Program Overview

Activating knowledge, collaboration, and capital to accelerate social impact.

Our Why

The Venture Philanthropy Fund was established to propel innovative ideas and the passionate founders that make bring them to life. Our mission is to surround these important ideas with our experience, insight and care to shepherd them through the challenges that new companies face. We believe together we can drastically increase their likelihood of sustainable success.

"Vision & passion are water behind a dam that only execution can open"

Our How

The Catalyst for Good program will build infrastructure and capacity for small nonprofits with unique solutions to community problems.

We’ll customize the package of services we deliver to suit the NPO’s needs. This could mean building technology infrastructure, growing social media presence, tuning its pitch to attract donors or building all the nuts and bolts operational functions every organization needs.

In addition to tangible deliverables, C4G knows growing insight and expertise is essential to sustainable success. Social Venture Partners brings education content from its powerful incubator program to increase your business acumen.

"Raising money is a relationship game. Donors give to organizations that move and inspire them."

- Jonah Hanowitz | Engagement Director, Catalyst for Good Program

We’ll deliver SVP content through a unique component of the C4G program: our network of local experts. These professionals are dedicated to improving our community. Each expert will spend 2 hours for 1 on 1 coaching to sharpen skills well as share their wisdom from years of service.

A Catalyst for Good engagement typically runs 3 months to complete five distinct program sections.

Mindset & Direction

This phase pulls everything covered in the program together. We’ll get a business plan wrapped up and polished, review developed materials like pitches, pitch decks, and plans, and get ready for the Catalyst Expo. We’ll get some metrics together and see what kind of tangible progress we can show over the duration of the program. Most importantly, we’ll cover any questions you still have, provide you with info regarding ongoing support after program completion, and talk specifics about the final event.

Whether inspired by personal experience or observed need, the catalyst for your nonprofit was not leadership or culture, but producing good. To last, however, you most articulate your vision into culture, a culture that flows from your leadership. Who are you, what do you do, and why do you do it? How you answer these questions will be the path you lay in front of you. This program is about building your path in such a way that others will walk alongside you.

Effective workplaces are inclusive, collaborative, inspiring, and encouraging. Team members are treated with respect, are encouraged to take reasonable risks, and feel like their contributions are important and impactful. Effective workplaces produce effective work. Phase 1 is about getting into the right mindset and starting in the right direction.

"Your company’s position should be an authentic reflection of you that the community understands and trusts."

Packaging & Launching

Phase 2 will shape the way the world sees you. There are more voices than ever competing for attention. To earn engagement you’ve got to get in front of as many eyes as possible and tell a story that stays in as many minds as possible. We’ll articulate you mission in a compelling way and build strategy to gain exposure through a variety of channels. Consistency is critical and a brand/messaging guide will help you stay on point going forward.

This is a deliverable heavy phase that makes sure you’ve got a solid website, branding, social media & marketing strategy.

"Your company’s position should be an authentic reflection of you that the community understands and trusts."

Strategy & Revenue

Fundraising is out, development is in. Raising money is a relationship game, and the success of your organization depends on your mastery of it. Being genuine in your passion for your cause and in your interactions with your network will do you well. Attend events, meet new people, follow up, reconnect, network. Everything you do personally is a representation of your organization and of your brand.

In this phase, revenue is our focus. That means building and sustaining relationships with donors. It could also include a grant writing plan or traditional revenue through a good or service your nonprofit provides.

"Raising money is a relationship game. Donors give to organizations that move and inspire them."

Performing & Growing

Great ideas are only as effective as the execution by your nonprofit to deliver the desired outcome. The focus of this phase is on the nuts and bolts of running your organization. We’ll talk about banking, money management, procedures, policies, protocols, goals and measurements. It may not be the most exciting stuff you’ve ever worked on, but it is critical to your success.

"The best ideas in the world don’t succeed without a leadership team versed in effective operations, management, and accounting."

Sustaining & Innovating

This phase pulls everything covered in the program together. We’ll get a business plan wrapped up and polished, review developed materials like pitches, pitch decks, and plans, and get ready for the Catalyst Expo. We’ll get some metrics together and see what kind of tangible progress we can show over the duration of the program. Most importantly, we’ll cover any questions you still have, provide you with info regarding ongoing support after program completion, and talk specifics about the final event.