Partner of the Month: Alex Nelson

We are thrilled to welcome the arrival of spring by recognizing Alex Nelson as May's Partner of the Month!

Alex is CEO of Impact Capital Management, LLC, a mission-driven organization that creates opportunities for investors to impact their local communities by investing in underserved entrepreneurs and businesses who create local jobs. Alex’s professional expertise made him the ideal candidate to lead SVP’s Impact Investment Team. The Impact Investment Team’s goal is to attract funds for lending  to social impact entities that are focused on our “Preschool for All” goal. The loan fund will open a channel of financing that SVP’s grant funding would otherwise not support, providing financial capital to nonprofits and businesses at below-market rates, and connecting other great sources of funding with our pool of Community Partners. In his spare time, Alex and his wife Mary camp with their family, play music in their church, and garden.

AN INTERVIEW WITH ALEX

Why did you join SVP?

I joined SVP to help elevate the important mission of Impact Investing. My good friend Terry St. Marie insisted that there were great opportunities to help SVP Partners on both financial and investment sides of the businesses. He was right!

How has SVP helped you make a bigger difference in the community?

I feel very fortunate to be able to impact the lives of underprivileged children in Portland, through another channel other than my church. All of the Partners we help are doing wonderful work, and I take great joy in being a part of that effort.

What is your vision for early childhood in our community?

Preschool for All sums up the efforts in so many ways, but for me, the primary goal for improving early childhood education in our community is to increase the graduation rates of students in our high schools. Portland’s public school system has a very low high school graduation rate, and that needs to improve.

What has been most rewarding thus far and why?

Getting to meet our SVP Partners and our Community Partners, and listen to their stories is by far the most rewarding activity.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

There are a number of great things regarding Impact Investing and our Community Partners that are getting very close to an exciting launch! I can’t wait to talk about it more with our Partners.