SEED20 OnStage 2026 was a Huge Success!

Last night, on March 31st, the greater Charlotte community came together to be inspired by and celebrate the work being done in our midst by our nonprofit heroes. Ten organizations took the stage for their well-rehearsed, passionate, 3-minute pitch to tell their story, each grounded in real challenges and a real commitment to their communities.

Behind what happened last night were teams of dedicated SVP Partners, coaches, volunteers, and supporters, all putting in many months of preparation. To them we owe depths of gratitude.

Volunteering with the nonprofit organizations that inspired you.  

Amplifying their reach by sharing social media posts.   

Leveraging your personal networks to provide connections.   

Continuing to make financial contributions to these organizations via our SEED20 donation page, open until April 30. (Note: donations $1,000 and under are not subject to service charges and tips can be reduced to $0.) 

SVP Charlotte wants to thank our community members for attending or streaming SEED20 OnStage, our many generous sponsors for financially supporting this program and our staff, coaches, and volunteers for putting together a night that inspired us all!  Because of YOU, these nonprofit heroes are able to grow, thrive and make our community a better place. 

Here’s where your support showed up:

Cash Awards

Fearless Brown Girls

Wells Fargo People’s Choice Grand Prize – $20,000

Path to Permanency

People’s Choice Second Place – $7,000 + Community Vote Award – $1,000

The Exposure Project

People’s Choice Third Place – $5,000

The Frankie Mae Foundation

Coaches Award – $2,000

All participants

Wells Fargo $20,000 donor match ($2000 each)

In-Kind Awards

ZEN (Zealous Empowering Nurturer)

GardHouse Financial Support Package ($8,800 value)

CLIMB (Charlotte Legal Initiative to Mobilize Businesses)

Brand Building Shop Narrative Package ($8,000 value)

Let’s Talk About It – The Autism Center

Croixstone Consulting AI Fluency Leadership Lab ($5,000 value)

Piper G. Amundson Foundation

Croixstone Consulting AI Fluency Leadership Lab ($5,000 value)

LiveLearnPlay

Angelbello Films Video Storytelling Package ($3,500 value)

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art: Art on Prescription

SVP Charlotte Spark Team Consulting Package ($3,000+ value)

Meet Your SEED20 Emcees!

Introducing the SEED20 Class of 2026

We are thrilled to introduce the SEED20 Class of 2026, a group of ten innovative nonprofit leaders who are ready to make an impact. Over the next three months, these organizations will receive coaching and marketing support as they prepare for a spectacular night OnStage on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. During the event, each finalist will share their vision through a powerful three minute pitch.

Beyond the stage, every organization will continue to benefit from alumni enrichment opportunities and free consulting through SVP Spark Teams, helping them strengthen their organizations and amplify their missions throughout the year. What an exciting season ahead.

Meet the Class of 2026

• Bechler Museum of Art, Charlotte Art on Prescription Program
• CLIMB, Charlotte Legal Initiative to Mobilize Businesses
• The Exposure Project
• Fearless Brown Girls
• The Frankie Mae Foundation
• Let’s Talk About It, The Autism Center
• Live Learn Play
• Path to Permanency
• Piper G. Amundson Foundation
• Zealous Empowering Nurturer (ZEN)

As we gear up for another impactful SEED20 season, we invite you to be part of what makes this program possible. Whether as a SVP Charlotte Partner, a Coach, or a corporate or individual sponsor, strong community engagement is essential to bringing SEED20 to life. To learn more about how you can support nonprofits through the SEED20 program, click here.

Donor Connect Wraps Up a Season of Impactful Alumni Engagement 

2025 SEED20 Impact Report: Investing in Our Community’s Nonprofits

SEED20 Alumni Enrichment Webinar – Finance Best Practices

Despite rising temperatures and busy travel schedules, SVP Charlotte’s Alumni Enrichment Team is keeping the momentum blazing. Summer 2025 has brought a robust lineup of workshops that are not only attracting packed rooms but catalyzing action among nonprofit leaders.

The season launched with two in-person workshops hosted at TowneBank’s boardroom, welcoming both Executive Directors and board members. Attendees engaged in forward-thinking discussions and left with a renewed drive to assess and elevate their organizations.

On July 15, alumni gathered for Stronger Together: Assessing and Evaluating Your Board, a power-packed session focused on board performance and governance led by SVP Partners Cristy Travaglino and Mark Weber. Questions turned into action, and the ripple effect is already visible across our nonprofits.

Coming up this fall, our Alumni Enrichment Team will roll out three virtual workshops on nonprofit finance, board fundraising and potential donors, which will ensure broader access to more members of our alumni organization’s leadership team.  The season will also include a brand-new offering: an Executive Director peer panel that gives nonprofit leaders a dedicated space to discuss leadership topics, learn from one another, and build stronger community ties. The excitement is palpable, and the sign-ups are surging.

If you would like to expand your nonprofit knowledge by attending one of our upcoming virtual workshops or would like to plug into the Alumni Enrichment Team this season or next, please connect with Heather-Camille. Please Note: the Money & Mission finance webinar will also be offered again in October to our Partners and the public.

The growth is real, and so is our impact.

Celebrating Our Newest SEED20 Alumni

During the luncheon, Alumni Enrichment Co-Lead Christi Farr shared an overview of the seven capacity-building enrichment events planned for the year. These events are designed to be attended by each organization’s participant and/or Board Chair or another key leader, reinforcing the importance of collaborative growth and strategic alignment. Our three active SVP Investees will also receive priority access to these events. 

Henry Lander, Alumni Enrichment Co-Lead and Lead Partner for Spark Teams, introduced the Class of 2025 to Spark Team program, which provides a unique opportunity for tailored, expert support. These services are offered at no cost to participating nonprofits thanks to the generous contributions of SVP Partners. Similarly, the Alumni Enrichment workshops are made possible through SEED20 donations, including those from this year’s dedicated Cultivators who answered the call to support our region’s next generation of innovative nonprofits. 

Alumni in attendance shared how the connections they made and the visibility they gained during their SEED20 season continue to yield significant dividends for their organizations. Their stories served as both inspiration and affirmation for the Class of 2025. 

Congratulations to the SEED20 Class of 2025!

It might have been April 1, but there were no fools in Central Piedmont’s Parr Theater for SEED20 OnStage last night! Social Venture Partners Charlotte welcomed over 500 people including in-person audience members and livestream viewers so the SEED20 Class of 2025 could share their stories and grow their impact!  

As one audience member observed to an SVP Charlotte volunteer, “by putting these social entrepreneurs on stage, you are validating the work that they do and together, you and the nonprofits, are stitching together the fabric of our community. It is really meaningful to me to see this in Charlotte.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! 

We encourage you to engage with this year’s nonprofit participants in any capacity that your resources permit. Ways to get involved include:   

Volunteering with the nonprofit organizations that inspired you.  

Amplifying their reach by sharing social media posts.   

Leveraging your personal networks to provide connections.   

Continuing to make financial contributions to these organizations via our SEED20 donation page, open until April 30. (Note: donations $1,000 and under are not subject to service charges and tips can be reduced to $0.) 

SVP Charlotte wants to thank our community members for attending or streaming SEED20 OnStage, our many generous sponsors for financially supporting this program and our staff, coaches, and volunteers for putting together a night that inspired us all!  Because of YOU, these nonprofit heroes are able to grow, thrive and make our community a better place. 

Vote for the SEED20 Participants Who Inspire You!

Click here to learn more about our SEED20 class members.

Click here to purchase tickets.

Voting is closed.