Feature

Fostering a Vibrant Community of Lifelong Philanthropists

How Social Venture Partners (SVP) India is Catalyzing Collective Impact by Fostering a Network of Donors, Nonprofits and Social Enterprises

GivingPi Editorial Team

28th September 2023

"SVP operates as a philanthropic incubator, fostering connections within an ecosystem where philanthropists can thrive. The core premise is simple: catalyze collective impact by empowering numerous individuals to strategically accelerate their philanthropic endeavors."

- Govind Iyer, All India Chairperson, SVP India

Throughout India's rich history, philanthropy has stood as a cornerstone of societal progress, adeptly evolving in tandem with the nation's dynamic landscape. From acts of charity to the strategic and impactful giving practices of today, philanthropy has consistently demonstrated its ability to confront pressing challenges and igniting positive change.

At the forefront of both the global and Indian philanthropic landscape emerges Social Venture Partners (SVP), the world's largest network of engaged donors with a global presence spanning 36 chapters and over 3500 members across cities in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, India and China. Since its inception in India in 2012, SVP has been driven by an overarching vision to provide individuals with a dynamic platform for engaging in philanthropy, ultimately fostering a vibrant community of lifelong givers who are dedicated to creating positive and lasting impact.

SVP India functions as a pan-India collaborative philanthropy organization with a multifaceted approach. Serving as a collective, SVP India connects and engages philanthropists, enabling them to amplify their impact through meaningful contributions of both financial resources and time. It plays an active role in funding and empowering NGOs, granting them crucial access to knowledge, markets, and financial support. Moreover, it channels efforts into collaborative solutions, uniting individuals and groups with shared goals to align their efforts for even greater collective impact.

Through its selection process, SVP India identifies nonprofits with innovative ideas, proven accomplishments, and growth potential. The selected nonprofits are then provided multi-year comprehensive investments, which include grants, consulting, and direct engagement with SVP partners. This approach ensures substantial support for capacity building, nurturing sustainable growth within the chosen nonprofit initiatives.

"Functioning as an incubator for individual philanthropists and fostering their connection with an ecosystem conducive to growth, SVP operates on the principle of empowering numerous contributors to make incremental strides and expediting collective impact. This approach contrasts with the notion of relying solely on a single individual's actions for change," explains Govind Iyer, All India Chairperson of SVP India. "Together, our strength amplifies," he asserts.

Collective Philanthropy from Seattle to India

SVP's roots trace back to 1997 in Seattle, where affluent entrepreneurs aimed to give back during their tech-industry transition. Paul Brainerd, Aldus Corporation founder, ignited the spark. In a gathering that extended to friends and colleagues, the focus was on individual community endeavors, but a collective, strategic approach to philanthropy was envisioned. This convergence of ideas led to the birth of SVP, founded with dual objectives: community contribution and introducing new individuals to philanthropy through education, grant committees, and volunteering.

Navigating the philanthropic landscape in India can be daunting, as Govind explains. Many individuals are eager to give, yet the sheer scale of challenges often leaves them pondering, "How can I truly make a difference?" or "How can I identify NGOs doing impactful work?" SVP India's core focus lies in bridging this gap. By fostering connections between NGOs, social enterprises, and philanthropists, SVP India aims to foster a vibrant ecosystem of wealth and knowledge sharing rooted in community needs.

Over the last decade, SVP has emerged as an active force in India's philanthropic landscape, unlocking the catalytic potential of giving in India. With a presence now thriving across eight cities—Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Chennai—SVP India has evolved into a collective of business leaders, engaged citizens, and philanthropists. Together, they synergistically harness their resources, time, and expertise to amplify the impact of nonprofit initiatives.

Rooted in a commitment to create a more equitable society, SVP's national mission in India revolves around catalyzing livelihoods at the grassroots level. This shared vision permeates all SVP chapters across the country, each committed to nurturing organizations that spearhead varied pathways to sustainable livelihoods. From advancing income augmentation strategies to facilitating vocational skills training and placement, as well as fostering the growth of micro-enterprises, SVP's collaborative efforts span a comprehensive spectrum. At present, SVP collaborates closely with NGOs at the forefront of creating inclusive livelihood opportunities for diverse segments, including youth, women, farmers, artisans, and individuals with disabilities.

Diverse communities and segments are supported by SVP partners

"Previously, the causes I wanted to give to were specific, but as I've grown with SVP, my interests have broadened. SVP's immersive experiences have deepened my understanding of the interconnected nature of issues, and I'm now more open to engaging with complex challenges where I can contribute to the realm of problem-solving."

- Sunita Cheruku

Impact snapshot | SVP's decade long journey of nurturing lifelong givers

Reflecting on the organization's trajectory, Govind notes, "While livelihood issues were a primary focus for SVP in the past, post-pandemic, we've expanded our reach to other sectors as well."

With a dynamic network comprising over 500 partners, encompassing both individual and corporate contributors, SVP has established a significant presence in India. The organization's pan-India reach has facilitated collaborations with more than 110 grantee NGOs, underscoring its commitment to fostering impactful change on a wide scale. The organization has disbursed a total of INR 25 crores since inception, with a notable allocation of 3.1 crores through SVP Fast Pitch — a program launched in FY 2022 that empowers nonprofit leaders to effectively showcase their work. This initiative culminates in live fundraising events, engaging a diverse audience of potential supporters and funders.

SVP's impact reverberates across various sectors—healthcare, disability rights, women's empowerment, employment generation, waste management, education, youth development, sustainability, and climate action. Through its endeavors, SVP is fostering positive change, creating opportunities for NGOs and funders, and contributing to a sustainable, inclusive future for India.

SVP works with NGOs to create inclusive livelihood opportunities across sectors

Strengthening the Indian Philanthropic Ecosystem

Over the course of a decade, SVP has pioneered emerging macro shifts within India's philanthropic landscape. Beyond the metrics of funds disbursed, grants extended, and NGOs supported, SVP is influencing the very essence of giving and social impact in India.

Fostering Deeper Philanthropic Engagement: Navigating the intricate landscape of philanthropy can often become overwhelming. However, in response to this challenge, SVP plays a pivotal role in simplifying and enhancing interactions among funders, NGOs, and communities. By providing direct avenues, SVP empowers philanthropists to forge enduring connections and immerse themselves more deeply in their giving. A compelling example is that of Ruby Jhunjhunwala, an artist-turned-philanthropist from SVP’s Pune chapter. While she had previously been involved in contributing to NGOs, her association with SVP ignited a shift in the depth of her engagement. With SVP's platform, she embraced a hands-on and immersive approach, actively engaging with the children she supported. She shares, "I dedicate substantial time to guiding the children I work with through their fears and concerns—an aspect that was absent from my earlier endeavors. SVP catalyzed this profound change." She underscores how being a part of SVP has enriched not only her giving journey but also positively affected her as an individual, enabling substantial personal growth.

Nurturing Innovative Perspectives: SVP is actively cultivating fresh perspectives in philanthropy, encouraging new givers to explore best practices through hands-on involvement in grant committees and community volunteering. Govind remarks, "Our role is to enable and reshape the trajectory of giving." This shift becomes evident as partners collaborate directly with grassroots NGOs. Sunita Cheruku, from the Hyderabad chapter, transitioned from the corporate world to the social sector. Initially focused on women's and children's issues, her horizons expanded under SVP's influence.

Amplifying Impact Through Community Building and Collaboration: SVP's impact extends beyond its immediate scope, materializing through collaborative initiatives that transcend the activities it directly facilitates. Mekin Maheshwari, a partner from the Bangalore chapter, is an inspiring example. A former early employee of Flipkart, Mekin's journey with SVP began due to his admiration for the work of some of its members. He went on to establish his social impact venture, Udhyam Learning, which aims to nurture the next generation with entrepreneurial mindsets and 21st-century skills, empowering them to shape their own destinies and create meaningful futures. As his philanthropic journey evolved, Mekin collaborated with Ravi Venkatesan, the founder of SVP India, and entrepreneur Madan Padaki, culminating in the creation of the Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME). This alliance is dedicated to unlocking the potential of mass entrepreneurship in India. Mekin underscores the vital role of the supportive SVP community in this endeavor stating, "This venture would not have materialized without the community provided by SVP. The pivotal encounter with Ravi through SVP served as the catalyst for launching GAME together—a testament to the potential ignited by collective collaboration. The inspiring individuals I've encountered within this community have not only enriched my giving journey but also deepened my understanding of the power of meaningful connections. These experiences underscore the significance of fostering a community that values access and impactful conversations."

Accelerating Giving Journeys: SVP's partners embody diverse narratives of growth, from those who were initially hesitant about giving to becoming avid advocates of accelerating their philanthropy. Sudhir Shenoy, an SVP Mumbai partner based in Kuwait, exemplifies this journey. Initially skeptical, he has engaged with SVP for over six years and emerged as a passionate champion for disability, inclusion, and empowerment causes. His establishment of Karmann, a pioneering non-profit empowering artisans with intellectual disabilities, underscores his commitment to fostering self-sufficiency and social well-being. Often shuttling between Kuwait and India for work, Sudhir has mentored Karmann to generate about INR 2 crores in revenues, generating employment for over 50 artisans with disability. Sudhir has also pledged to donate at least 50% of his net worth to the cause.

Navigating the path to nurturing and accelerating giving journeys is undoubtedly important, yet it's not without its share of hurdles. A notable concern revolves around the expectations set for grantees, often stemming from a lack of trust. Govind's emphasis underscores the significance of tackling this challenge head-on. He highlights, "Addressing this challenge is pivotal. We're committed to cultivating a mindset shift within the SVP community by imparting education, dispelling misconceptions, and fostering meaningful connections between partners and aligned NGOs."

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Sudhir Shenoy with the team at KarMann

Vision for India@100: Innovating for Lasting Impact

In articulating SVP's future vision, Govind emphasizes the importance of expanding the membership base. Concurrently, he highlights, "While pooling resources was once paramount, we are now prioritizing evaluating the impact generated through partners' activities."

Looking ahead over the next 25 years, the collective ambition of SVP's partners converges on reimagining India's philanthropic landscape. The core objective centers on confronting systemic challenges head-on, leveraging the potential of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, and inspiring their network to actively engage in philanthropy.

However, India's challenges loom large. The ongoing journey of learning and giving requires collaboration and knowledge sharing with individuals. The collective highlights that philanthropic resources must be strategically directed for systemic change, nurturing the promise of a brighter future. While India’s philanthropic landscape has witnessed dynamic shifts in the past five years, Mekin suggests that the mission now is to invigorate the ecosystem further, involving more individuals in the act of giving. Govind calls upon existing and aspiring philanthropists to embrace innovation—welcome fresh ideas, establish collaborative ventures, and explore uncharted avenues to build resilient communities. Sudhir, drawing on his extensive corporate experience, reflects, “Among all my accomplishments, it's my philanthropy that has moved me to tears.” Together with Ruby and Sunita, he also aims to influence his immediate network and inspire them to participate in philanthropy, much earlier in their careers.

With this steadfast commitment of its partners, SVP is poised to unlock even greater philanthropic capital and empower individuals to become catalysts of lasting change, by accelerating their giving journeys. Guided by purpose-driven innovation and collective action, SVP stands resolute in its journey towards shaping a more equitable India@100 and fostering a robust philanthropic ecosystem.