Social Venture Consulting

SVC Logo Social Venture Consulting (SVC) provides pro bono consulting services to non-profits that benefit the Greater Washington D.C. community. SVC is composed of George Mason University students interested in social innovation and non-profit development. SVC specifically focuses on Organization and Strategy consulting for small and medium sized non-profits and social enterprises.

Consulting Service Areas

Organization

Transformation Best Practices

SVC will research best practices in the prospective fields for the client to mirror and develop into strong future strategies for programming. SVC, in collaboration with the client, will identify the ‘need areas’ and consult other professionals in similar fields to connect the client with resources as well as connections. SVC will also research other best practices and present an analysis and recommendation for the client to strengthen their programs in general.

Strategic Communications

SVC will help the client identify areas of need within their internal and external communications. We will research and suggest possible avenues to systematize and develop communications with a strategic vision for the future growth and direction of the non-profit. We can also help streamline and develop communication for internal and external communication. Additionally, we will connect the organization with resources and professionals in their prospective fields focused on developing communication plans.

Strategy

Strategic Maturity

We can flesh out strategy plans to help the organization focus on the most pertinent and vital for their long-term growth. We will consult the client to develop an analysis of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats for the client. We will direct and aid the client to plan for the future to move to a successful and growing organization. Additionally, we will connect the organization with resources and professionals in their prospective fields focused on maturing the client’s strategic plans.

Process Management

SVC will analyze the processes in place and research more efficient and effective ways to manage processes and programs. We will dissect current programming and analyze target populations and areas where small changes could produce more efficient and effective outcomes. Additionally, we will connect the organization with resources and professionals in their prospective fields focused on process management.

Our Team

Rachel Bruns, Executive Director

Rachel Bruns is a junior global affairs major, concentrating in global economy and management with a minor in women and gender studies. She is honored to serve as the Student Representative on the George Mason University Board of Visitors for the 2011-12 academic year. In addition, she serves as Vice President of Events for Mason Ambassadors and is a member of the National Society for Collegiate Scholars and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. Her passion for social entrepreneurship was ignited as a seventeen year old on a mission trip to Ghana and has continued through various volunteer work with non-profits. Rachel interned for the Medill Project on Targeted Warfare and International Law and an economic research boutique in Maryland. Currently, she is an Intern on Capitol Hill for a democratic Representative from the southwest and works for the Department of Defense at an Army Research, Development and Engineering Center.

Kristin Evans, Advisor

Kristin Evans is an analytics consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, where she manages Information Assurance outreach services for the government, industry, and academia. Prior to joining Booz Allen, Kristin served as an Army Air Defense Artillery Officer in Korea, and supported Basic Combat Training in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. After leaving the military, Kristin provided employment services to military spouses at Ft. Benning, Georgia. She has had various experiences working abroad, including delivering and setting up computers in primary and secondary schools in Kenya, and studying gender inequalities in education in Hong Kong. Kristin graduated from Lehigh University in 2002 with a degree in mathematics and English. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Administration at George Mason University.

Erin Krampetz, Advisor

Erin Krampetz oversees strategic development and relationship management at Ashoka U. Before joining Ashoka in 2008, Erin served as Program Director for Escuela Nueva International coordinating collaborative partnerships for the global expansion of Escuela Nueva. Prior to Escuela Nueva, Erin evaluated program effectiveness for MobileMetrix, a community-based data collection company in Brazil, and as an Eben Tisdale Fellow, contributed to Hewlett Packard’s Global Citizenship Program. During her undergraduate and graduate studies, Erin participated as a contributing author and researcher for the Stanford Study of Writing, a five-year longitudinal study of college writers. Erin holds a BA in International Relations and an MA in International Educational Administration and Policy Analysis from Stanford University.

Elizabeth Koehler, Advisor

Elizabeth Koehler is an Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton working in Strategic Planning and organizational development. Prior to joining Booz Allen, Elizabeth worked for RGS Associates doing Strategic Planning and Human Capital Management for the Department of Defense for four years. She has also worked with international organizations such as Conservation International and the International Monetary Fund. Elizabeth completed her undergraduate work at The George Washington University in 2005, studying International Affairs and Latin American Affairs. Elizabeth is also currently an MBA student part-time at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Whitney Burton, Founder

Whitney Burton is the founder of SVC and an alumna of George Mason University. Whitney led a fundraising effort to build a school in Sierra Leone, worked in Tanzania at an NGO that trains rats to detect landmines and TB, founded a student social entrepreneurship group at Mason called Mason ChangeMakers, and worked for a social entrepreneurship journal. Whitney participated at the 2008 World Economic Forum and has traveled throughout South and South East Asia, East Africa and Europe. She currently works for Deloitte.

SVC is not currently accepting applications; applications will open in July 2012 for our Fall 2012 consulting cycle. In the meantime, please direct all questions or inquiries to thesvcgroup@gmail.com.