June Insider 2026
- casselmontannasvpb
- Jul 10
- 5 min read
Dear Partners, Grantees, and Supporters,
We recently gathered for our second Annual Partner Meeting, and I'm still carrying the energy of that room with me. The image above captures what came out of our conversations: a visual reflection of the commitment and shared purpose that define this community.
Together over the past year, we've launched new programs, welcomed new Partners, and deepened our commitment to our nonprofit grantees, pairing our engagement teams with the things grantees consistently tell us they need most: general operating funds and direct capacity building support, including access to fundraising expertise.
Like the organizations we serve, SVP Boston is itself a small nonprofit. Our programming is robust and our impact is real, but sustaining that work requires the same strong foundation we help our grantees build. That's where you come in.
If SVP Boston's work resonates with people in your network, I'd be grateful for your help opening doors. We're actively looking for:
New Partners to join our community of engaged philanthropists
Sponsors for our Lunch & Learn series, our NextGen Philanthropists speaker series, and SPARK, our annual celebration of impact
As always, I'd welcome the chance to connect — by phone, over Zoom, or across a cup of coffee. Just reach out by email.
In gratitude,
We are tremendously grateful and celebrate the contributions of longtime SVP Boston board member and co-chair Marva Serotkin (pictured here with an SVP Boston Service Award with co-chair Bill Asher), who has stepped down to focus on the issue of affordable housing in Greater Boston.
Marva joined SVP Boston as a Partner ten years ago and joined the board shortly after. Following a career as a nonprofit healthcare executive and nonprofit board member, she was looking for ways to put her organization-building expertise to work and to connect with others who shared her goals and values. SVP Boston delivered on both fronts.
One project she is especially proud of was co-leading an engagement with Bikes Not Bombs, a Boston-based organization that provides bikes and programming locally while also donating funding and bikes to communities in Africa and Latin America. Her team helped strengthen their inventory systems, human resources, marketing, and fundraising — building the operational foundation the organization needed to scale.
"Working with SVP Boston has been deeply fulfilling. I've met and worked alongside wonderful people with a remarkable range of experiences and expertise. Being a Partner gives you real purpose — you're helping not only the nonprofit organizations themselves, but the people they serve. SVP Boston builds stronger organizations, and those organizations expand opportunities for their clients."
Thank you, Marva, for your hard work, leadership, and inspiration at SVP Boston!
HAPPENINGS
Calling Nonprofits: Are you ready to scale your impact?
 Help Us Grow the SVP Boston Community Know someone who'd love to put their professional skills to work for equity in Greater Boston? Invite them to join us on Wednesday, August 5 at 8:00 AM for a Zoom conversation about becoming an SVP Boston Partner. Guests will hear from current Partners, a nonprofit grantee leader, and SVP Boston CEO Karin Mitterando about how skills in strategy, finance, marketing, HR, tech, and leadership can strengthen nonprofits advancing racial equity and economic mobility. This is hands-on, skills-based philanthropy that is flexible and learning-rich among a community with shared values. Please share this with friends, colleagues, or anyone in your network who might be a great fit.* Wednesday, August 5 at 8:00 AM Please RSVP here*There are annual membership dues associated with Partnership. |
Conversations that Shape Leaders: Fireside Chat Series  Boston’s NextGen Philanthropists Program is launching its Fireside Chat Series this fall with philanthropist and EY Boston Managing Principal Jane Steinmetz. This in-person series brings together emerging leaders and experienced philanthropists to explore how philanthropy, nonprofit partnerships, and civic engagement can strengthen communities and advance lasting social change. Participants will gain insights from community-minded leaders while building connections with others committed to making a meaningful local impact Registration is now open. PURCHASE TICKETS HERE! |
 Lunch & Learn: July 22, 2026 The Lunch & Learn Series is free and open to the public. Developing an 'Accelerator' Mindset to Drive Impact What does it take to move beyond simply doing good work to truly driving meaningful, lasting impact? In this session, Justin will explore the mindset shift from being a capable “expert” to becoming an “accelerator.” A leader who creates the conditions for people, teams, and communities to solve important challenges together. Participants will leave with a practical understanding of the 'Accelerator' mindset, examples of stakeholder-centered change in action, and ideas for how to apply these principles in their own leadership and work. Presenter Justin Allen is the Founder and Managing Director of Sustainability Accelerator and an Instructor in the Harvard Extension School’s Sustainability and Global Development Practice master’s degree program. He is the co-author of two highly acclaimed books and a senior advisor to executives around the world. Prior to leading Sustainability Accelerator, Justin held several roles at the Results-Based Leadership Group, including Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of the RBL Institute, where he helped grow the organization into the “#1 global think tank for strategic HR.” Earlier in his career, he held leadership and technical roles at GE, where he was consistently rated “top talent.” The Lunch & Learn Series is sponsored by the CORE Plan: Nonprofits deserve a retirement plan. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts makes this possible for those with 1-100 employees.  Look for these Lunch & Learns coming soon:
All previous Lunch & Learn sessions are available on our website for free - and we have an amazing library! Topics include cybersecurity, fundraising, leveraging AI, and more! CHECK OUT OUR FULL LUNCH & LEARN LIBRARY Welcome New Partners Jan Cuypers  Jan is a versatile, agile, hands-on, result oriented leader with 20+ years of experience in global biopharma and consulting. His background combines finance, strategy, project management, and operational leadership across global organizations. Jan is fortunate to have lived and worked in 4 different continents. " I am seeking to apply my prior experiences to organizations whose primary goal has a strong societal impact while learning about this new professional environment. My focus is on mission-driven organizations operating at the intersection of global health, education, and economic opportunities. My desire is to contribute and strengthen operations and execution." Mark Minichiello  Mark spent 26 years in the financial services industry, 22 years as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer for Acadian Asset Management based in Boston. Mark was a member of Acadian's Executive Management Team and was responsible for the finance, compliance, legal, human resources, operations, and IT functions of the firm. These functions made up approximately 150 employees out of a total of 400+ staff. As part of the senior leadership of Acadian, Mark helped grow and support the firm from managing $3 billion of assets under management to managing a peak of over $108 billion of assets under management. Mark traveled to London, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo overseeing and supporting the operating functions of Acadian's foreign subsidiaries. Mark's philanthropic interests have included supporting early childhood education as a reader and a Boston regional board member for the Read to a Child organization. Mark was also a member of the Rochester Institute of Technology Boston Regional Board and is currently a board member of the UMass Dartmouth Foundation Board. Mark's family also provides scholarships at his high school, Brockton High School, and at his alma mater, UMass Dartmouth. Mark holds a degree in Accounting from UMass Dartmouth. He is married with two children and lives in Hingham, MA. Learn more: svpboston.org |
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