The Lever Fund was formed in 2014 to invest in programs fighting poverty in the Greater Washington area. It seeks to transform regional philanthropy by providing funding and support to proven programs that significantly improve earning potential for those in need. Its goals are to invest $10 million by 2020 and $50 million by 2025 in opportunities that yield a benefit-cost ratio of at least 10:1. It is inspired by the Robin Hood Foundation model of directing all donations to social programs and uses rigorous evaluation of impact.

1. Investing in programs that equip our neighbors with the
resources to learn and earn their way to a better life.

2. Give me a lever
long enough and
I shall move the
world
—Archimedes

3. What are we

4. 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.

5. What will we do

6. 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

7. Our Inspiration

8. 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.

9. 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”

10. 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)

11. Capital Area—Cost of Living

12. The Opportunity

13. The Opportunity
 11 of the 21 richest
U.S. counties are in
the D.C. region

14. Why our model?

15. 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.

16. 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

17. Our Goals

18. 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.

19. 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 approval
Investment
closed
Ongoing
monitoring
Quarterly
report on
impact

20. Investment Types

21. Volunteerism and Dialogue
Camp Lever
 A weeklong experience for
students, giving them
hands-on experiences at
non-profits serving their
lower-income neighbors.

22. Added Value
Transparency
 We 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.
Management
 We 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.

23. 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

24. Our Leadership

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. Join Us

32. 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.

33. Leverfund.org
@leverfund