compassionate leaders exceeding academic standards at each developmental milestone.