Celebrating Dramatic Growth through True Partnership
Looking back at a catalytic, multi-year Partnership with a nonprofit poised for significant growth The most significant partnerships are those where we are able to have a consistent presence and grow together. Nowhere is this better displayed than in our collaboration with Latino Network.
“This was a true partnership,” said Lead Partner Holly Levow. “The relationship was give and take. [Partners and Latino Network] showed up and asked, ‘What can we do to lift up youth and create more equitable outcomes?’”
For more than seven years, SVP has worked with Latino Network to dramatically expand their operations and their ability to provide critical services in our community. Founded in 1996, Latino Network is dedicated to positively transforming the lives of Latino youth, families, and communities so they are thriving, engaged, and influential. Latino Network is a leader in effective, culturally-specific early childhood programming through their Juntos Aprendemos program. “SVP Portland is like family,” said Latino Network Executive Director Carmen Rubio. “They not only change organizations, they capacitate organizations to change systems permanently—and as a result, help benefit the lives of so many in our community facing barriers.”
In 2013, SVP entered the picture to focus on building the capacity of the organization—and it paid off. When we first invested in Latino Network, they had 13 full-time staff with a $1.5M budget. They have now grown to be a 120-person game-changing team with a $10M budget. Here are some highlights of capacity building milestones we accomplished through our partnership:
2013: Expanded & strengthened Board of Directors
2014: Developed strategic & operational plans; Conducted comprehensive evaluation of early childhood program through participation in SVP’s Project Impact cohort
2015: Developed HR infrastructure & financial systems
2016: Generated policy & advocacy framework & strategy
2017: Created business plan to scale the Juntos Aprendemos preschool program
2018: Invested in leadership development & succession planning; developed robust fundraising plan
2019: Conducted a comprehensive organizational financial health assessment
When we first teamed up with Latino Network, there were only three Juntos programs in one community. Now, as we enter 2020, there are 17 programs across the entire state, with high demand for more to be added quickly. This expansion was in part enabled by the significant work completed hand in hand with SVP Partners, resulting in an exemplary business plan for scaling.
That’s a win in their book and in ours!