Silicon Valley Community Foundation

SVCF hosted two Capacity Building and Leadership Investment (CBLI) wellness gatherings for our nonprofit partners in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties this week! Yesterday, we brought together our San Mateo County nonprofit partners at the Sobrato Center For Nonprofits in Redwood Shores and today we continued the conversation with our Santa Clara County nonprofit partners at the Campbell Community Center. Both events featured insightful panels focused on the strategic value of nonprofit networking, coalition building, and community collaboration. In San Mateo County, the panel included: - Mauricio Palma, SVCF - Georgia Demetra Farooq, Thrive Alliance - Cecilia J. Chu, Friends for Youth (FFY) In Santa Clara County, the panel featured: - Ariana Hoyt Perez, SVCF - Chike Nwoffiah, Silicon Valley African Film Festival - Phil Mastrocola, Winter Faith Collaborative A huge thank you to our panelists, Michelle Fries, SVCF and Will Aubin, SVCF for arranging yet another great CBLI event - and thank you everyone who attended - your engagement and insights are vital to strengthening our community partnerships and driving impactful change! #NonprofitCollaboration #CommunityWellness #SVCF #SanMateoCounty #SantaClaraCounty

Here's a quick highlight reel (4:25) from the recent briefing for funders on the State of Immigration in Silicon Valley, sponsored by Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Northern California Grantmakers, The Grove Foundation, and Sobrato Philanthropies. For the full video, see our previous post below.  Follow us here on LinkedIn for updates on strategic opportunities for philanthropists to engage in support of immigrants in California's San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Huge thanks to our speakers, Zelica Rodriguez-Deams, Alison Kamhi, Kate Clark, Zulma Maciel, Bea Pangilinan, and Judith Guerrero, to our facilitator Kavitha Sreeharsha, and to all who attended.

July marks National Black Family Month, a time to honor the resilience, strength, and rich cultural heritage of Black families. Established in 2006, this month promotes education, health, and self-improvement while fostering deeper connections and support within the community. As we celebrate, we must also recognize the systemic challenges Black families face, including economic disparities, housing discrimination, systemic racism, and unconscious biases. Addressing these issues is essential for building a just and equitable society. Black families often encounter under-resourced schools, employment discrimination, and persistent wage gaps. Housing discrimination, rooted in historical redlining policies, continues to impact access to quality housing and healthcare. These challenges highlight the urgent need for collective action and systemic change. At Silicon Valley Community Foundation, we are committed to advocating for policies that reduce education gaps, combat employment discrimination, and ensure access to quality healthcare and housing. We believe that supporting Black families in their journey towards equality strengthens our entire community. In honor of National Black Family Month, we encourage you to support the California Black Freedom Fund, an initiative dedicated to securing, protecting, and advancing the rights of Black communities across California. Your support can help amplify efforts to dismantle systemic barriers and promote economic and social equity for Black families. ➡ https://lnkd.in/dQMfngk #BlackFamilyMonth #EconomicDisparities #HousingDiscrimination #SystemicRacism #UnconsciousBiases

In this insightful Q&A with The Chronicle of Philanthropy, our CEO, Nicole Taylor, discusses the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action, strategies to encourage donor-advised fund (DAF) giving, and more. Dive into the full conversation to learn about the powerful initiatives and commitments driving positive change in our communities!

Webinar for Professional Advisors: Adapt, Change or Disappear - New Approaches for a Changing Marketplace   Speaker: David R. York Attorney, CPA and Managing Partner York Howell Attorneys at Law Tuesday, July 23, 2024 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM PT Register here: https://lnkd.in/gnQ5Xt9j Clients today not only view wealth and wealth transfer differently than prior generations do, they also have very different requirements for obtaining professional advice. At the same time, new technology and easier access to information of all sorts has put pressure on professional advisors to create value. Join us for this presentation on how to connect with a new generation of clients and their heirs, adapting to the evolving landscape of wealth transfer and professional services. #webinar #professionaladvisors #wealthtransfer

Silicon Valley Community Foundation stands firmly in support of this statement. Criminalizing homelessness is a step backward in addressing the root causes of this crisis. We believe in humane, effective solutions that provide housing and support services to those in need. Our communities must remain inclusive, safe, and welcoming for all, regardless of housing status. We urge our elected leaders to reject punitive measures and invest in sustainable housing and prevention strategies to truly address homelessness.

The 2024 Silicon Valley Pain Index reveals some critical challenges facing our community. San Jose has been named the most expensive large city in the U.S. to live in, with average monthly expenses reaching $3,504 as of 2023. Additionally, Santa Clara County leads the nation in the percentage of unsheltered homelessness and unsheltered, unaccompanied homeless youth. In response to these pressing issues, the BAFHA (Bay Area Housing Finance Authority) board has unanimously voted to place a $20B regional housing bond measure on the ballot for November. This measure aims to address homelessness and housing unaffordability across the Bay Area. Pilar Lorenzana, SVCF Vice President, Community Action, Initiatives and Policy, stated: “We are so grateful for the leadership of Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Mountain View Councilmember Margaret Abe-Koga, and City of Millbrae Councilmember Gina Papan – and their support for this game-changing solution. If passed by voters, this $20B bond will provide critical support to close the gap for projects waiting in the wings to provide relief against the homelessness and housing unaffordability problems affecting the entire Bay Area region." Learn more about 2024 Silicon Valley Pain Index: https://lnkd.in/geFH6-75 #SiliconValley #HousingCrisis #Homelessness #AffordableHousing #CommunityAction #SVCF #SiliconValleyPainIndex

Today, SVCF hosted an exclusive lunchtime conversation, "Strengthening Democracy through Journalism," focusing on the pivotal role of journalism in promoting civic engagement, social justice, and democracy. This event is part of our ongoing efforts to safeguard free and fair elections in California and the U.S. We were honored to have esteemed speakers share their insights: - Bill Johnson, Embarcadero Media Foundation - Neha Singh Gohil, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation - Manuel Ortiz Escámez, Peninsula 360 Press - Ramona Giwargis, San José Spotlight - Adam Dawes, Embarcadero Media Foundation Our discussions highlighted how journalism empowers citizens with knowledge, promotes accountability, and facilitates open debate and participation in governance. As a community foundation, we are committed to supporting nonprofit journalism to nurture a well-informed, engaged community, enhance local media ecosystems, and promote equitable access to critical information. Special thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to this meaningful conversation. Together, we can strengthen our democracy and ensure a brighter future for all. #Journalism #Democracy #CivicEngagement #SocialJustice #SVCF

We had the pleasure of attending SAMCEDA (San Mateo County Economic Development Association)'s 71st Annual Meeting featuring "THRED Talks" - Weaving Our Region Together, held at Skyline College. We were inspired by the insights shared by distinguished speakers, including: - Yayu Lin, President, Sares Regis Group of Northern California - Dr. Melissa Moreno, J.D., Chancellor, San Mateo County Community College District - Judi Mosqueda, Chief Development Officer, San Francisco International Airport - Annie Tsai, Chief Operating Officer, San Mateo Daily Journal - Kristine A. Z., Executive Director, Port of Redwood City A special shoutout to SVCF Board member, Rosanne Foust, who also serves as the CEO and President of SAMCEDA (San Mateo County Economic Development Association), for hosting today’s impactful THRED Talks event. Together, we are weaving our region together to create a brighter, more resilient future for all. #CommunityImpact #SVCF #SAMCEDA #THREDTalks #EconomicDevelopment #SustainableGrowth

With the November elections on the horizon, civic participation is more important than ever. In a conversation with The Associated Press, SVCF's CEO, Nicole Taylor, underscored the vital role of philanthropy in supporting democracy, particularly amidst the challenges facing racial justice advocacy. SVCF is taking proactive steps by preparing organizations through the California Black Freedom Fund’s legal education and advocacy defense fund, while also actively engaging donors through events focused on civic engagement and the crucial role of local journalism in democracy. Read the full story and learn more about Nicole Taylor’s insights and SVCF's efforts: https://lnkd.in/gTHSbtSz #Philanthropy #CivicEngagement #RacialJustice #LocalJournalism