Social Ventures Australia

Despite Australia’s proud overall record of economic growth, there remains entrenched social disadvantage in many Australian communities. OECD data also points to the widening gap between rich and poor in our country, in terms of income, wealth and opportunity.

To support the disadvantaged members of our community, there are an estimated 59,000 small, community engaged non-profit organisations that are doing good and much needed work. But Social Ventures Australia (SVA) considers that whilst this diversity in the sector is a strength, it is also a weakness. This extreme fragmentation means that innovative, emerging non-profit organisations who have successfully demonstrated their ability to attack the issues behind entrenched social disadvantage, often struggle to access both the commercial expertise and capital they need to take the next step to scale and achieve deeper social impact. This high degree of sector fragmentation also makes it difficult for exemplary non-profit organisations to attain the profile they need to inspire replication and public policy reform.

SVA believes that providing the non-profit sector with better access to capital and support is the key to achieving sustainable social change and ensuring all Australians can enjoy economic participation, social connections and personal significance. SVA invests in social change by helping increase the impact and build the sustainability of participants in the sector. Its investments are focused on high potential organisations that are fostering solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing our community.

SVA provides funding and strategic support to carefully selected non-profit partners, as well as offering consulting services to the social sector more broadly - including philanthropists who are endeavouring to be more strategic in their approach to giving. SVA’s investments have a bias to education and employment, as these are critical areas of focus if all Australians are to have the opportunity to realise their full potential.

As a non-profit organisation at the forefront of sector development and innovation, SVA works in collaboration with sector partners, as well as government, business, and some of Australia’s leading philanthropists.

What SVA Does

Venture Development
SVA provides multi-year funding and tailored support to a carefully selected portfolio of non-profit ventures (Venture Development Portfolio). This support includes assistance with strategic planning, financial sustainability, measurement and performance evaluation. SVA leverages its networks to help these ventures scale innovative responses to entrenched problems, meet the challenges of organisational growth and communicate the impact of their work.

Before SVA supports a social venture by including it in the Venture Development Portfolio, it conducts a detailed analysis on several key criteria including the performance of its leadership team, its likelihood to bring about significant and lasting social benefit for a substantial number of people, its ability to measure and demonstrate outcomes and finally its potential and readiness to scale and grow impact.

Consulting Services
Operating since 2007, SVA Consulting works with a range of non-profit organisations and social enterprises on customised, results-driven solutions which improve organisational performance and social impact. The consulting team also supports funders, including foundations, philanthropists and governments, to make informed decisions about their social investments.

Fees for SVA Consulting services are charged on a cost-recovery basis to keep its services accessible. Their services are able to be offered at these rates thanks to the support of several generous funders, who recognise the importance of providing the nonprofit sector with access to services that will improve its effectiveness and efficiency.

Partnerships
SVA collaborates and works in partnership across all sectors – social; business; philanthropists; government – on the development of the non-profit and philanthropic sectors. Of particular focus is the development of new solutions that better direct social investment to proven innovative programs and addresses the systematic funding gap that is currently inhibiting the growth of quality non-profit organisations.

SVA’s senior staff is comprised of experts from the non-profit sector as well as professionals from the business world who, like Chris Cuffe, are devoting their time and energy to help make a material and positive impact on the non-profit sector.

SVA has no religious or political affiliations. It has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status and therefore donations to SVA are tax deductible.

For further information about SVA, its portfolio of non-profit organisations (including the difference they are making to Australian lives) and the progress of SVA’s initiatives to strengthen the broader non-profit sector, please visit its website at www.socialventures.com.au.

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