The SVP Vancouver Early Years Innovation Fund:
Investing in Brighter Beginnings
Launched in 2021, the SVP Early Years Innovation Fund tackled a critical gap. Despite decades of research showing that every dollar invested in early childhood can return a 10:1 benefit to society, innovation in this sector remains underfunded.
SVP Vancouver stepped in with flexible funding and partnership to helping nonprofits test bold solutions and lasting community impact—driving significant change for kids and families.
We are in the final year of the trial and have committed more than $580K in pilot grants to Early Years Investees and countless hours of SVP capacity building programming. The trial has helped support more than 12,000 families with more than 81,000 touchpoints and has launched new innovative programming that supports more than 3,000 children and families.
The learnings from the trial have shaped the future of our grant making, inspiring the design of our Series B granting program and a commitment to continue to granting 50% of our grant funds to Early Years Initiatives
We have funded high-need issues areas that are identified by experts in the landscape as critical and under-funded, this includes:
- Multiple innovative new programs already changing the lives of children with disabilities and their caregivers.
- Support for one organization to build out an idea for a collective impact approach to addressing post-COVID trauma in families and another to provide social emotional learning support and education to EY caregivers and EY caregivers in the healthcare system.
- Increased access to programs and services through new location openings, remote learning, and teaching opportunities.
Want to learn more about how you can support the fund?
Why We Launched the Fund
We spent two years conducting research and connecting with experts in the child and youth space to better understand where and when investments in capacity building could have the greatest impact on a child’s life and their future.
Early Childhood Development (ECD) is one of the most critical and underserved phases of a child’s life. In Vancouver, one in three children enter Grade 1 poorly prepared to learn due to vulnerabilities in one or more key developmental areas—and impaired learning can impact their future potential. By supporting organizations that offer targeted early childhood (0-6 years) interventions, we will optimize SVP’s impact because the early years age group present the greatest potential for long-lasting societal benefits.
Extensive research shows that assistance during the early years is more effective than at any other time. Investing in early childhood development can have an enormous impact throughout a child’s life and result in a 10:1 return to society (or more!) for each dollar invested
What We Have Learned About Our Impact So Far
Critical Investments
SVP will invest more than half a million dollars in Early Years Initiatives in areas that experts in the Early Years space have identified as some of the most pressing and important needs facing young children.
Unique and Crucial Support
SVP is providing critical, unique support that answers a growing need and fills a gap in the funding horizon. With increasing demand for services and limited funding opportunities for Early Years Initiatives, SVP has stepped in at a crucial time.
Power to Convene
SVP's role as a convener is validated as investees explore ways to tackle common barriers together. As our community grows, so will opportunities for collaboration.
Fuelling Ground-breaking Ideas
We are supporting initiatives other funders won’t fund, allowing organizations to test new ideas, embark in strategic partnerships, and scale their Programs.
Immediate, Tangible Impact
Two innovative new programs are already changing the lives of young children who live with disabilities, and their caregivers. Another Early Years grant is helping an organization scale the reach of a high-quality social-emotional learning program. A fourth Early Years grant is helping an organization build out a collective impact approach to addressing post-COVID trauma in families.
Longer-term Impact on Children
We know that our investments will lead to lifelong changes in the children served by our Investees. These longer term impacts can include increasing the chances these children graduate from high school, have greater mental and physical health, avoid getting tangled in the legal system, and ultimately be thriving, self-sufficient adults.
