Celebrating a New Beginning: Reflections on the Launch of SVP’s Newest Affiliate

There are moments in this work when you can feel the shift happening in real time — when a room fills with possibility, shared purpose, and the unmistakable sense that something meaningful is beginning. The launch celebration of our newest Social Venture Partners affiliate was exactly that kind of moment.

From the instant guests walked in, the atmosphere was electric. Leaders from philanthropy, community organizations, business, and the social impact sector gathered shoulder-to-shoulder — not as separate stakeholders, but as a collective ready to build something transformational
together.

This was more than a launch event. It was an invitation into a new chapter of collaborative, equity-centered philanthropy.

A Night Grounded in Purpose

My remarks opened with a video that captured the heartbeat of SVP’s global network: the faces, voices, and stories of partners across continents who share one belief — that philanthropy can and must be a force for equity, deep human connection, and lasting social change.

Standing in front of this new community, I shared what we know to be true: the old models aren’t enough. Communities face rising need, nonprofits are stretched thin, and systems grow more complex by the day. What is required now is generosity that goes beyond writing a check. We need more relational, more intentional, more community-rooted philanthropy.

And that is exactly what this new affiliate represents.

Inspiration & Momentum in the Room

Throughout the evening, several moments highlighted the depth and excitement that will define this new chapter:

• Reflections on what it means to truly show up for communities—especially those most impacted by systemic inequities — and how leadership driven by lived experience can transform outcomes for youth, families, and neighborhoods.
• Insights about the power of a global network, emphasizing how affiliates learn from each other, bridge local and international ideas, and create more durable pathways for change by working in relationship.
• Powerful small-group conversations where nonprofit leaders, funders, business professionals, and prospective partners leaned in — asking thoughtful questions, sharing experiences, and imagining how collaboration could accelerate impact.
• A collective realization that this was not simply a celebration, but the beginning of a ripple effect — one that can inspire new affiliates, spark fresh partnerships, and open the door to wider, deeper systems change.

The energy was honest, joyful, curious, and bold. It was exactly what this moment called for.

A Powerful Milestone for our Network

• Values-aligned growth rooted in community voice
• Equity-centered philanthropy practiced with humility and shared power
• Partnerships built on trust, not transactions
• A commitment to learning and transformation, both individually and collectively

It is also meaningful on a personal level. With my own family preparing to relocate to the region, I am not only celebrating this affiliate in my professional capacity, but also welcoming it as a soon-to-be neighbor.

This blend of personal and professional purpose made the night all the more powerful.

What This Moment Makes Possible

The launch opens the door to tremendous opportunity, both for the affiliate and for the broader SVP network:

• Strengthening local nonprofits through multi-year, unrestricted funding and deep
  capacity-building support
• Activating a new cadre of partners who will invest time, talent, resources, networks, and
  lived experience
• Becoming a local hub for systems change, convener, and thought partner across sectors
• Connecting this work to a global movement, learning from affiliates across Asia, North
  America, and beyond
• Expanding SVP’s reach, inspiring future affiliates who will continue shaping our
  network’s next chapter

The foundation is strong, the leadership is visionary, and the community interest is already palpable.

A Beginning Worth Celebrating

As I closed my remarks that evening, I shared a simple truth: SVP is more than a network. It is a home. A home for those who believe that philanthropy should be relational, equitable, and transformational.

This new affiliate enters the SVP family carrying the spirit of its city — dynamic, diverse, ambitious, and full of heart. There truly could be no better place for this next beginning.

On behalf of our entire SVPI team, we extend our warmest congratulations. We cannot wait to walk alongside you, learn with you, and celebrate the impact that will grow from this moment.

Here’s to the start of something extraordinary.