Frequently, we find that clients 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, make introductions, monitor operations, 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.

In our experience, donors who are also board members or closely affiliated with the charity or its chief executive are frequently interested in venture philanthropy. They see the value of long term strategic involvement beyond an immediate financial gift.

We help facilitate our clients' venture philanthropy and often provide the “venture” or business component for them. Because of our firm’s extensive experience with nonprofit governance, management, and operations, we can frequently work directly with the charity on the donor’s behalf. These services are highly customized and vary widely from client to client, and between organizations.

Venture philanthropy projects with which our clients and we have participated include the following:

Revamping a national organization’s strategy
Evaluating a ministry’s marketing plan
Assessing the liability exposure of a director of an organization that works with children
Planning and producing a 2-day fundraising event for a young ministry seeking initial capitalization from new donors
Organizing and 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 and 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
Acting as consultant and evaluator to an ambitious 5-year pilot program in a Central American country

All of these initiatives, while serving the nonprofit, were initiated by an involved, caring donor. Our role in venture philanthropy is to advise the donor so he/she can pass on recommendations to the charity, or to communicate directly with the charity on behalf of the donor.

Because of the unique nature of each venture philanthropy project, generally we cannot create pre-set products. Each situation is assessed and a custom plan is created with the client.