Category: Recent News
Full Circle Impact Accelerator Spring Pitch Event is a Wrap!
It was a wonderful evening! On Thursday, June 28th Social Venture Partners Pittsburgh held its Pitch Event for the 5 amazing nonprofits in the spring Full Circle Impact Accelerator cohort. The event was hosted at BNY’s Innovation Center and more than 110 social impact professionals enjoyed an evening of presentations from 5 innovative and inspiring nonprofits creating next-level social impact in Pittsburgh. All Star Code, Refugee Resettlement at NAMS, PA Youth Initiative, Assemble and Veterans Breakfast Club all presented to judges and more than 110 supportive socially conscious professionals from around the city. The night was a great success, CONGRATULATIONS Assemble!
SVP Featured in Popular I <3 Pittsburgh Blog
2 Women-Focused Organization Awarded At Nonprofit Accelerator Event
By Ben Wonderful / I <3 Pittsburgh
Two women-focused nonprofits were awarded $500 each at December 15th’s Social Venture Partners’ Full Circle Impact Accelerator Pitch Event. The event, held at Google Pittsburgh’s HQ, was a culmination of a fourteen-week accelerator program from Social Venture Partners Pittsburgh, a philanthropic grantmaking organization based on the venture capital model.
The night’s $500 recipients were Ujamaa Collective and Prototype PGH. Ujamaa Collective invests in the economic and social growth of Africana women entrepreneurs and artisans through a boutique in the Hill District and Prototype PGH operates a North Oakland maker-space and offers maker educational programming focused on equity and feminism.
At the event, five nonprofits presented information about their organization to three judges and to a packed room full 170+ people. Pitching in addition to the two $500 recipients, were the Alliance for Police Accountability, the Global Switchboard, and New Fear Being Different. The night’s judges were Ilana Diamond, Managing Director of AlphaLab Gear, Mike Capsambelis, Product Management at Google, and Karen Brackett, Vice President at NexTier Bank, the marquee sponsor for the event.
The participating nonprofits also competed for an ‘audience favorite’ award. This prize, also for $500, was awarded to New Fear Being Different, a media platform that uses inspirational and entertaining content to shed light on social issues and connect people.
Those that didn’t receive a $500 award were also supported. Each nonprofit received $2,000 for completing the Full Circle Impact Accelerator program, which was sponsored by UPMC/UPMC Health Plan. Also, an additional $2,600 was separately pledged by the night’s audience and spread across all the organization that pitched at the event. In total, $14,000+ in direct contributions were made to the five nonprofits.
Social Venture Partners Pittsburgh’s’ Full Circle Impact Accelerator is managed by the Social Impact business development firm, CitizenCity, and its principals Ryan Gayman and Benjamin Utter. To learn more about the Social Venture Partners and its programs visit, svppittsburgh.org.
Click here to view the original publication of this article in I <3 Pittsburgh.
Full Circle Impact Accelerator Pitch Event
Social Venture Partners Pittsburgh announces the fall Full Circle Impact Accelerator Pitch Event on Thursday, December 14 from 5:30 – 8:00PM at Google Pittsburgh’s HQ. Click here to register.
During the event, the five innovative nonprofits that engaged in the accelerator’s fall cohort will pitch how they are tackling the region’s greatest challenges to a cross-sector audience of 150+ socially conscious leaders. As the exciting culmination of the fall accelerator program, SVP will award $10,000 to the Full Circle nonprofits at the Pitch Event.
The nonprofit businesses that will be pitching at the event include: Alliance for Police Accountability, The Global Switchboard, Never Fear Being Different, Prototype PGH and Ujamaa Collective.
Registration is required and seating is limited, so be sure to reserve your tickets here.
MARQUEE PITCH SPONSOR
SVP Pittsburgh would like to thank and recognize the generous support of our Marquee Sponsor, NexTier Bank, whose contribution enables the success of the fall Full Circle Impact Accelerator Pitch Event.
SVP ANNUAL SPONSOR
SVP Pittsburgh would like to thank and recognize the support of UPMC/UPMC Health Plan whose generous contribution to SVP is critical to success of the Full Circle Impact Accelerator program year-round.
ADDITIONAL EVENT SPONSORS
SVP Pittsburgh would like to thank and recognize the generous contributions of our sponsors whose support is critical to the fall Pitch Event.
MEDIA SPONSOR
SVP Pittsburgh would like to recognize Anthem Productions for media production of the Fall Pitch Event.
EVENT HOST
SVP Pittsburgh would like to recognize Google Pittsburgh for hosting the Fall Pitch Event in their beautiful headquarters in Bakery Square.
Announcing the Full Circle Impact Accelerator Fall Cohort of Nonprofits
Social Venture Partners Pittsburgh
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 03/16/17
fullcircle@svppittsburgh.org
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Five Pittsburgh-based innovative nonprofits selected for the Full Circle impact accelerator fall cohort.
Pittsburgh, PA: Last week SVP Full Circle, Pittsburgh’s impact accelerator for nonprofits, announced the five Pittsburgh-based nonprofit organizations that were selected for their spring cohort. The five nonprofits selected for the spring accelerator cohort include:
- Alliance for Police Accountability | The APA catalyzes criminal justice reform by implementing grassroots approaches to bettering community and police relations through advocacy, education and policy.
- The Global Switchboard | The Global Switchboard cultivates a community of Pittsburghers engaged in critical global issues (e.g. immigration rights) through a globally-focused coworking space and digital hub.
- Never Fear Being Different | NFBD is a next generation media platform that replaces divisive click bait with inspirational and entertaining media that sheds light on important social issues and brings people together.
- Prototype PGH | Prototype is building a more inclusive and equitable maker movement in Pittsburgh by offering a makerspace and maker educational programming that focuses on equity and feminism.
- Ujamaa Collective | Ujamaa Collective invests in the economic and social growth of Africana women entrepreneurs and artisans by operating a Hill District based artisan boutique and providing cooperative business support.
Over the next 14 weeks, the Full Circle nonprofits will engage in an intensive accelerator curriculum dedicated to scaling their organization’s impact. SVP Partners – leading private sector professionals who seek to be more hands-on and engaged with their philanthropy – will serve as coaches to the Full Circle nonprofits. Each Full Circle nonprofit is paired with a team of 5+ coaches who work alongside the nonprofit leadership throughout the program. Upon completion of the Full Circle accelerator, each nonprofit will receive a $2,000 contribution from SVP.
The spring Full Circle programming will culminate in a pitch event on December 14 where each nonprofit from the fall cohort will pitch their organization’s work and impact to a public audience and compete for additional cash prizes to support their ongoing growth. Keep updated with all the latest from SVP’s fall Full Circle cohort on Twitter (@SVPPGH).
Our Sponsors: SVP Pittsburgh’s Full Circle impact accelerator for nonprofits is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors. SVP recognizes UPMC/UPMC Health Plan for their sponsorship and commitment to seeing a more impactful and innovative nonprofit community in the Pittsburgh region. SVP also recognizes our venue sponsor, Ascender, for generously providing outstanding event and meeting space for the Full Circle program.
About SVP Pittsburgh: Social Venture Partners (SVP) Pittsburgh is a growing community of engaged philanthropists who contribute their expertise, skills, networks and finances to grow the impact of nonprofits and tackle our community’s greatest challenges. SVP Pittsburgh’s core program is the Full Circle impact accelerator, which connects SVP Partners as executive coaches to accelerate the impact of Pittsburgh’s most innovative nonprofits. Interested in learning more? Contact Full Circle Managers Ryan Gayman (ryan@svppittsburgh.org) and Benjamin Utter (ben@svppittsburgh.org).
SVP Full Circle Impact Accelerator Spring Pitch Event
On Wednesday July 21, the five organizations that engaged in the spring cohort SVP’s Full Circle impact accelerator pitched their impact to an audience of nearly 100 nonprofit leaders, foundation leaders, entrepreneurs and SVP Partners.
Congratulations to Bibi Al-Ebrahim from Amizade, Jenna Baron from Alliance for Refugee Youth Support & Education (ARYSE), Fr. Paul Abernathy from FOCUS Pittsburgh, Walter Lewis from Homewood Children’s Village and Averyl Hall from Just Harvest for their dynamic pitches.
Each Full Circle nonprofit will receive $2,000 for their engagement in the program. Congratulations to Jenna and Team ARYSE for winning the audience choice award and taking home an additional $500. These pitches are the culminating event of the Spring Full Circle impact accelerator program. Following their participation in the program, Full Circle alumni nonprofits receive ongoing advising and support from SVP.
Event Sponsors
SVP Pittsburgh would like to thank and recognize the generous support of our sponsors whose contributions enable the success of the Spring Pitch event.
Event Host
SVP Pittsburgh would like to recognize Innovation Works – one of the region’s leading technology and startup investors for hosting the Spring Pitch Event in their beautiful headquarters in the Northside.
Media Sponsor
SVP Pittsburgh would like to recognize and thank our media sponsor for the pitch event StudioMe – the first self-guided studio where users from novice to professional can create their own high quality video, photo and audio content!
SVP Spring Pitch Event – June 21, 2017
Social Venture Partners Pittsburgh announces that the Spring Pitch Event will take place on Wednesday, June 21 from 5:30 to 8:00PM at Innovation Works headquarters in the North Side.
The SVP Spring Pitch Event will bring together 100+ civically engaged Pittsburghers to celebrate 5 of Pittsburgh’s most innovative and impactful nonprofits. Amizade, Alliance for Refugee Youth Support and Education (ARYSE), FOCUS Pittsburgh, Just Harvest and Homewood Childrens Village will conclude their time in SVP’s Full Circle impact accelerator with pitches that share the impact of their exciting organizations.
SVP Partners will give away $10,000 to these five nonprofit organizations that are creating big impact on some of the toughest challenges in the Pittsburgh region:
- Alleviating food deserts;
- Educating local refugee youth;
- Providing trauma-informed community development services;
- Building life-changing youth development technologies; and
- Disrupting local youth inequitable access to life-changing global learning opportunities.
Register today to take part in this celebratory pitch event as well as mix and mingle with Pittsburgh’s next generation of philanthropists, nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs!
Event Sponsors
SVP Pittsburgh would like to thank and recognize the generous support of our sponsors whose contributions enable the success of the Spring Pitch event.
Event Host
SVP Pittsburgh would like to recognize Innovation Works – one of the region’s leading technology and startup investors for hosting the Spring Pitch Event in their beautiful headquarters in the Northside.
Media Sponsor
SVP Pittsburgh would like to recognize and thank our media sponsor for the pitch event StudioMe – the first self-guided studio where users from novice to professional can create their own high quality video, photo and audio content!.
SVP Pittsburgh Announces Nonprofits for Full Circle Impact Accelerator
Social Venture Partners Pittsburgh
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 03/16/17
fullcircle@svppittsburgh.org
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SVP Pittsburgh Announces Nonprofits for Full Circle Impact Accelerator
Five Pittsburgh-based innovative nonprofits selected for impact acceleration
Pittsburgh, PA: Today SVP Full Circle, Pittsburgh’s impact accelerator for nonprofits, announced the five Pittsburgh-based nonprofit organizations that were selected for their spring cohort accelerator programming. The five nonprofits selected for the spring accelerator cohort include:
- Alliance for Refugee Youth Support and Education | ARYSE supports refugee and immigrant youth to become prepared, engaged and confident members of the Pittsburgh community. ARYSE seeks to expand its work in Pittsburgh to provide year-round programming for local immigrant and refugee youth.
- Amizade | Amizade inspires empathy, catalyzes social action, and links diverse networks through service and learning in 12 countries. Amizade is a leader in ethical global service learning and is internationally recognized for their innovative model for ‘fair trade learning.’
- FOCUS Pittsburgh | FOCUS Pittsburgh aims to build human development through programs that promote health and well-being. FOCUS Pittsburgh deploys a unique grassroots approach to understanding and addressing the health and well-being challenges of communities in The Hill District neighborhood.
- Homewood Children’s Village | Modeled on the acclaimed Harlem Children’s Zone, HCV seeks a comprehensive, place-based, community oriented transformation of Homewood. HCV’s innovative approach puts youth development at the center of community development.
- Just Harvest | Founded in 1986, Just Harvest works to improve anti-hunger public policy and food access in Allegheny County. JH seeks to grow their newest programs, Fresh Corners and Fresh Access, which provide e-transaction capabilities at farmers markets and initiate healthy corner stores in local food deserts.
Pat Calhoun, SVP Pittsburgh’s Board of Directors Chairwoman shares that, “This inspiring group of organizations were selected from a competitive pool of nonprofits based on their innovative approach as well as their potential to achieve growth in impact from participating in the accelerator program. We’re thrilled to have a diverse cohort of nonprofits whose missions and efforts tackle major challenges of equity, health care, youth development, refugee and immigrant education, health food access and more.”
Over the next 3-months, Full Circle nonprofits will engage in an intensive accelerator curriculum dedicated to growing organizational impact, receive funding from SVP Pittsburgh as well as receive executive coaching from SVP Partners who are private sector professionals that contribute their skills, expertise, networks and finances to the Full Circle nonprofits. The spring Full Circle programming will culminate in a demo day event in June where the nonprofit cohort will pitch their organization’s work and impact to a public audience and compete for additional cash prizes to support their ongoing growth.
About SVP Pittsburgh: Social Venture Partners (SVP) Pittsburgh is a growing community of engaged philanthropists who contribute their expertise, skills, networks and finances to grow the impact of nonprofits and tackle our community’s greatest challenges. SVP Pittsburgh’s core program is the Full Circle impact accelerator, which connects SVP Partners as executive coaches to accelerate the impact of Pittsburgh’s most innovative nonprofits. Interested in learning more? Contact Full Circle Managers Ryan Gayman (ryan@svppittsburgh.org) and Benjamin Utter (ben@svppittsburgh.org).
Full Circle Impact Accelerator Nonprofit Call for Applications
Spring Full Circle Call For Application
SVP has launched the call for applications for the 2017 Full Circle program. All 501(c)3 nonprofits operating in the Greater Pittsburgh area are invited to apply for Pittsburgh’s impact accelerator.
A letter from 412 Food Rescue, 2015 SVP Investee
412 Food Rescue, SVP Pittsburgh’s 2015 Fall Investee, has made some incredible strides since winning our Fall Pitch. They have rescued countless pounds of food, partnered with Zipcar, launched their Ugly CSA program, piloted a food education program, and received a donated truck to help pick up even more food donations! (Check out these previous updates here and here.)
We received a letter from Leah Lizarondo, cofounder of 412 Food Rescue, with another amazing update. This is an excerpt, but the entire letter is beyond all our expectations:
“Despite major cuts to the federal SNAP program, The House Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s (HACP) relatively recent collaboration with 412 Food Rescue has managed to effectively end hunger in our public housing communities. Historically, our communities have averaged 5 to 7 emergency referrals for families without food each month. Over the course of the last six months, however, HACP has received zero referrals for families without food. We attribute this dramatic success to the ongoing efforts of 412 Food Rescue.”
To see the words “end hunger” within a community we work with puts me at a loss for words. This is why we do what we do. Personally, I am floored by how much our very small staff has worked hard to accomplish.
The media loves the technology story when they cover 412 Food Rescue. But this is the real story. “Innovation” is only interesting because it makes previously insurmountable goals possible.
We are on to something. And we will keep on growing our impact–and demonstrate how recovering the food we waste is significantly important in any work against hunger.
Thank you for your support–for helping us make this happen.
Warmly,
Leah
HACP isn’t the only one who has noticed this amazing work, Hopeful Headlines featured 412 Food Rescue in a recent article, Misfit Foods Find Their Place in Fight Against Food Waste.
Stay up to date on all things 412 Food Rescue by following their Facebook page.