Becoming a SVP Boston Investee is a simple, but systematic process. The process has four main steps:

1) Each year, SVP Boston Partners select an investment focus. Our current focus is Education, Workforce Development, and Family Economic Self-Sufficiency.

2) We invite nonprofits in the selected focus area to submit a Letter of Interest if they wish to be considered for an investment. We accept Letters of Interest on an invitation basis, though we will consider inquiries if the organization fits our investment criteria.

3) From this group of nonprofits, we select those we feel best meet our investment criteria and invite them to participate in a comprehensive due diligence process. We evaluate each applicant quantitatively and qualitatively through full grant proposals, interviews, references, and site visits.

4) SVP Partners select one or two (typically) of these organizations for investment.

Investment guidelines and criteria

We build long-term partnerships with organizations who share the following characteristics:
- Clearly articulated mission and a long-term vision
- Strong, visionary executive and board leadership
- Commitment to building and strengthening organizational capacity
- Desire to expand, replicate, or otherwise leverage programs having proven results
- Strategic volunteer opportunities for SVP Partners
- 501(c) (3) status or an appropriate fiscal sponsor/agent
 
Grant requests for auctions or fundraising events, debt reduction, endowment funds, capital campaigns, litigation or legal expenses will not be considered.

Our grants are for general operating support -- they are used to enhance the organization's capacity for long-term effectiveness and sustainability. They are renewable each year for up to three years, dependent upon progress toward mutually agreed upon goals.