Social Venture Partners Charlotte is proud to spotlight Susan Daniel, who joined our organization in 2008 as our Executive Director, and first paid staff member. Over the next 11 years until her retirement in 2019, Susan helped establish the foundational processes and culture that transformed SVP Charlotte into the fifth largest affiliate in the Social Venture Partners International network. Her leadership, vision, and dedication shaped the organization we are today.

We recently caught up with Susan to see how retirement life is treating her and to reflect on her legacy.

What is your favorite SVP memory?
“There are many, but there was a palpable sense of joy and accomplishment at the end of our very first SEED20 evening as we realized success and were able to visualize the impact of this program for the years ahead.”

What three words come to mind when you think of SVP Charlotte?
“Transformation, collaboration, enthusiasm.”

What makes you most proud of your tenure as SVP’s first Executive Director?
“The deep relationships that were forged among the SVP Partners and among the Partners and the nonprofit leaders with whom we worked. More often than not, these relationships resulted in a trust that helped spur real change and growth for the nonprofit (and SVP!).”

What excites you about SVP’s evolution?
“How we continue to respond with creativity to the needs of the community as those needs change and grow.”

How have you been spending your time since retiring in 2019?
“I am spending a lot of time playing golf, pickleball, traveling, and hanging out with my children, grandsons, and newly retired husband.”

Thank you, Susan, for your years of leadership and the lasting legacy you built for SVP Charlotte. Your vision continues to inspire our work and our mission to create lasting community impact.