To help our investment partners get access to a wide range
of outstanding consultants, VPP has developed ongoing relationships
with a number of firms and independent consultants that
have expertise in areas of relevance to our investment partners.
Strategic Expertise Groups
A Strategic Expertise Group (SEG) is a loosely affiliated,
small group of high-quality organizations and individual
consultants that have expertise in a core management
area. Each SEG is anchored
by a single outside organization. For example, McKinsey
& Company is the anchor of VPP’s Comprehensive
Planning SEG. VPP and the anchor organization assess and
recruit a few other high-quality organizations that have
an expertise relevant to the SEG and that are willing to
function as part of a learning exchange with the others
involved. This approach provides a means to leverage the
collective knowledge and experience of those in a SEG, helps
VPP and its investment partners build a base of expertise
pertinent to their collective needs, and helps our investment
partners gain access to some of the best talent available
in these areas. This approach also ensures that these organizations
and individuals understand and can build upon the VPP investment
approach and, in so doing, contribute to advancing the field
of nonprofit effectiveness.
To date, VPP has organized two SEGs:
• Comprehensive Planning
(anchor: McKinsey & Company)
• Human Capital Development
(anchor: The McCormick Group)
During 2003, VPP plans to establish two
additional SEGs:
Other Preferred
Providers
This is a select list of preferred providers—consulting
organizations, product providers, and individual consultants
and professionals—who have been cultivated by VPP
to work with investment partners to address a range of management
and operational needs. Some, but not all, of these providers are also part of a Strategic Expertise Group.
