Eligibility Guidelines

Membership for Social Venture Network (SVN) is selective and by application. The categories and guidelines below assists our staff in determining an applicant's commitment and capacity to effect positive change through business.  

The staff evaluates applications on a case-by-case basis, reviewing four key factors:

• Alignment with SVN's mission
• Level of impact
• Diversity of experience
• Finances (revenue/budget/assets)

Refer to Membership Categories (see top right box).

Approximately 75 percent of SVN members are leaders of and investors in some of the nation's most innovative socially and environmentally responsible businesses. Approximately 25 percent of SVN members are founders and directors of nonprofit and philanthropic institutions. Most SVN members are CEOs, presidents or owners of companies with $2 million to $100 million in annual revenues.

If you are doing work that is aligned with SVN's mission, but do not currently meet guidelines for membership, we invite you to become an SVN Affiliate.

Examples of Member Types

For-Profit Entrepreneur:

• Is the founder, president or CEO of an established business with a minimum of $2 million in annual revenues, and
• Has a strong record of fostering social, environmental, and/or economic justice.

Nonprofit or Philanthropic Entrepreneur:

• Is the founder or executive director of a nonprofit organization, with an annual budget of $1 million or more, and
• Addresses issues of social, environmental and/or economic justice
  OR
• Is the executive director of a foundation or philanthropic organization with assets exceeding $10 million, and Has a track record of effecting social change in ways supportive of SVN's mission.

Individual Investor:

• Is an individual with a portfolio of at least $5 million, who incorporates social and/or environmental goals into the majority of his/her investment decisions

Note: Additional considerations may be considered for approval in this category, such as: community activism, philanthropy, a history of entrepreneurship, and the applicant's desire to increase the percentage of his/her investments in socially responsible enterprises.

Professional Investor:

• Is the founder, owner, or a senior executive of an investment management group with at least $15 million in socially or environmentally screened private equity or $30 million in socially or environmentally screened assets or real estate under management,
  OR
• The founder, partner or managing director of a community development financial institution with at least $5 million in investments, loans or services targeted toward creating economic opportunities in distressed and/or undercapitalized communities.

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Special Designations

SVN may choose to be flexible with regard to financial guidelines (as outlined below), if the applicant demonstrates an exceptional level of impact and innovation. Impact and innovation will differ from one enterprise to the next, but examples could include:

Emerging Entrepreneur:

• An entrepreneur who has demonstrated exemplary leadership and is running an early-stage socially responsible enterprise (5 years or less) that is growing significantly, but does not yet meet the financial guidelines for membership. Members in this category are eligible to receive discounts on their dues and conference fees. 

Intrapreneur:

• The senior executive of a socially responsible business or foundation, or a division manager of a larger business, who has the authority to make significant change in creating a more responsible, sustainable organization. The intrapreneur must oversee a budget of at least $2 million.