How to practice VP

EVPA uses the term VP to describe grant making and social investment that employs the following characteristics:

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1. High engagement – Hands-on relationships between the social enterprise or nonprofit management and the venture philanthropists.
2. Organizational capacity-building – Building the operational capacity of the portfolio organizations, by funding core operating costs rather than individual projects.
3. Multi-year support – Supporting a limited number of organizations for 3-5 years, then exiting when organizations supported are financially or operationally sustainable
4. Non-financial support – Providing value-added services such as strategic planning to strengthen management.
5. Involvement of networks – Providing access to networks enables various and often complementing skill-sets and resources being made available to the investees.
6. Tailored financing – Using a range of financing mechanisms tailored to needs of organization supported.
7. Performance measurement – Placing emphasis on good business planning, measurable outcomes, achievement of milestones and financial accountability and transparency.

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More details on how to establish and manage a VP organisation can be found in “Establishing a VP Organisation in Europe: A Practical Guide” available at Publications – EVPA Publications. Publications on how to practice VP are available at Publications – VP in Practice.