Want to help accelerate our impact? Start by Showing Up!
One of the things that makes SVP truly unique is that we do much more than just give money. We come together to roll up our sleeves and make a difference in our community, many of us working directly with the outstanding nonprofits with whom we partner and invest. It is this commitment to engaging deeply that originally drew me to SVP and most recently to the role of Lead Partner in our investment with NAYA Family Center.
Because of my Lead role, my fellow Partners often ask me for an update on how our work is going. They want to hear about our progress and challenges, what we are learning along the way and how SVP is bringing real value to NAYA. Quite often, they also indicate that they’d like to be involved but aren’t sure how they can contribute. A common theme I hear is “I love SVP because we partner deeply with nonprofits doing great work in our community. But I don’t have the time/expertise/skill to volunteer on a regular basis. I want to be more involved, but I’m not sure what I can do.”
The answer: Simply show up!
I believe our success in engaging deeply with our investees rests on the bedrock of our commitment to building strong, trusting relationships with the dedicated people within the organizations in which we invest. We take the time to understand the culture of the organization, to get to know the staff and volunteers, to share our personal stories with them and to listen carefully and openly to what they have to share. We do this in formal ways, such as the OCAT (Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool). Just as importantly, we do this in a variety of informal ways as well. And, increasingly, we are doing this well before we make the mutual commitment to partner with an investee.
My belief in the significance of this relationship building was reinforced recently when I attended a City Club Leadership Spotlight event featuring Matt Morton, Executive Director of NAYA Family Center. At the end of the event, one of the organizers asked Matt if he had any suggestions for how the City Club might connect/partner with NAYA and other culturally-specific organizations. He responded that the best place to start is to get to know each other and build relationships before engaging in any formal partnership "business.” He and NAYA’s Director of Strategic Development and Communications, Oscar Arana, encouraged City Club members to attend their free public events, such as the Neerchokikoo Honoring Powwow and their Native Professionals and Friends Nights. They noted that showing up, spending time together, and sharing a few laughs are key components of building trust. It was a proud moment for me when they then pointed to our NAYA/SVP partnership as an example of how long it can take to build those trusting relationships and how that investment can really pay off when we face the inevitable hurdles that come with true partnership.
I think my fellow Partner Ellen Macke put it best when she wrote recently, “Truly, if SVP partners want to know what they can do, they can do so much by showing up! No preparation required other than an openness to listening, learning and fellowship. In this virtual age, it still seems so important that we actually see each other to broaden and strengthen our community.” So I hope you will join me and other SVP Partners at an investee event soon. Check the calendar, come on by, be sure to introduce yourself as an SVP Partner, get to know some amazing people in our community, have some fun while sharing the gift of your company...and help us accelerate our impact for families and children.
- Rebecca Brown Schroeder, SVP Partner.