Frequently, donors want to step up to help organizations they support in ways that go beyond financial giving. Similar to a venture capital investor, they seek to render counsel, monitor operations, make referrals, and participate in a variety of ways that help protect their investment. They also desire periodic reports on the achievement of milestones and measured outcomes.

Venture philanthropy can be very rewarding for the donor, who can share expertise, influence, and judgment that otherwise would not be available to the charity. Nonprofits benefit significantly by tapping into the know-how of donors. For highly involved donors, Calvin Edwards & Company assists with venture philanthropy projects of diverse types—representing the grantmaker and rendering guidance to the grantee.

We can help facilitate your venture philanthropy. Because of our firm’s extensive experience with nonprofit governance, management, and operations, we can frequently work directly with the charity on your behalf. These services are highly customized and vary widely from client to client, and between organizations.

We have participated in many venture philanthropy projects with our clients, including the following:

  Revamping a national organization’s strategy

  Evaluating a ministry’s marketing plan

Planning & producing a 2-day fundraising event for a young organization seeking initial capitalization from new donors

  Organizing & promoting “get acquainted” receptions

  Reviewing and revising collateral material for a London-based charity raising money in the U.S.

  Coaching charity executives on public presentations

  Evaluating a development plan & consultant for a U.S. division of an international nonprofit

  Introducing a public service law firm to a public relations firm

  Organizing a training program for a foundation to train potential grant recipients on outcome-based evaluation

  Setting up speaking engagements for the president of an international charity

  Planning a gala banquet event with a national celebrity

  Helping to facilitate merger talks between two nonprofits

  Preparing a strategic plan for a funded nonprofit

  Designing an distribution strategy for media products in a complex international environment

All of these initiatives, while serving a nonprofit organization, were initiated by an involved, caring donor.

Because of the unique nature of each venture philanthropy project, we cannot create pre-set products. Each situation is assessed and a custom plan is created with the client. However, products that we commonly use to assist with venture philanthropy are listed below. Click on any product to view a Product Preview PDF.