Social Venture Partners (SVP) Boulder County announces the most recent investee in its Catapult program.
Catapult is SVP’s longest running program, recently re-imagined and re-structured to better meet the needs of more local nonprofits. Over the years, the Catapult program has invested more than $1.7M and graduated dozens of Boulder County nonprofits. According to SVP CEO, Josh Silberstein, “We wanted our focus to be more community centric in our grant giving and work to support organizations that are creating lasting benefit to their communities. El Comité is an excellent example of that type of organization.” The goal is to give the chosen nonprofit the resources needed to grow and respond to an ever-changing environment.
The selection of a new investment recipient is a process which begins with relationship building. SVP’s Investment Selection Committee meets the nonprofit leaders and researches what the organization needs and what SVP can do to assist. For investee organizations, SVP can provide skilled volunteers to guide the organization as well as unrestricted cash grants to help with the cost of making changes, or to support the financial well-being of the organization.
El Comité de Longmont began as a grassroots organization and has been advocating for and providing services to Longmont’s Latino/a/x community since 1980. Executive Director, Donna Lovato, says, “El Comité is a trusted agency within the community. We offer services to the Latino, Immigrant, and non-Latino members of our community. El Comité honors diversity and inclusion, staff treats all clients and members of our community with dignity and respect.”
As Josh shares, “El Comité is an excellent example of an organization that creates sustained community benefit. Their relationships with their clients and the services they provide with care are making a difference for families every day.”
SVP has already begun its pro bono work with El Comité. This year, along with a grant of $10,000, SVP Partner volunteers will work alongside El Comité on a variety of projects. “What’s nice about working with Social Venture Partners is we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. They walk in ready to go,” says El Comité Board President, Becky Birkelo.
For more information about SVP Boulder County and the Catapult program, contact Josh Silberstein at joshua@svpbouldercounty.org or 303.840.0165. For more information about El Comité de Longmont and their impact please contact Executive Director Donna Lovato at donna@elcomitedelongmont.org or 303-651-6125.
