Philanthropist Around Town: Laura Hertz, Gifts for Good (Part 2/2)
Social Venture Partners Los Angeles’ Executive Director Christine Margiotta was interviewed by Marta for a special behind the scenes look at SVP’s Fast Pitch event, which Marta is proud to be co-chairing in 2019. The interview also highlights Starfish’s work with #SupportingOurSector, the giving collaborative championed by Marta and Starfish which allows corporations to elevate the work of nonprofits while maximizing their own charitable efforts.
Marta: Can you tell us a bit about how Fast Pitch started?
Social Venture Partners Los Angeles’s Fast Pitch started 11 years ago as a way to support and highlight emerging nonprofit leaders with promising new ideas. It was the brainchild of Ken Deemer, one of SVP’s founders, who wanted to apply the venture capital model to the nonprofit funding world.
Marta: What are you most excited for this year?
We have an incredible group of leaders pitching this year. Our leaders have deep proximity to the issues they’re working on, so the work is very personal to them. It’s been a privilege to be part of their journey, and it’s going to be such an inspiring evening!
Marta: I’m thrilled to be chairing this year, and Starfish is curating a giving collaborative of businesses that want to support our sector. With a history of support primarily from the foundation community, what does it mean to have businesses stand with philanthropists?
We’re so thrilled to have your leadership, Marta! And business investment means so much to us, and we’re grateful to you for harnessing that energy for Fast Pitch. The business community has tremendous power, and we’re excited to support business partners in channeling that power and generosity in service of meaningful social change.
Marta: The nonprofits that have been selected as finalists are varied in scope and purpose. What impact has stood out in your mind over the past several years?
We love hearing from our alums about the impact of their Fast Pitch experience. A couple of them have received major, unexpected financial gifts from audience members, but what stands out even more are the profound long-term friendships and connections, along with the increased confidence our alums say the program gave them.
Marta: What advice would you have for yourself if you could pop back in time by 15 years?
I’d tell myself to trust my gut and believe in my leadership style. Don’t believe those telling me that my vision and values are youthful naïveté. And no need to rush to the gray hair wisdom – it’ll come soon enough!
Marta: As a women executive in a field where many women work, but few make it into top roles, what do you think women need to be doing to advance to executive positions?
The most important thing we can do as women is hold up other women leaders. We need to pass the mic to one another and spread the narrative that leadership can look many different ways, recognizing that the leadership of women – particularly women of color and queer women – has often been devalued or ignored. Scan the landscape for other women leading in ways that inspire us, and create time and space to mentor and be mentored by one another!
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