Our mission is to close the achievement gap Since being founded in 2006, SVP has been staffed by people who are passionate about its mission and have worked tirelessly to implement its programs in schools in the LA area. As SVP strives to establish a track record and demonstrate proven outcomes, it will become increasingly important for a solid infrastructure to be in place. This infrastructure is comprised of a number of roles:
- Executive Director Read more...
The full-time executive director combining the duties of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer is primarily responsible for fundraising, recruiting and managing board members, and increasing SVP’s visibility and reach of its programs in schools where we operate pilots. In “Phase III” of our plan, SVP will further the cause of student literacy in our schools through the design and penetration of journalism opportunities for all students beyond those who self-select for journalism study..
- Programs Director Read more...
The program director is a full-time role and involves codifying SVP materials, training journalism advisers, managing the teacher network, supporting schools, and developing and maintaining relationships with target schools.
- Evaluation Contractor Read more...
In order to demonstrate proven outcomes, an evaluation contractor will be engaged on a part-time basis. Duties include: (1) identifying appropriate performance metrics, (2) training the program director to administer tests/surveys, and (3) analyzing response data.
Funding Needs
Expenses
Overhead costs make up roughly 1/3 of total costs except in the 2012-2013 academic year, in which overhead will make up 43% of total costs. Additional overhead is required during this year in order to prepare for growth that will occur in subsequent years. A pro-forma Income Statement can be found in Exhibit 3.
Revenue Goals
SVP must raise $1.8M in order to fund itself through the 2014-2015 academic year and maintain a reserve equal to six months of the following year’s expenses. This amount will cover program costs as well as overhead. SVP plans to fund itself through a diverse mix of revenue sources. The following graph shows SVP’s planned revenue mix through the 2014-2015 academic year (see Exhibit 4 for revenue projections).
SVP Revenue Mix
During the first three years, SVP will rely heavily on its board and individual giving for funding. These categories account for roughly 50% of its revenue during this time, while the balance will be made up primarily of grants from small foundations. In addition, some of its needs will be addressed through in-kind giving (e.g. grants of computers, software, and professional services). After having demonstrated the impact of its program in the proof-of-concept phase ending in the 2011-2012 academic year, SVP will shift the focus of its funding strategy from individuals to corporations and large foundations. These sources will make up nearly 70% of its revenue in the 2014-2015 academic year.