Investing in programs that equip our neighbors with the

resources to learn and earn their way to a better life.

Give me a lever

long enough and

I shall move the

world

—Archimedes

What are we

Investment Thesis

Our fund was formed in 2014 to leverage the significant

resources and talent of the Greater Washington area.

We seek to transform our regions philanthropy and invest in

proven programs fighting poverty by significantly improving

our neighbors’ earning power.

What will we do

The Lever Fund and its partners will pursue:

Investments in an underserved market: programs that move individuals and families out of poverty.

Organizations with opportunity for generating immediate (<3 year) impact

Rigorous upfront due diligence followed by active post-investment involvement and evaluation

Investments identified through trusted sources, including community leaders and dedicated staff

Hands-on, metrics-based approach to creating short- and long-term wage and salary improvement

Our Inspiration

Our Inspiration- Robin Hood Foundation NYC

Changed the philanthropic landscape

and directed >$1.1 billion towards high-

performing poverty-fighting schools and

organizations.

92% of people who enter a Robin Hood-

funded housing program don’t return to

shelters.

Robin Hood’s job training programs are

twice as effective as others, yielding

higher salaries and job-retention rates

than other city-funded programs.

Our Inspiration- Robin Hood Foundation NYC

Board pays 100% of overhead

100% of the donations flow directly to the

cause.

Metrics (benefit-cost ratios) that compare

apples to oranges through “relentless

monetization”

1 Million People in Need

85,000 children

live in poverty

1 in 5 residents live in poverty

1 in 5 adults in Ward 8 are

unemployed

Montgomery County Public School students eligible

for free and reduced meals: 53,800—more than are

enrolled in the entire D.C. public school system

(46,300)

Capital Area—Cost of Living

The Opportunity

The Opportunity

11 of the 21 richest

U.S. counties are in

the D.C. region

Why our model?

Why the Lever Fund Model Fits Our Region

Collaborative nonprofit culture

forged by Washington Regional

Assoc. of Grantmakers, Meyer

Foundaiton, Cafritz Foundation,

and more

Strong entrepreneurial culture

We are a laboratory. Opportunity

to showcase breakthrough models

to multiple counties, three state

governments, and the feds.

Why the Lever Fund Model Fits Our Region

By 2020, our investments will be on

track to increase our neighbors’

lifetime earnings by $100 million

By 2025, they will be on track to

increase our neighbors’ lifetime

earnings by $500 million

Our Goals

Lever Fund Goals

By 2020, identify and invest in activity at least $10

million that garners a benefit-cost ratio of at least

10:1. That is, every $1 we invest will yield $10 in

increased earnings for a person in need.

By 2025, identify and invest in activity at least $50

million that garners a benefit-cost ratio of at least

10:1.

Evaluating impact so our investments are tilted

toward programs that enable our neighbors who

live in poverty to get the skills and certifications to

earn a family-sustainable wage.

We Do the Homework for You

Staff scour the region in search

of promising opportunities

Preliminary due diligence by Lever Fund: leadership, scalability, estimated

benefit-cost ratios

Investment Committee preliminary

review

Final due diligence by Lever Fund; agreement

around impact

Board approvalInvestment

closed

Ongoing monitoring

Quarterly report on impact

Investment Types

Volunteerism and Dialogue

Camp Lever

A weeklong experience for

students, giving them

hands-on experiences at

non-profits serving their

lower-income neighbors.

Added Value

TransparencyWe provide donors all the information needed to understand where

their support is going and how it is making a difference.

Program evaluation and investment metrics will be published regularly.

ManagementWe understand the responsibilities of philanthropic investing and use

best practices for investing and measuring our investment impact, many of which have been honed by Robin Hood.

Facilitate management assistance and strategic planning for grantee organizations—when necessary.

Launching the Lever Fund

Recruit five board members by November

30, 2014

Raise $500,000 by March 2015

Launch May 2015

Announcement of Initial Grantees

Host community events in DC, MD, and

NoVA

Our Leadership

Gary Jonas (1945-2014)

Gary Jonas (1945-2014) was

CEO of Strategic Planning

Advisors.

He was the first Managing

Partner of Venture Philanthropy

Partners, where he hired the

leadership team and executed

an analysis of potential

investments.

Ann Marie Habershaw

Ann Marie Habershaw is the

Chief of Staff and Director of

External Affairs at the U.S.

Office of Personnel

Management

She previously served as the

Chief Operating Officer of

Obama for America.

Jeannette O’Connor

Jeannette O’Connor is a communications and advocacy consultant who specializes in strategic communication and campaign planning for nonprofits and foundations.

Jeannette has held leadership positions at GMMB and the Children’s Defense Fund.

Nathaniel Pearlman

Nathaniel Pearlman is a successful

entrepreneur who has founded and led a

number of businesses in the Washington,

DC region, including NGP Software (now

NGP Van), the nation's leading

technology provider to thousands of

Democratic and progressive campaigns

and organizations.

He is currently the founder and president

of Graphicacy, a firm that tells stories with

graphics.

Mark Swartz

Mark Swartz is a writer and

communicator who helps

nonprofit organizations tell their

stories.

He previously served as Senior

Manager of Communications

of Robin Hood.

Pete Kirsch

Managing Director of the

Lever Fund, Pete Kirsch is

Chairman and CEO of

Palace Investment Company

He serves as Advisor to the

Edgewater Funds and Keel

Point Advisors.

Join Us

Join Us

Founding Board Member. This board will shape this new organization and play a leadership role in our community.

Investment Committee Member. Lever Fund management and independent, experienced philanthropists/investors who will carefully vet each contribution using our detailed criteria.

Founding Donor. These investors will spur transformative growth during our start-up phase. 100% of gifts will go directly to initial grants.

Advisory Board Member. These regional and national experts on poverty and opportunity will collaborate with board and staff.

Host an Event. Introduce the Lever Fund to your network of friends and colleagues.

Leverfund.org

@leverfund