What we do
Convening and Networking
Attend an event. Have conversations. And have fun.
Ideas and Learning
Formulate and submit ideas. Learn about innovation and the social sector.
Projects and Grants
Get support for your nonprofit. Work with our collaborators and Partners.
Convening and Networking
con·nec·tiv·i·ty
noun: the quality, state, or capability of being connective or connected
SVP Calgary’s passion is creating social sector awareness and engagement. We understand that the social sector is an ecosystem with disparate parts and, since 2000, through projects, grants, and our Partner network, we have been connecting these parts. We have convened major events such as Fast Pitch and more intimate gatherings such as Cocktails and Collaborations. We know through experience that people who are the most diverse have the most to gain from each other and our role in promoting connectivity, trust, and new ideas and solutions is a role we must amplify.
Renewing our in-person connections will be a major focus in 2022. Connect with us to learn more about upcoming gatherings and events.
Ideas and Learning
SVP Calgary Partners and the organizations we work with learn by doing. We seek ideas:
- Ideas that nudge people into real-world activities
- Ideas that cause people with diverse skills, backgrounds, networks, and insights to work together
- Ideas that leverage channels of trust and help form groups where people will inherently trust one another more
Transforming ideas into positive change often requires some learning. SVP Calgary has been curating the best innovation and social sector resources for more than twenty years. And we provide these resources to our Partners and the organizations we work with.
Projects and Grants
Projects start with ideas – someone envisions a way to improve something – their organization, their community, the world. For more than twenty years, SVP Calgary has helped social sector organizations and our community develop those ideas into positive change. And we can help you.
SVP Calgary has provided over $2.5 M in grants to Calgary social sector organizations and supported their work with thousands of hours of skilled volunteer time. Our grants range from $1,000 to $50,000. Combined with the expertise of our collaborators and the volunteer talent of our Partners, we achieve real change and outcomes with social sector organizations.
Connect with us
Join the conversation
If you’re a nonprofit curious about how to develop and submit your idea for feedback, a community member curious about innovation and the social sector, or an SVP Calgary Partner looking for in-depth social sector knowledge, you can begin your journey here:
Our Impact
Some of our recent investees
Our Team
The SVP Calgary Team is made of up of passionate Partners, Staff and Board members
Partners
SVP Calgary would not exist without our Partners through whom we engage in our community and unleash an ecosystem of innovation in Calgary’s social sector.
Staff
The SVP Calgary Staff team is your connection to our learning, networking, project and funding opportunities. Don’t hesitate to be in touch with us.
Board
The SVP Calgary Board of Directors is a team of passionate Calgarians, committed to building social sector awareness and engagement in our dynamic city.
How we got here
SVP Calgary 2025: A Bold 25th Anniversary Vision
SVP Calgary 2025 is launched, a bold vision for SVP Calgary’s 25th Anniversary
2021 Government of Alberta Civil Societies Fund grant enables SVP Calgary to explore and develop new learning and collaborative programming
SVP Calgary Partners rally to support Investees through challenging 2020 and 2021 pandemic years
SVP Calgary Part of a Global Network
SVP Network expands to 39 cities, 8 countries, 3,500 Partners, $56M in contributions
SVP Calgary Social Innovation Fast Pitch program, the first of its kind in Canada, has become a major annual community event (launched in 2012)
More than $2M and an estimated 25 thousand volunteer hours invested in our community
SVP Calgary Celebrates Ten Years of Impact
$1.7M invested in the Calgary community
Major support provided to 15 organizations
Celebration of 100 Partners and thousands of volunteer hours
SVP Calgary Five-Year Anniversary
In honour of founders Brad and Tanya Zumwalt and the late Jack MacKenzie, two SVP Calgary scholarships established at Mount Royal College to support students in nonprofit studies
SVP Calgary achieves charitable status
One million dollars invested in the Calgary community since 2000
SVP Calgary Origins
Paul Brainerd convened a gathering in Seattle in 1997 to discuss a new idea – SVP model and the engaged philanthropy movement set in motion
Calgarians Brad and Tanya Zumwalt meet Paul Brainerd through business connections
Excited about SVP’s unique model of supporting the community, the Zumwalts launch Social Venture Partners Calgary, the first SVP in Canada, in the fall of 2000
Connect with us
Join the conversation
If you’re a nonprofit curious about how to develop and submit your idea for feedback, a community member curious about innovation and the social sector, or an SVP Calgary Partner looking for in-depth social sector knowledge, you can begin your journey here: