25 Years of Venture Philanthropy

From a Bold Idea in Vancouver’s Tech and Business Community to 25 Years of Backing Nonprofits for Greater Social Impact.

How it all began: SVP Vancouver began in 2001, when a group of 24 visionary leaders from Vancouver’s technology and business community came together around a simple but ambitious idea: philanthropy could do more than write cheques. Inspired by the venture philanthropy model emerging in Seattle, they set out to build an organization that would pair money with time-combining their capital with expertise, connections, and long-term partnership to help nonprofits grow stronger. What began as the British Columbia Technology Foundation became Social Venture Partners Vancouver—one of the earliest SVP chapters in the world-and over 25 years, that model has evolved into a proven approach to strengthening nonprofits serving children, youth, and families in B.C.

What started as a forward thinking experiment in giving has become a proven model for helping nonprofits grow stronger, scale what works, and deliver greater impact over time.

With our money + time model, we have been able to help high-potential organizations evolve and grow through flexible funding, leadership development, capacity-building, and long-term partnership. Why? Because when nonprofits are stronger, more children, youth, and families in B.C. can get the support they need. 

Our 25-year track record shows that when nonprofit leaders and organizations have the right support, they can drive lasting, positive change.

“Twenty-five years ago, the British Columbia Technology Foundation was formed. Our origin story and evolution to SVP Vancouver is recounted elsewhere, so I won’t repeat it here. I want to acknowledge the vision and initiative that our Founding Partners took in coming together and willing the idea into its initial organized form, recruiting our first staff, and adopting and refining our model of investing a combination of money and time in early-stage nonprofits and the communities that they serve. I’d also like to recognize staff, donors, and nonprofit leaders for their essential contributions to what we do. Much has changed over twenty-five years, and yet the core premise remains the same; committed people can, and do, make a hugely positive impact by working together through SVP Vancouver. I look forward for that to continue, long into the future.”

– David Sutcliffe, First SVP Vancouver Board Chair

“Our 25th anniversary is an opportunity to honour our past and reflect on the remarkable impact SVP Vancouver has had on our Investees and the people they serve. The Board understands its responsibility to steward SVP thoughtfully after so many years of strong leadership from our Partners. It is also a chance to consider how we can expand our impact over the next 25 years. I am confident we will build on our strong foundation and take SVP to even greater heights. Our momentum is exciting.

On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Helen and the SVP staff team for their hard work in driving SVP’s success, and our Investees for their passion and commitment to supporting children and youth. I also want to thank our Partners and donors who have responded to our call for growth. Your confidence and trust have helped keep us on track to double our revenue and triple our grantmaking by 2027.

Let’s continue working together to make life better for children and youth in our community.

– David Ferguson, SVP Vancouver Board Chair

“This year’s milestone feels especially meaningful to me. It comes at a time when community needs are growing and nonprofit leaders are navigating rising pressure and uncertainty. In that environment, organizations need more than short-term support. They need committed Partners to stand alongside them. 

That is the role SVP Vancouver continues to play. For 25 years, SVP has helped shape a more thoughtful, engaged approach to philanthropy—one grounded in relationships, long-term commitment, and confidence in nonprofit leadership. I see every day what becomes possible when leaders have the right support behind them. I am deeply grateful to the Partners, donors, and nonprofit leaders who make up this community and make that work possible. 

Our philanthropic impact can be seen across B.C., which is why growing SVP matters now. The need is there, the opportunity is clear, and by growing this community, we can stand behind more nonprofit leaders doing essential work. 

– Helen Stortini, SVP Vancouver CEO 

The Next 25 Years

Help Build the Next Generation of SVP Vancouver

SVP Vancouver has shown what’s possible when philanthropy goes beyond the grant and provides money + time and expertise. By combining flexible funding, long-term partnership, and hands-on support in leadership and organizational capacity, SVP helps build and back great nonprofits-organizations that can meet rising demand, provide critical services, and improve the lives of B.C.’s children, youth, and families.

This approach is needed now more than ever. As the sector is asked to do more with less, many of the solutions nonprofit leaders are calling for-unrestricted funding, multi-year support, and investment in leadership, staffing, and operations—are the very things SVP has been doing since its inception.

Now, it’s time to build the next chapter of SVP-and help lead the next chapter of philanthropy.

By growing our community of Partners, increasing investment in high-potential nonprofits, and expanding this model of engaged, strategic giving, we can help more children, youth, and families find safety, connection, confidence, and the support they need to thrive.

By 2027, SVP Vancouver aims to invest $2 million in our community-more than 20 times the amount of our first year of Partner Pooled grants back in 2002. Because what this moment demands is more of this bold approach to philanthropy: more partnership, more investment in nonprofit leadership, and more SVP in the world.

Join us in building the next generation of SVP Vancouver and help shape what the next 25 years can make possible.