SVCF Philanthropy Now Podcast

Philanthropy Now podcast: Solving the housing crisis with the Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB) Oct 13, 2021

Destination: Home is a key organization leading the way in ending homelessness in Silicon Valley. Through powerful cross-sector partnerships with Santa Clara County, private corporations and other community-based nonprofits, Destination: Home is a pioneer creating systemic change in our region.

In this episode, SVCF Executive Vice President for Community Action, Policy, and Strategy Gina Dalma is joined by leaders from Destination: Home. Destination: Home CEO Jennifer Loving and Board Member Claudine Sipili, who also sits on the Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB) as well as Director of CityTeam Ministries, join the podcast to discuss their work in addressing homelessness in Silicon Valley. Tune into the conversation to learn more about the importance of incorporating the voices of those with lived experience and centering equity in decision-making.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Philanthropy Now podcast: Leveraging collective impact with SVCF’s Donor Circle for the Arts Sep 15, 2021

SVCF Donor Circles are dynamic groups of Bay Area philanthropists who are passionate and knowledgeable about specific impact areas. Through collaboration, they achieve greater impact by learning and giving together.

Donor circle member and Corporate Accelerator Forum CEO Diana Joseph and Palo Alto Players Managing Director Elizabeth Santana join today’s episode to speak with SVCF Philanthropy Advisor and Donor Circle for the Arts leader Tracy Wingrove. Listen to learn about the donor circle and arts organizations’ roles as our communities strive to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, and best practices for investing strategically and conscientiously in the creative sector.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Philanthropy Now podcast: Grassroots groups build power within communities of color Aug 11, 2021

In many Silicon Valley neighborhoods where the majority of residents are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or People of Color) or are of undocumented status, there are not enough opportunities for community members to exercise their voices and advocate for a better, more equitable future. SVCF Neighborhoods Community Action Grants are bolstering the work that nonprofits and grassroots neighborhood groups have undertaken to build community networks, increase representation and to affect solutions to the problems that impact them and their families.

In this episode, we hear from two organizations building bridges and amplifying the voices of BIPOC neighborhoods in the Fair Oaks neighborhood and the City of Mountain View. North Fair Oaks Community Alliance (NFOCA) Founder and President Ever Rodrigues and Mountain View Solidarity Fund (MVSF) Founders Paula Perez and Olga Melo join the podcast to discuss how their organizations rally the collective power of Latinx communities to respond to community needs and create opportunities for residents in their respective neighborhoods.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Philanthropy Now podcast: Latino Family Fund fights for social justice in South Santa Clara County Jul 28, 2021

Welcome to the tenth episode in our mini-series featuring conversations focused on Racial Equity and Social Justice with the members of SVCF’s Community Advisory Council. Listen to the previous episode in the mini-series here, and continue to subscribe to the podcast to hear future episodes.

South Santa Clara County, and Gilroy in particular, have some of the highest pockets of poverty in the region. With over 60 percent of Gilroy’s population being Latinx, the need for uplifting these communities is dire. In this episode, Edwin Diaz, a retired educator and founding member of Latino Family Fund de Gilroy joins SVCF Director of Capacity-Building and Nonprofit Services Michelle Fries in conversation about equity in Edwin’s region. Having served on Gilroy Foundation’s Board of Directors for eight years, and with 35 years in education, Edwin is cognizant of the most pressing issues that people of color face in the South County. Listen to learn how philanthropy, individuals and networks of nonprofits can help influence policy for the community.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems. Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Freedom for All Americans Jul 14, 2021

While Supreme Court decision protects LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace, millions in the LGBTQ+ community continue to face discrimination in so many aspects of life, including housing, public accommodations, education and credit. Today’s episode features Freedom for All Americans’ CEO and National Campaign Director Kasey Suffredini and Senior Vice President of Campaigns Amy Mello, two leaders advocating for full nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people nationwide. In a discussion facilitated by SVCF Vice President of Corporate and Foundation Relations Stuart Burden, these three leaders delve into the Equality Act, a bipartisan campaign that can achieve this feat in the next year.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems. Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Juneteenth and the Reckoning on Race with Lateefah Simon Jun 30, 2021

On June 19, 1865, soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War was over. Since then, this day has been celebrated as the end of slavery in the United States. It also recognizes the culture and achievements of Black Americans and is a symbol of Black freedom. Designating Juneteenth as a holiday is significant, but how much of this is symbolic? In this episode, SVCF President and CEO Nicole Taylor is joined by Akonadi Foundation President Lateefah Simon in a conversation reflecting on the meaning of Juneteenth, the advancements in the racial justice within the past year and what we need to do to continue the momentum toward equity in our region.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: On the San Mateo County coast: uplifting our “forgotten” neighbors Jun 16, 2021

San Mateo County's coastal communities are often overlooked, and historically have experienced challenges such as economic insecurity, lack of basic health services, limited public transportation and lack of access to affordable housing. These issues persist in these underserved communities today. Local nonprofits Pacifica Resource Center (PRC) and Puente de La Costa Sur address these challenges and strive to advance equity in coastal communities.

Anita Rees, Executive Director of PRC, and Rita Mancera, Executive Director of Puente and SVCF Community Advisory Council leader, join SVCF Philanthropy Now to discuss their organizations’ work. In conversation with SVCF Director of Community-Building Mauricio Palma, the discussion emphasizes the importance of NGO’s being rooted in the community and investing in leaders who are Black, Indigenous and people of color.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Addressing anti-Asian racism and barriers to funding in AAPI communities Jun 02, 2021

The United States is home to more than 23 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. AAPI communities are an integral part of our country’s history and they continue to make lasting social, cultural, economic and political contributions. However, they often remain underfunded and overlooked. In this episode, SVCF President and CEO Nicole Taylor is joined by The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) Founding President Sonal Shah in a discussion about how this new foundation aims to address the myriad challenges AAPI communities face. Launched in May 2021, TAAF provides funding and resources to build the infrastructure to improve AAPI advocacy, power, and representation.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Did you enjoy the SVCF Philanthropy Now podcast? Never miss an episode by subscribing in iTunes, Stitcher or RSS.

Philanthropy Now podcast: Honoring AAPI Heritage Month and responding to anti-Asian violence May 19, 2021

Amidst the recent rise in reported anti-Asian violence and hate crimes, this year’s Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month has a solemn undertone. In this episode, SVCF Director of Community Investment Anne Im is joined by Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) CEO Sarita Kohli, New Breath Foundation President and Founder Eddy Zheng and East Bay Community Foundation Vice President of Strategy and External Relations Sachi Yoshii.

These four leaders discuss the current events and issues AAPI communities are facing. Drawing on unique personal experiences and how their organizations’ work has evolved, they offer insights on how allies can be a part of the solution in addressing racism. Tune in to learn more about the opportunities to build solidarity and support the vastly diverse AAPI communities.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

What you will learn:

The history of anti-Asian acts of hatred in our nation
How COVID-19 has impacted attitudes toward AAPI communities
Challenges and opportunities the Bay Area faces in addressing racism
How to leverage momentum from Generation Z’s activism and engagement
What needs to be done to build solidarity and collaboration between communities and how philanthropy must be involved

Resources from this episode:

Eddy Zheng, Founder and President, New Breath Foundation
Sachi Yoshii, Vice President of Strategy and External Relations, East Bay Community Foundation
Sarita Kohli, President and CEO, AACI
Anne Im, Director of Community Investment, SVCF
Learn more about how SVCF is honoring AAPI Heritage Month
Learn more about SVCF’s racial justice work

Did you enjoy the SVCF Philanthropy Now podcast? Never miss an episode by subscribing in iTunes, Stitcher or RSS. Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Multiplying grantmaking power with impact investing May 05, 2021

In this episode, SVCF Senior Investments Officer James Cutler is joined by Mission Driven Finance’s Chief Investment Officer Louie Nguyen and Social Finance’s Vice President of Social Investment Jackie Khor. Louie and Jackie, two leading investment practitioners, describe how impact investing has become a relevant tool in philanthropy and is leading investors to prioritize social good.

Listen to hear how impact investing differs from traditional grantmaking, and how this philanthropic tool leverages financial capital and human resources to get important community projects off the ground. You will learn how all three organizations use this model to support especially underserved communities and address inequities in affordable housing, education and more.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

What you will learn:

What is impact investing, and how it differs from traditional grantmaking
How Louie and Jackie became leading impact investors
How the first community IPO came to be and the significance of that innovation
The role of impact investing in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic
How investments can be leveraged to support underserved communities

Resources from this episode:

Louie Nguyen, Chief Investment Officer, Mission Driven Finance
Jackie Khor, Vice President of Social Investment, Social Finance
James Cutler, Senior Investments Officer, SVCF
Learn more about SVCF’s Recoverable Grants Pilot
Learn more about SVCF’s Impact Investingoptions
Inside Philanthropy Op-ed: To Support an Equitable Recovery, Donor Advised Funds Should Look Beyond Grantmaking

Did you enjoy the SVCF Philanthropy Now podcast? Never miss an episode by subscribing in iTunes, Stitcher or RSS.

Philanthropy Now podcast: Strengthening American-Muslim relations with philanthropy and civic engagement Apr 21, 2021

In 2013, the One Nation Bay Area Project—a collaborative funded by Silicon Valley Community Foundation, The San Francisco Foundation, Marin Community Foundation and Asian American/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy—released a benchmark report called The Bay Area Muslim Study. In partnership with the One Nation Foundation and research support from The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, the study came after a two-year effort created to support American Muslims and non-Muslim allies working to enhance civic engagement in the Bay Area Muslim Community and to strengthen the relationships between American-Muslims and non-Muslim community partners.

In this episode, SVCF Director of Community-Building Mauricio speaks with Zahra Billoo, SVCF Community Advisory Council member and Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, to reflect on the changes in the Bay Area American-Muslim community since the study was published, and the most pressing issues we face today.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

What you will learn:

Zahra’s personal journey to becoming a civil rights leader
The inception of the Bay Area Muslim Study is and what has changed in the last decade
The most pressing issues in the American-Muslim community today and how CAIR addresses these challenges
Recommendations for foundations, philanthropists, and American-Muslim nonprofit leaders

Resources from this episode:

Zahra Billoo, Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations of the SF Bay Area
Mauricio Palma, Director of Community-Building, SVCF
The Bay Area Muslim Study: Establishing Identity and Community, the OneNation Bay Area Project 2013 benchmark report
Ground Breaking Study on Bay Area Muslim Community, highlights from Northern California Grantmakers
Learn more about SVCF’s Community Advisory Council

Did you enjoy the SVCF Philanthropy Now podcast? Never miss an episode by subscribing in iTunes, Stitcher or RSS.

Philanthropy Now podcast: SVCF’s Early Childhood Development strategy seeks to address systemic disparities Apr 07, 2021

SVCF’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) Strategic Initiative is comprised of three prongs: catalyzing philanthropic investment, activating leadership and supporting learn and action in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. In this episode, SVCF Executive Vice President for Community Action, Policy and Strategy Gina Dalma is joined by SVCF Director of Early Childhood Development Christine Thorsteinson, along with Executive Director for Build Up for San Mateo County’s Children (Build Up SMC) Christine Padilla. The three leaders discuss how early childhood development is an impact area intertwined with issues of race, equity, and social justice. Listen to learn more about SVCF’s multi-pronged approach to dismantling systemic barriers and working to ensure all children and their families have access to the care, education and resources they need to flourish.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: The ¡Sí Se Puede! Collective builds power in East San Jose Mar 24, 2021

Based in East San Jose, the ¡Sí Se Puede! Collective is made up of five community-based organizations: SOMOS Mayfair, Amigos de Guadalupe, School of Art and Culture at MHP, Veggielution, and Grail Family Services. In this episode, SVCF's Director of Community-Building, Mauricio Palma, is joined by three executive directors from the collective: Camille Llanes-Fontanilla, an SVCF Community Advisory Council member from SOMOS Mayfair, Cayce Hill from Veggielution, and Maritza Maldonado from Amigos de Guadalupe. These local leaders contributed to the ¡Sí Se Puede! Collective impact model, designed to build community power, advance justice and stand in solidarity with those working to dismantle oppressive systems. Listen to learn how the local community is transforming power relations in East San Jose.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Navigating financial aid and SVCF scholarships during the pandemic Mar 10, 2021

Pursuing a higher education presents financial challenges for many students, and the COVID-19 pandemic adds another layer of obstacles. In this episode, we hear directly from Christabel Soria Mendoza, a SVCF scholarship recipient and Cal Poly student navigating these complexities. Interviewed by SVCF Scholarship Officer Dean Taylor, Christabel describes the process of seeking financial aid and how her college experience has been impacted by COVID-19. Listen to learn more, including the resiliency and vulnerability required of students through the application process.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now Podcast: Lessons in philanthropy with SVCF’s new board chair Wade W. Loo Feb 24, 2021

Longtime SVCF board member Wade W. Loo was recently appointed to 2021 board chair. In this episode, Wade joins SVCF President and CEO Nicole Taylor in a discussion about his journey in Silicon Valley, from his roots to how he became involved with SVCF. As an SVCF fundholder, Wade shares his philosophy around philanthropy and what causes are most important to him. Listen to hear learnings from Wade’s philanthropic journey, changes these leaders have seen in Silicon Valley in the last decade, the importance of centering our focus on equity and the local community and SVCF’s plans for the year ahead.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Domestic Violence Support During the Global Pandemic Jan 20, 2021

As we continue to confront the devastating pandemic within our communities and globally, we view domestic violence as a parallel pandemic. Also known as intimate partner violence, domestic abuse is often hidden and overlooked, despite being experienced by one in four women, as well as one in four men.

This episode brings together three executive directors from leading domestic violence support organizations Esther Peralez-Dieckmann, Orchid Pusey, and Donna Garske in conversation with SVCF vice president of Community Action Manuel Santamaria. The four leaders shed light on how domestic abuse has skyrocketed during the pandemic, and discuss solutions and support for this costly, devastating, and often overlooked issue within the homes in our communities.

In SVCF's Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Community leaders bring justice to housing Dec 30, 2020

Welcome to the seventh episode in our mini-series featuring conversations focused on Racial Equity and Social Justice with the members of SVCF’s Community Advisory Council. Listen to the previous episode in the mini-series here, and continue to subscribe to the podcast to hear future episodes.

Program Director of Land Use and Housing at Urban Habitat and SVCF Community Advisory Council member Tony Roshan Samara joins the podcast for a conversation focusing on “Just Recovery.” In conversation with SVCF Director of Capacity Building Mauricio Palma, the two community leaders discuss this community action framework that requires a lens of equity and prioritizes those who are most affected by a crisis. Tony seeks to engage groups across sectors to use the Just Recovery framework as a tool to address systemic issues.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: A look back at 2020 with Nicole Taylor and Dan’l Lewin Dec 16, 2020

To wrap up 2020, SVCF Board Chair and President and CEO of the Computer History Museum joins SVCF President and CEO Nicole Taylor on Philanthropy Now podcast for a look back at a year unlike any other. Listen to hear from Nicole and Dan’l about key issues that were elevated this year: COVID-19, racial justice, wildfires and the pivotal election. Amidst the multiple crises, our foundation adapted to meet the needs of community. These issues also reinforce SVCF’s role as a catalyst for community change and help shape our foundation’s work as we move into the new year.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: SVCF Scholarships tips and student resources Dec 02, 2020

Finding and applying for an SVCF scholarship that best suits your needs isn’t complicated. In this episode, SVCF scholarships officer Dean Taylor and scholarships associate Emiko Thompson walk listeners through an overview of SVCF’s scholarship programs. Listen to learn about the available opportunities and receive helpful tips on applying for scholarships in 2020 and 2021.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

SVCF Philanthropy Now podcast: The Amah Mutsun Land Trust works on land restoration following the CZU Lightning Complex Fires Nov 18, 2020

The Amah Mutsun Land Trust (AMLT) is a grantee of SVCF’s San Mateo and Santa Clara County Wildfire Fund. AMLT President Valentin Lopez and AMLT Interim Executive Director Sara French join SVCF Philanthropy Now podcast to talk about their fire recovery efforts. In conversation with SVCF Family Engagement Manager Leticia Gonzalez, the episode takes listeners through the past, present and future of the Amah Mutsun people. Valentin and Sara share the Amah Mutsun’s connection with protecting and sustaining the earth. They also highlight AMLT’s work preserving the important ecological knowledge of their people and shed light on how they combine historical native wisdom with modern knowledge to develop and implement powerful environmental strategies.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Community Legal Services elevates the voices of the formerly incarcerated Nov 04, 2020

Welcome to the sixth episode in our SVCF Philanthropy Now podcast mini-series featuring conversations focused on Racial Equity and Social Justice with the members of SVCF’s Community Advisory Council. Listen to the previous episode in the mini-series here, and continue to subscribe to the podcast to hear future episodes.

Katrina Logan, Directing Attorney of the Economic Advancement Program at Community Legal Services and member of SVCF's Community Advisory Council joins Joyce Song, Director of Donor Engagement at Silicon Valley Community Foundation in conversation about how formerly incarcerated community members have been impacted by the pandemic. Community Legal Services advocates for changes to policy and systemic issues that perpetuate disparities, such as overincarceration in lower income communities, particularly communities of color. Listen to learn about Katrina’s work to address these disparities, how the changes brought on by the pandemic, and how you can get involved.

In SVCF's Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Amplifying the voices of BIPOC leaders in the nonprofit sector Oct 28, 2020

Executive Director of Sacred Heart Community Service Poncho Guevara joins SVCF’s Executive Vice President of Community Action, Policy and Strategy in a conversation about the importance of supporting BIPOC leaders in the nonprofit sector. SVCF grantee Sacred Heart Community Service is a key agency in local COVID-19 response and is a regional leader striving to develop countywide solutions to poverty. In this episode, you’ll hear Poncho discuss how the pandemic has amplified the existing disparities BIPOC communities face and how allies have stepped up to support systemic change, such as centering the voices of people of color in leadership roles in the nonprofit community.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now Podcast: SVCF’s COVID-19 Nonprofit Emergency Fund makes waves supporting the most vulnerable communities in the Bay Area Oct 21, 2020

In this episode, join Manuel Santamaria and Leticia Gonzalez from SVCF's Community Action, Policy and Strategy team in a discussion about the findings from a recent survey conducted with grantees of SVCF’s COVID-19 Regional Nonprofit Emergency Fund. The survey results provide insights about how COVID-19 has impacted the nonprofit sector in the San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The survey also provides a deep dive into the racial diversity of our local nonprofit leadership, the barriers to service they have experienced and the challenges they face moving forward. The first pillar in SVCF’s recently adopted strategic plan is reducing systemic disparities, and surveying our community partners, especially leaders of color, is an invaluable tool in our foundation’s mission.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Intertwining faith and community action in the fight for race equity Oct 14, 2020

Welcome to the fifth episode in our SVCF Philanthropy Now podcast mini-series featuring conversations focused on Racial Equity and Social Justice with the members of SVCF’s Community Advisory Council. Listen to the previous episode in the mini-series here, and continue to subscribe to the podcast to hear future episodes.

Members of SVCF’s Community Advisory Council Lorena Melgarejo, Executive Director of Faith in Action Bay Area and Marlyn Bussey, Pastor at St. James A.M.E. Zion Church and Co-Director of the Solidarity Cohort join SVCF Philanthropy Now podcast along with Reverend Penny Nixon, Senior Pastor of the Congregational Church of San Mateo and Director of the Solidarity Cohort, to help listeners understand the role of faith and community action to advance our struggle for race equity. In a conversation moderated by Mauricio Palma, SVCF Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, these community leaders discuss the intersection of religion, faith and politics. This episode takes a deep dive into how each organization works to build solidarity within their communities and elevates the Black Lives Matter movement across different faiths and communities.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Developing a holistic approach to equity with the Bay Area Latino Community Oct 07, 2020

In this episode, Ani Rivera, co-chair of the Latino Kitchen Cabinet and Executive Director of Galería de la Raza, joins the podcast to talk about the intersection of community development, art and social practice and how a group of Latino leaders has been working together to address the broader social challenges that currently face the Latino community in the Bay Area. In conversations with Manuel Santamaria, SVCF Vice President of Community Action, Policy and Strategy, the two leaders take a deep dive in the Bay Area’s equity agenda, considering a holistic approach to address the disparities that COVID-19 has amplified and the major challenges the Latino community faces.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems. Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Strengthening civic participation and making votes count with California Voter Foundation Sep 30, 2020

With the 2020 general election already underway in California and more than half the states in the country, Kim Alexander, President and Founder of the California Voter Foundation, and Rob Chua of the Filipino Bayanihan Resource Center join the podcast to inform listeners about how the voting process differs this year in comparison to previous elections. In a dialogue moderated by Jack Mahoney, SVCF's Civic Participation Program Officer, the episode focuses on what voters need to know for the upcoming election, including how to ensure mail-in ballots are counted and more.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Southwest Airlines honors the 35th LUV Classic during COVID-19 by donating $1 million to 101 charities Sep 23, 2020

In this episode, Megan Lee, Senior Manager of Community Outreach with Southwest Airlines, joins Michael Lopez, former Director of Corporate Responsibility with SVCF, for a conversation about Southwest’s philanthropy. Megan, who manages Southwest’s charitable investment activities and community programs, explains how her company’s renowned culture informs and influences its approach to community outreach, including the evolution of its famous LUV Classic Golf Tournament and how their sustainability mission garnered them a spot on Project Runway. The conversation also highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Southwest's corporate giving and mission to continue supporting long-standing partnerships despite the economic impact of the pandemic on its business and industry.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: OutRight Action International fights for the rights of LGBTIQ people around the world Sep 16, 2020

In this episode, OutRight Action International’s Executive Director Jessica Stern and Caribbean Program Officer Neish Clean, teach listeners about the work of their organization and the need to support the LGBTIQ community, especially in the midst of the global pandemic. Moderated by Robert Williams, SVCF Donor Engagement Associate and Pride Council representative and Michael Lopez, former SVCF Director of Corporate Responsibility and Pride Council co-chair, these four LGBTIQ advocates scrutinize the existing challenges of this community that have been magnified by COVID-19. OutRight works at the regional and international levels to research, document, defend and advance the rights of LGBTIQ people.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems. Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Members of SVCF’s Community Advisory Council emphasize the role of the arts in fighting racial inequalities Sep 09, 2020

Welcome to the third episode in our SVCF Philanthropy Now podcast mini-series featuring conversations focused on Racial Equity and Social Justice with the members of SVCF’s Community Advisory Council. Listen to the last episode in the series here, and continue to subscribe to the podcast to hear future episodes.

In this episode, Belinda Hernandez Arriaga, Executive Director of Ayudando Latinos A Soñar (ALAS), Chike Nwoffiah, Executive Director of Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) and Jessica Paz-Cedillos, Executive Director of School of the Arts and Culture, come together to discuss their organizational projects and solutions that aim to bring racial equality to the arts sector. Facilitated by SVCF Director of Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships Mauricio Palma, this dialogue calls out the need for awareness, funding and intentional storytelling for communities of color. These are integral components to bringing more opportunities and equality to minorities.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems. Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: San Bruno Community Foundation grants $100k toward small business relief and strengthens the community in the wake of COVID-19 Sep 02, 2020

Welcome to the final episode of our mini podcast series featuring members of the Alliance of Community Foundations of Silicon Valley. Learn from and enjoy previous episodes with members of the Alliance here.

In this episode, Jim Ruane, former Mayor of San Bruno and current Vice President of San Bruno Community Foundation, and Pcyeta Stroud, Board President of the San Bruno Chamber of Commerce & Director of the Bay Area Entrepreneur Center, discuss how San Bruno Community Foundation has responded to COVID-19. Facilitated by Michelle Fries, SVCF's Director of Nonprofit Support Services, the conversation focuses on new partnerships that have emerged throughout the pandemic, how the Alliance is providing additional support to its foundation members and local trends and initiatives related to the recovery efforts.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems. Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Housing solutions with Destination: Home’s collective impact model and cross-sector partnerships Aug 26, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified existing inequities, taking an exceptionally hard toll on the most vulnerable communities experiencing housing instability, homelessness, and racial disparities. In this episode, Jennifer Loving, CEO of Destination: Home, Dontae Lartigue, CEO of Razing the Bar, board member of Destination: Home and board member of the Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB), and Erin Connor, Public Investment Program Manager at Cisco, join the podcast to discuss the collective impact model. In a conversation moderated by SVCF’s Executive Vice President of Community Action, Policy and Strategy, Gina Dalma, these bold leaders discuss how they are using this model to address the social issues that have been overwhelmingly exacerbated by the pandemic. Listen in to learn the critical need for public-private partnerships, how Destination: Home, SVCF, Cisco and other partners united quickly at the onset of the pandemic to support the most vulnerable communities and how they continue to address homelessness and systemic racial inequities.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Fighting health-related systemic disparities with the COVID-19 Black initiative Aug 19, 2020

Welcome to the second episode in our SVCF Philanthropy Now podcast mini-series featuring conversations focused on Racial Equity and Social Justice with the members of SVCF’s Community Advisory Council. Listen to the last episode in the series here and continue to subscribe to the podcast to hear future episodes.

Silicon Valley Community Foundation has continued to emphasize that COVID-19 has only exacerbated existing inequities, and we have seen that the COVID-19 death-rate among Black individuals is increasing at an alarming rate in our communities. André Chapman, Founder and CEO of UnityCare and member of SVCF’s Community Advisory Council, and Noha Aboaleta, CEO of Root Community Health Center, join this episode to discuss COVID-19 BLACK, a regional initiative designed to address the public health crisis in the Black Community. In a conversation facilitated by SVCF’s Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, Mauricio Palma, hear how the Black community has been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, why such disparate health inequities exist and what COVID-19 BLACK is doing to change to make a difference.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Woodside Community Foundation leverages local foundation relationships & community partnerships to respond to COVID-19 Aug 12, 2020

Welcome to episode seven of our eight-part mini podcast series with the Alliance of Community Foundations of Silicon Valley. Keep tuning in to learn from each member of the Alliance in episodes to come and in recent months.

This episode features a conversation with Marsha BonDurant, Board President for Woodside Community Foundation (WCF), Liz Dressel, Board Secretary for WCF and PTA President for Woodside Elementary School and Robyn Cornyn, Head of Communications at WCF facilitated by Michelle Fries, SVCF Director of Nonprofit Support Services. WCF serves a small community in San Mateo County, and the conversation highlights the foundation’s rich history and areas of focus, how WCF is partnering with the community to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the members leverage the relationships and knowledge from the Alliance of Community Foundations of Silicon Valley to learn new ways to support the community.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Morgan Hill Community Foundation: Responding to COVID-19 and drawing connections between the crisis and Morgan Hill’s pre-pandemic work in healthcare Aug 05, 2020

Welcome to Episode 6 of our 8-part mini podcast series with the Alliance of Community Foundations of Silicon Valley. Keep tuning in to learn from each member of the Alliance in episodes to come.

In the sixth episode of this mini-series, Peggy Martin, Board Treasurer of Morgan Hill Community Foundation and President of Legacy Planning Across Generations and Robin Shepherd, Associate Editor and Senior Writer for gmhTODAY and Executive Director of The Sue’s Story Project, join Michelle Fries, SVCF Director of Nonprofit Support Services, to discuss the work of Morgan Hill Community Foundation. The conversation highlights Morgan Hill CF’s six areas of focus, its response to the COVID-19 pandemic and support for essential workers, special partnerships such as the Alliance and The Sue’s Story Project, and more.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Supporting Black youth in a flawed education system Jul 29, 2020

SVCF has created the Silicon Valley Community Advisory Council that engages leaders of color to help us implement the strategies and policies to address the nation’s systemic disparities. Today, Mauricio Palma, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at SVCF hosts Debra Watkins, Founder, President, and Executive Director of A Black Education Network and member of SVCF Community Advisory Council, and Dr. Darlene Willis, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Concerned Parents Alliance and College Bound Programs. In today’s discussion, they will be talking about how cultural disparities, along with the COVID-19 crisis, are affecting black children in our country.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Open Philanthropy: How Donors Can Support the Criminal Justice Reform Movement Jul 22, 2020

In this episode, you will learn about the best ways you can support the criminal justice reform movement. Program Officer for the Criminal Justice Reform Project at Open Philanthropy, Chloe Cockburn, joins the Director of Donor Engagement at SVCF, Joyce Song, to share insight on the criminal justice reform movement and how philanthropists can help.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Intero Foundation and SVCF: cross-sector partnerships pivoting to address local community needs throughout the COVID-19 crisis Jul 15, 2020

In this episode, you will learn about the work of Intero Foundation. Stephanie Hicks, President of Intero Foundation, speaks with Tyler Faust, Manager of Corporate Responsibility at Silicon Valley Community Foundation, in a conversation exploring Intero Foundation’s focus on local giving. The discussion delves into SVCF’s relationship with the foundation, their local work and recent grant round, how operations have pivoted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and more.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Meeting the stressful demands of distance learning and exploring hybrid education models for fall 2020 in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties Jul 08, 2020

In this episode, you will learn about the impact of COVID-19 on the economically, ethnically and geographically diverse school districts in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Director of Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s Center for Early Learning, Michelle Sioson Hyman, speaks with the county superintendents from these counties, Mary Ann Dewan and Nancy Magee, as well as the superintendent of Jefferson Elementary School District, Bernie Vidales. The conversation among these education leaders highlights the creativity inspired by teaching remotely, the challenges in distance learning and its impact on less affluent students, food insecurities of families relying on school meal services, plans for reopening schools in hybrid learning formats this autumn and more.

The SVCF Education Partnership is expanding the capacity of local school districts and the County Offices of Education to address immediate challenges and long-term recovery efforts related to COVID-19, including but not limited to:

Social and emotional health and wellness support for students, families and staff
Distance learning, including IT infrastructure and equipment, technical assistance and training for teachers and staff, support for students with special needs and dual language learners
Emergency child care centers, including additional staffing needs, program materials, health care and cleaning supplies
Continued and/or expanded access to nutrition services
Family engagement strategies
Other extraordinary measures required to address the COVID-19 crisis and shelter-in-place orders

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Los Altos Community Foundation and the future of post-pandemic telehealth Jul 01, 2020

Welcome to Episode 5 of our 8-part mini podcast series with the Alliance of Community Foundations of Silicon Valley. Keep tuning in to learn from each member of the Alliance in episodes to come.

In the fifth episode of this mini-series, you will learn about Los Altos Community Foundation (LACF) from Adin Miller, Executive Director of LACF and Marsha Deslauriers, Executive Director of Community Health Awareness Council. Both of these organizations serve populations in the Los Altos and Mountain View communities. In conversation with Michelle Fries, SVCF Director of Nonprofit Support Services, the three community leaders discuss the work of LACF, the role of the Alliance of Community Foundations of Silicon Valley, the trends in needs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of telehealth and more.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: A lesson learned with Palo Alto Community Fund: How grantmaking will look different in a post-COVID world Jun 24, 2020

Welcome to Episode 4 of our 8-part mini podcast series with the Alliance of Community Foundations of Silicon Valley. Keep tuning in to learn from each member of the Alliance in episodes to come.

In the fourth episode of this mini-series, you will learn about the work of Palo Alto Community Fund (PACF), a community foundation serving East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Menlo Park for over 40 years and a member of the alliance for 17 years. SVCF Director of Nonprofit Support Services, Michelle Fries, speaks with Cammie Vail, Executive Director of PACF and Lauren Williams, boardmember of PACF, local PTA president and member of The Squad. The conversation delves into PACF’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak and its long-term shifts in their work, partnering on solutions to reach vulnerable community members with PTA parents and more.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Second Harvest of Silicon Valley steps up to address food insecurities and hunger brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic Jun 17, 2020

Second Harvest of Silicon Valley’s mission is to ensure that anyone who needs a healthy meal can get one. In this episode, Erica Wood, SVCF’s Executive Vice President of Community Impact, interviews Leslie Bacho, Chief Executive Officer of Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the two leaders analyze the changes in needs they’ve seen in the community, complications and opportunities presented by shifts in the food supply chain and Second Harvest of SV’s areas of focus. You will learn how Second Harvest of Silicon Valley has adapted their operations both to comply with public health regulations and meet the dramatic increase in demand.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Pivoting in dire times: Gilroy Foundation’s response to the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting, the COVID-19 outbreak, and more Jun 10, 2020

Welcome to Episode 3 of our 8-part mini podcast series with the Alliance of Community Foundations of Silicon Valley. Keep tuning in to learn from each member of the Alliance in episodes to come.

In the third episode of this mini-series, you will learn about the work of Gilroy Foundation and its role in the Alliance. SVCF Director of Nonprofit Support Services, Michelle Fries, speaks with Donna Pray, Executive Director of Gilroy Foundation, and Karen La Corte, Vice President of Marx Towing, Inc. and Gilroy Foundation Board of Directors Vice President. The three leaders overview the foundation’s response to the tragic Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting in 2019, the role in the Alliance, the response to the COVID-19 outbreak and preparations for the future.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Alliance of Community Foundations of SV: CF of San Carlos’ response to COVID-19 Jun 03, 2020

Welcome to Episode 2 of our 8-part mini podcast series with the Alliance of Community Foundations of Silicon Valley. Keep tuning in to learn from each member of the Alliance in episodes to come.

In our second episode of this mini-series, you will learn about Community Foundation of San Carlos, the newest local community foundation and newest member of the Alliance. SVCF Director of Nonprofit Support Services, Michelle Fries, speaks with Jessica Yang, founding Board President of Community Foundation of San Carlos, and Sandy Kraft, Founder and Volunteer Coordinator of Neighbors helping Neighbors.

In this discussion, Jessica introduces Community Foundation of San Carlos and its role in the community, and Jessica and Sandy illustrate how their organizations have responded to the COVID-19 outbreak and are preparing for the future. From forming new cross-sector partnerships to recruiting over 400 volunteers in just 10 weeks, these women are confidently navigating challenges in our communities presented by the pandemic.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Alliance of SV Community Foundations: CF for San Benito County’s response to COVID-19 May 27, 2020

Welcome to Episode 1 of our 8-part mini podcast series with the Alliance of Silicon Valley Community Foundations. Keep tuning in to learn from each member of the Alliance in episodes to come.

In the inaugural episode, you will learn about Community Foundation for San Benito County and its role in the Alliance. SVCF Director of Nonprofit Support Services, Michelle Fries, facilitates a conversation with Gary Byrnes, President and CEO of CF for San Benito County, and Nate Hensley, Executive Director of The Manger, the foundation’s newest nonprofit partner. The conversation focuses on how the Alliance membership and support from SVCF has helped the foundation amplify its impact in its rural community, how these organizations have pivoted and strive to prioritize needs in response the COVID-19 pandemic, how they are supporting nonprofits during the shelter-in-place order and more.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Affordable Housing Month and the Importance of a Safe and Secure home with Leslye Corsiglia May 20, 2020

SV@Home a local, housing policy and advocacy nonprofit, convenes Affordable Housing Month - Silicon Valley annually, and this year they have pivoted in the face of COVID-19. With shelter-in-place now extended through May, this year's Affordable Housing Month - Silicon Valley has pivoted to virtual activities and engagement. The importance of a secure, safe, and affordable home has become even more crucial in light of this crisis.

In this episode, SVCF Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Special Advisor to the CEO, Gina Dalma, speaks with Executive Director of Silicon Valley at Home, Leslye Corsiglia. These two leaders discuss how the global pandemic has magnified ongoing housing challenges in our region. Listen to learn more about the state of affordable housing in Santa Clara County, Affordable Housing Month, what sort of solutions housing experts are exploring, and how you can get engaged while still practicing social distancing.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: San Mateo County Strong and learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic with Supervisor Dave Pine May 13, 2020

San Mateo County was quick to initiate efforts to protect the community in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine is currently devoting most of his time to the COVID-19 crisis and is a member of the County’s COVID-19 ad hoc committee that helps guide the County’s response to the pandemic.

This episode features a conversation with SVCF’s President and CEO Nicole Taylor and San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine. The two leaders examine the impact on the region, the inception of the San Mateo County Strong initiative, the responses of partnerships across the public and private sectors, silver linings and learning from the crisis, and plans to reopen the community.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: COVID-19 challenges the local creative sector May 06, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating economic impact on the nonprofit arts sector. After shelter in place orders took effect in March 2020, it was estimated that the field would have $3.2 billion in financial losses. Thousands of cultural events, art classes and community programs were canceled across the country. Because arts organizations have closed their doors for months to come and many have also reduced their workforce, we can anticipate greater revenue losses for local arts and culture nonprofits.

This episode features a conversation with SVCF’s Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships Mauricio Palma, Musician and Trustee of the Castellano Family Foundation and Executive Director of Quinteto Latino Armando Castellano, Chief Executive Officer if SVCreates Connie Martinez, and Director of San Mateo County Arts Commission Robin Rodricks. These leaders examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the arts, the tensions between arts and cultural organizations and other organizations providing emergency-related services the correlation between race equity and arts access and education, how these organizations are building awareness around these disparities and advocating for funding the arts, and more.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Silicon Valley Strong and innovative responses to COVID-19 with San Jose Mayor Liccardo Apr 29, 2020

Sam Liccardo is the mayor of the City of San Jose and is playing a lead role in COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts in both San Jose and the region. Since his appointment as mayor of San Jose in 2015, Liccardo has led the city through significant economic growth and is tackling the region’s most pressing issues, including but not limited to housing, transportation and closing the digital divide.

In this episode, Mayor Liccardo joins SVCF President and CEO Nicole Taylor in a conversation about how the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak is impacting the community, what he and his partners are doing to provide relief and how they are preparing to rebuild. Mayor Liccardo describes the pain he has seen in the community, but also the incredible successes in cross-sector collaboration. The two discuss the Silicon Valley Strong initiative, the recently formed Silicon Valley Economic Recovery and Resiliency Council, and how these partnerships and others are not only providing immediate relief, but also preparing to rebuild.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Providing relief and preparing to re-build in Santa Clara County with Supervisor Cindy Chavez Apr 24, 2020

Supervisor Cindy Chavez is the president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, representing more than a half million people in East, Central and South San Jose. When the coronavirus crisis first hit our region, Supervisor Chavez jumped right into action by negotiating testing sites, ramping up testing and getting numbers out to the public.

In this episode, SVCF President and CEO Nicole Taylor speaks with Supervisor Cindy Chavez about the effects of the COVID-19 health crisis in this region, and how the progress of many cross-sector partnerships is responding to these needs and preparing for the future of these communities. Supervisor Chavez is working relentlessly with Santa Clara County’s health care system and hospitals to equip front line medical workers with protective gear and raise money for more ventilators for patients. Along with other Silicon Valley leaders, Supervisor Chavez helped launch Silicon Valley Strong, a regional movement in response to the pandemic.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: How nonprofits are adapting to new realities in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic Apr 22, 2020

Mavericks Community Foundation is a critical partner working to support local nonprofits from Montara to Pescadero California. Since 2015, they have organized a community giving day, Coastside Gives, and have raised over 1.8 million dollars with this annual event. In the context of the COVID-19 public health crisis, they have adapted their operations to continue their local giving efforts.

In this episode, SVCF Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, Mauricio Palma, learns from Mary Oldham, trustee of the Mavericks Community Foundation, and Keith Terry, fundraising consultant and recently retiree from Coastside Hope, a nonprofit organization based in Halfmoon Bay, California. The three discuss how the current public health protocols are impacting Mavericks Community Foundation and its fundraising events, trends in needs from other nonprofits and how these groups are utilizing their strengths to adapt to our current realities in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: An update on SVCF’s COVID-19 response efforts and what’s to come Apr 08, 2020

As a trusted leader in the philanthropic realm, Silicon Valley Community Foundation is leading a COVID-19 Regional Response effort in the Bay Area counties.

In this episode, SVCF President and CEO Nicole Taylor and Executive Vice President of Community Impact Erica Wood discuss the foundation’s regional response initiative. The conversation highlights the critical partnerships across sectors, the Silicon Valley and San Mateo Strong initiatives and SVCF’s donor engagement and fundraising goals.

In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Addressing homelessness through the Housing Ready Communities initiative Apr 01, 2020

Robert Stromberg leads the Housing Ready Communities initiative at Destination: Home, a public-private partnership serving as the backbone organization for collective impact strategies to end homelessness in Santa Clara County, California.

In this episode, SVCF’s Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, Mauricio Palma, explores with Stromberg the intersection between civic engagement and collective impact. They specifically speak about the value of resident action as an essential ingredient in our collective work to end homelessness in Silicon Valley.

In SVCF's Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Defending civil rights with Vanita Gupta Mar 18, 2020

Vanita Gupta is President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights coalition.

In this episode, SVCF’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Gina Dalma, speaks with Gupta about her work advancing criminal justice reform; prosecuting hate crimes and human trafficking; defending voting rights, combating discrimination and more. They also discuss philanthropy's role in protecting civil rights for all.

In our Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Safety net services protect every zip code in Santa Clara County Mar 04, 2020

Everyone experiences emergencies from time to time. For some Silicon Valley residents, however, each day is a struggle for financial stability and independence. When an emergency hits, they need somewhere to turn for help. The goal of the Emergency Assistance Network of Santa Clara County is to prevent homelessness, act as a safety net for residents facing eviction, utility disconnection and hunger, and help them return to self-sufficiency.

In our Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: “A few crazy coastsiders” design local giving day Feb 19, 2020

Mavericks Community Foundation Trustee Mary Oldham has worked and lived on the San Mateo County Coastside since 1980. She's an investor in Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, and though recently retired from her role there as director of marketing, continues to invest her time and resources to improve the Coastside community.

In our Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now podcast: Getting to know Kimberly Myers Hewlett Feb 05, 2020

Kimberly Myers Hewlett is one of the newest additions to the SVCF leadership team. Serving as senior vice president, donor engagement, she leads SVCF's efforts to build and bolster relationships between SVCF donors and local nonprofits.

In this episode, SVCF Executive Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Melissa Daar Carvajal, speaks with Hewlett about her background and her initial observations since joining SVCF. They also discuss what inspires her to work in philanthropy and her vision for donor engagement moving forward.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now Podcast: Student Support is Critical to College Completion Jan 22, 2020

Over the last decade, government funding for higher education has decreased by more than $9 billion dollars. The rising costs of a college education have primarily fallen on students and their families. Through partnerships with local nonprofits and generous donors, SVCF offers a variety of innovative scholarships that provide students not only with needed funds, but with coaching and support services to help them successfully graduate from college. Last year SVCF managed 47 scholarship programs, which awarded more than $2.5 million in awards to 500 different recipients.

In this episode, SVCF Scholarships Officer Dean Taylor talks with Savonna Stender-Bondesson, Coach Supervisor for Pivotal, a nonprofit helping foster youth enter and graduate from college, and Sarah Gentle, a Pivotal Scholar. Their conversation highlights the challenges students face and the successes of Pivotal's Bay Area program. Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Philanthropy Now Podcast: Why We Need to Think About Housing Differently, with author Alex Schafran Jan 08, 2020

Scholar, teacher and activist Alex Schafran tells a powerful story of "the suburbanization of poverty, the failures of regional planning, urban sprawl, NIMBYism and political fragmentation between middle class white environmentalists and communities of color," in his recent book The Road to Resegregation: Northern California and the Failure of Politics.

In this episode, Schafran and SVCF Housing and Transportation Program Officer Vinita Goyal share their thoughts on recent housing successes, following legislative wins at the state level. They also discuss the popular "3 Ps" housing framework which focuses on protection, preservation and production, and tackle big questions like what to prioritize and how to incorporate diverse perspectives.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Twenty Years of Community Impact Dec 18, 2019

Vice President of Community Impact, Manuel Santamaria, has worked at Silicon Valley Community Foundation for more than 20 years, joining SVCF's predecessor, the Peninsula Community Foundation, in 1999 as a program officer.

In this episode, Manny sits down with SVCF Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Gina Dalma, to share some of his career highlights, philanthropy trends he is seeing, learning opportunities and what keeps him energized after two decades in the field. Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Collaboration is key to tackling Silicon Valley’s challenges Dec 04, 2019

In this podcast episode, Silicon Valley Community Foundation is pleased to feature a conversation between SVCF board member Wade Loo and Nicole Taylor, our president and CEO.

Wade has been a board member since 2015, and Nicole has now been at her post for 11 months. Listen in on their conversation, in which they reflect on 2019 and discuss what’s ahead in 2020.

In our Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Addressing California’s retirement crisis Nov 20, 2019

This past July, the State of California rolled out a new program called CalSavers – an affordable retirement savings program for workers who do not have access to a retirement benefit through their employer. This program will help more than 7.5 million Californians and more than 300,000 workers in Silicon Valley to begin saving for retirement and more.

In this episode, Alexandra Bastien, SVCF’s Financial Stability Program Officer, speaks with Bianca Blomquist, Northern California Outreach Manager at Small Business Majority, about the role of philanthropy in supporting outreach for this ambitious new program and promoting financial security for all Californians.

In our Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Interrogating Gender Assumptions with Riki Wilchins Nov 06, 2019

Riki Wilchins is a leading author, activist and gender theorist as well as the founder of the first national transgender advocacy group, GenderPAC. Her work has been instrumental in bringing transgender rights into the mainstream LGBT movement and increasing awareness of how gender norms connect to issues of race and class.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Improving Equity Through Immigration Legal Services Oct 23, 2019

SVCF recently provided a grant to support the Silicon Valley Pro Bono Immigration Network (SVPBIN), a project housed within the Tahirih Justice Center that aims to increase access to no cost, culturally competent, and linguistically appropriate immigration legal services in Silicon Valley.

In this episode, Anne Im, SVCF's Immigration Program Officer, Zulma Maciel, Director of the City of San Jose’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, and Chriselle Raguro, Coordinating Attorney for the Silicon Valley Pro Bono Immigration Network, discuss how the network will support local immigrant needs.

In our Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

From the Governor’s Office - Kathleen Kelly Janus talks innovation and partnership Oct 09, 2019

This past June, Governor Newsom named Kathleen Kelly Janus as his senior advisor on Social Innovation. This new position in the Office of the Governor elevates the role of philanthropic and nonprofit organizations as innovators and illustrates how our state’s philanthropy sector is poised to take cross-sector collaboration to the next level.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

San Jose’s new path to digital inclusion & universal connectivity Sep 25, 2019

Almost 100,000 people in the heart of Silicon Valley do not have access to the internet at home, limiting their educational, economic and civic engagement opportunities. In some low-income communities, nearly half the population lacks connectivity. Mayor Sam Liccardo is leading the charge to make San Jose the first city in the country to close the digital divide.

In this episode, Gina Dalma, SVCF's Senior Vice President of Public Policy, speaks with Mayor Liccardo. Listen as they share San Jose's plan to bring universal connectivity to 50,000 households in the next ten years and discuss philanthropy's role in the Digital Inclusion Fund.

In our Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Building community through corporate responsibility Sep 11, 2019

What does corporate social responsibility mean? Two of SVCF’s corporate responsibility team members, Vice President Stuart Burden and Senior Manager Juliana Deans, discuss what their team does, what brought them to SVCF and what excites them about working in CSR.

Learn how SVCF’s fifteen-person corporate responsibility department helps clients advance their philanthropy, give back to their communities and engage employees.

With our Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Finding Solutions to Systemic Injustice Aug 28, 2019

Systemic injustice is something that commonly plagues our court systems, and it is increasingly important to figure out how to resolve these issues and implement changes that serve the community. SVCF regularly explores and exposes these injustices, and works with lawmakers to bring people together, find common ground, and find solutions.

In this episode, Gina Dalma, SVCF’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy, speaks with California State Senate Majority Leader, Robert Hertzberg, about the changes taking place over the past few years and how it is affecting the judicial system. They cover the possible ways to eliminate some of the systemic injustice of the court systems and where philanthropy comes in to play.

With our Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, discuss social impact initiatives, and look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

The life of a Silicon Valley family living in their RV Aug 14, 2019

For many in the Bay Area, a single emergency can derail a safe housing situation. And for some, losing that housing means living on the street in an RV. SVCF is working with elected officials, nonprofit organizations and homeless advocates to find solutions that will lead to permanent housing for our community members.

In this episode, Gina Dalma, SVCF's Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Chelsea Tercero, Program Director of Safe and Supportive Parking with LifeMoves and Chris, a San Jose RV resident discuss the proliferation of Silicon Valley community members living in recreational vehicles and the challenges around displacement.

With our Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, discuss social impact initiatives, and look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Destination: Home Jul 31, 2019

In Santa Clara County, 7,500 people are without a home on any given night. Destination: Home is a public-private partnership that uses collective impact strategies to to work towards ending homelessness in Santa Clara County.

In this episode, Erica Wood, SVCF’s EVP of Community Impact, talks with Jennifer Loving, CEO of Destination: Home, about how communities can come together to end homelessness.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

California’s local redistricting revolution Jul 17, 2019

SVCF supports California Common Cause through our civic participation grant making strategy. California Common Cause advocates for independent commissions to draw district lines for local elections.

In this episode, SVCF’s Civic Participation Program Officer Jack Mahoney talks with Rey Lopez-Calderon, the Executive Director of California Common Cause, and Pamela Jones, a Menlo Park community activist, about California’s local redistricting revolution and how district elections can be one path towards better representation.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Growing as a Donor Jul 03, 2019

What is it like to become a philanthropist for the first time? Donor Sally Liu knows first hand. A long time environmentalist, Liu became a donor with SVCF 14years ago, with a focus on green causes. Liu worked with SVCF to create a vision and mission for her giving. She’s now also a member of SVCF’s Donor Circle for the Environment.

In this episode of Philanthropy Now, Liu talks about this and more with her philanthropy advisor Andy Perkins, SVCF’s Director of Donor Engagement. Listen in as the two discuss advice for new donors and some of the things Liu’s been working on.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

How Can Corporate Foundations Work Best with Nonprofits? Jun 19, 2019

In this podcast, Vu Le, creator of the blog Nonprofit AF, executive director of Rainier Valley Corps and co-author of Unicorns Unite: How nonprofits and foundations can build epic partnerships, talks with SVCF’s vice president of corporate responsibility Stuart Burden. Listen in as the two discuss the challenges of securing funding, and the sometimes fraught relationship between nonprofits and funders.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Helping Our Homeless Neighbors: Project WeHOPE and Dignity on Wheels Jun 05, 2019

What can be done to help our homeless neighbors in the Bay Area? In this episode, Pastor Paul Bains, who leads Project WeHOPE and Dignity on Wheels, talks with Gina Dalma, SVCF’s vice president of government relations, about his work to find short and long-term solutions for displaced Bay Area residents; from a mobile hygiene unit to an RV safe parking program for those who live in their vehicles.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Silicon Valley Transit: Working Towards a Solution May 22, 2019

Our nation’s suburbanization has prioritized the use of cars and highways, leading to traffic, pollution and inequity. Silicon Valley is no exception.

In this episode, Vinita Goyal, Program Officer for Housing and Transportation at SVCF, talks with Bob Allen, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Urban Habitat; Gary Hsueh, Director of Mobility Programs at Prospect Silicon Valley; and Lalo Gonzales, Program Manager at the Youth Leadership Institute.

Listen in as they discuss the state of transportation in the Valley and how the region can address community needs.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Young Kids and Tech: A Guide for Grown-ups May 08, 2019

Many families struggle to find a balance when it comes to technology use with their young children. SVCF and Common Sense Media recently released a fully bilingual technology guide for grown-ups with young kids. In this episode, Michelle Sioson Hyman, Deputy Director at the Center for Early Learning at SVCF, talks with Maria Alvarez, Vice President of Common Sense Latino, a program of Common Sense Media. The two discuss how the guide came together, as well as their own struggles with technology use as parents.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Catalyst for change: Nicole Taylor discusses her first 100 days Apr 20, 2019

SVCF CEO Nicole Taylor has been at the helm for just over 100 days. During this time, she has been out in the community listening and learning, and meeting with community leaders and donors. In this podcast, executive vice president of marketing and communications, Melissa Daar Carvajal, speaks with Nicole about what Nicole has been hearing from the community and her thoughts about continuing to move SVCF forward.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Getting Kids Ready for Kindergarten Mar 27, 2019

Starting kindergarten is a big step for children and parents. Families often have questions and concerns as they prepare to launch into this exciting adventure!

In this episode, Christine Thorsteinson, Early Education Manager at SVCF’s Center for Early Learning, talks with kindergarten teachers Heather Martinez and Adrianne Elfring, and SVCF’s Family Engagement Specialist, Leticia Gonzalez.

The group discusses kindergarten readiness and how families can prepare for this important step in their child’s education.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Local Banks Helping Fight Displacement Mar 13, 2019

Over the past decade, Bay Area communities have faced intense gentrification pressure, resulting in increased evictions of residents and small businesses.

In this episode, Bert Feuss, Senior Vice President of Investments at SVCF, and Kevin Stein, Deputy Director at the California Reinvestment Coalition, discuss forces contributing to rapid gentrification in the Bay Area and the Anti-Displacement Code of Conduct which calls on banks to end financing practices that lead to the eviction and displacement of residents.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Twenty Years of Raising Young Readers Feb 20, 2019

For the past 20 years, Raising A Reader has helped children and their families share a love of books. Founded in Silicon Valley, Raising A Reader provides books and parent training materials in 15 languages, and even braille, for families to share and integrate into their daily routines.

In this episode, Leticia Gonzalez, Family Engagement Manager for SVCF's Center for Early Learning, talks with Michelle Torgerson, President and CEO for Raising A Reader National, about opportunities families have to support their children’s healthy development with a simple but powerful strategy: sharing books regularly.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Why is the 2020 census so important? Feb 06, 2019

Did you know that data from the census is used to determine all kinds of things, from the number of seats a state has in Congress, to the amount of federal funding it might receive for all kinds of programs? An accurate count is critical.

Anne Im, SVCF’s immigration program officer, talks with Aparna Ramakrishnan, the census coordinator for the County of San Mateo, and Nick Kuwada, the census program manager for the County of Santa Clara, about why the census is so important that it’s constitutionally mandated.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

A Conversation with SVCF’s New President, Nicole Taylor Jan 23, 2019

Nicole Taylor, SVCF’s new president and CEO, started work at SVCF on Dec. 19, and had her first full weeks on the job in January. In this episode, Nicole sits down with Erica Wood, SVCF’s chief community impact officer. She talks about her initial work listening to SVCF staff, community members and a wide variety of constituents, including nonprofit leaders and donors, to discover “who we are as a community foundation and who we should be.”

Nicole describes this as a great time to have joined SVCF, given the work staff has recently done on workplace culture, especially. “There’s such an incredible base to build on,” she says.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

SVCF opens 2019 scholarship season Jan 09, 2019

SVCF's 2019 scholarship programs opened January 7. For students Brian Carrozza and Ricardo Lombera, scholarships from SVCF were key in their educational journeys. In this podcast, Brian and Ricardo talk with Manuel Santamaria, vice president of community impact at SVCF, about what other students should know about navigating the financial aid process, writing a personal statement, seeking advice from advisors and more.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Linking nonprofits to skilled volunteers Dec 12, 2018

When local nonprofit Tax-Aid needed a new logo it found a pro bono graphic designer on online platform Catchafire. In this podcast, Sonali Arurkar, vice president of partnerships for Catchafire, and Jill Sturm, executive director of Bay Area nonprofit Tax-Aid, sit down with SVCF’s vice president of community impact, Manuel Santamaria to talk about increasing the capacity of small nonprofits.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Getting to know Nicole Taylor: SVCF's incoming CEO & President Dec 07, 2018

In this edition of our podcast, Silicon Valley Community Foundation is pleased to feature a conversation between Greg Avis and Nicole Taylor. Greg has been leading SVCF as interim president since April 30, and Nicole Taylor was named by the board of directors as the new CEO and president of SVCF in early November.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Gun Buy Back in San Jose Nov 28, 2018

SVCF is supporting San Jose Police Department’s gun buy back program as part of our work to strengthen relations between communities of color and law enforcement.

In this episode, Lieutenant Christina LaCap, who leads the gun buy back program for the San Jose Police Department, talks with Gina Dalma, SVCF's vice president of government relations, about her job with the police department and about making a community safer through community feedback and the unlikely partnership of philanthropy, police, and a local museum.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Police Work in San Jose Nov 14, 2018

San Jose is the 10th largest city in the country and has the least staffed police department in the nation. San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia sits down to talk with Gina Dalma, SVCF’s Vice President of Government Relations, to talk about everything from building trust in the community to implicit bias training to what keeps Chief Garcia up worrying at night. SVCF has worked closely with the San Jose Police Department on scaling the department’s community engagement work; specifically with youth and people of color; data collection and analysis; and, most recently, with the San Jose Police Foundation on its Gun Buy Back event to be held on December 1, 2018.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Housing for All in Silicon Valley Oct 31, 2018

What does the term affordable housing mean in Silicon Valley, and how are local advocates working to support its growth? In this episode, Deputy Director of housing group SV@Home, Pilar Lorenzana, joins SVCF’s Senior Community Leadership Officer Remy Goldsmith to discuss the many aspects of affordable housing in the region. Pilar will be featured on the panel at SVCF's upcoming 2018 Regional Meeting, an event free to the public.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

SVCF Donor Circles Oct 17, 2018

This podcast will highlight donor circles, one of the many ways we engage with our donors in order to enhance their philanthropic experience at SVCF.

We will hear from Tobi Becerra, Senior Philanthropy Advisor, and Sawako Sonoyama Clarin, Philanthropy Advisor, both of whom work with individual donors on their philanthropy in various ways. They will be interviewing two SVCF donors, Monica Cappuccini and Jim Ducey, who are active founding members of the Donor Circle for the Arts and Africa, respectively.

You will hear about SVCF’s donor circles, why we think they’re an important philanthropic tool, and what motivates our donors to become part of them.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Foster Youth in the Bay Area Housing Crisis Oct 03, 2018

The Bay Area housing crunch hits our most vulnerable residents hardest. That includes our local foster youth. In this episode, Andre Chapman, CEO and founder of Unity Care, is joined by Gina Dalma, SVCF's vice president of government relations, to discuss a new SVCF report about the housing challenges currently facing foster youth in the Bay Area.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

On The Table 2018: Finding Solutions to the Bay Area's Housing Shortage Sep 19, 2018

On October 23, Silicon Valley Community Foundation will host its second On The Table event, a day of conversation to help find solutions to our region’s housing shortage. You can register to participate or host a small-group conversation at siliconvalleycf.org/onthetable.

In this podcast, Bay Area director of programs for the Youth Leadership Institute, Fahad Qurashi, is joined by Mauricio Palma, SVCF’s director of initiatives and special projects. Their conversation centers on how On The Table helps increase civic engagement, and how we can all approach the problem of housing in the Bay Area.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

The Emerging Role of Cities Sep 05, 2018

In this episode you will hear Sam Liccardo, Mayor of San Jose, and Gina Dalma, vice president of government relations for SVCF, discuss the changing role of cities and their growing involvement in issues including the environment, education, immigration, housing, and workforce development.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Incorporating Staff and Community Feedback into Moving Forward Jul 30, 2018

Greg Avis, interim CEO, and Erica Wood, chief community impact officer, talk about recent discussions they've had with SVCF staff and community members about the community foundation and how that feedback is shaping how the organization is moving forward and searching for a new leader.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Greg Avis in conversation with Luisa Buada Jul 06, 2018

In this episode, we’ll hear from SVCF’s Interim President, Greg Avis, in conversation with Luisa Buada of the Ravenswood Family Health Center.

Greg will discuss how Silicon Valley Community Foundation is moving forward after recent events, and offer his thoughts about the future of the organization.

This episode was recorded on June 20, one week before the announcement of the departure of Emmett Carson, SVCF’s former CEO. Information about that announcement is available on SVCF’s blog.

We anticipate that a future podcast will include further conversation with Greg about how SVCF is moving forward.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Literacy and Family Engagement Go Hand in Hand Apr 25, 2018

Since 1999, Raising A Reader has been working with schools and families to build literacy among our youngest kids. Kristen Anderson, senior manager of program and affiliate stewardship for Raising A Reader, is joined by Nora Guerra, director of educational innovation and development for Oak Grove School District in San Jose, in a discussion about how the program has worked locally.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

California Senator Bob Hertzberg: Reforming the System of Traffic Fines Apr 11, 2018

California pays the highest traffic fines in the country. For many, these fines can lead to cycles of debt. A recent report has shown that these fines disproportionately affect low income communities and communities of color. California Senator Bob Hertzberg joins Gina Dalma, vice president of government relations for SVCF in a conversation about how California got here and how reforms are beginning to help individuals. The discussion closes with advice from Sen. Hertzberg on how organizations can effectively push for policy reform.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Can We Bridge the Gap Between Early Learning and Elementary School? Mar 28, 2018

A significant number of Silicon Valley students enter Kindergarten not well-prepared or ready to learn, and when kids arrive behind, they stay behind. Erica Hays, preschool director and elementary school principal for the La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District, and Kelli Leavell with Making a Difference join SVCF's Christine Thorsteinson, PreK-3 program and research coordinator, to talk about early learning being vital to all future learning. Hays shares community-level examples from Pescadero.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Senator Scott Wiener: How to Address California's Housing Challenges Mar 14, 2018

Housing may be the most pressing issue facing quality of life in Silicon Valley today, and it has become a top issue of concern in polls statewide. Senator Scott Wiener discusses statewide housing challenges with Gina Dalma, vice president of government relations at SVCF. The state is currently short nearly four million homes to meet current need. Senator Wiener talks causes, sensitivities--like displacement--and possible resolutions.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Young Children and Tech: Comparing Local and National Data Feb 28, 2018

The technology that surrounds our young kids may be relatively new, but it has quickly become ubiquitous. In this episode, Michelle Sioson Hyman, senior program officer for the Center for Early Learning at SVCF, compares local data with national trends reported by Lisa Guernsey, deputy director of the Education Policy Program and director of the Learning Technologies project at New America. The two share recommendations for actions that can help mitigate technological inequities among our children. Read the full report: https://www.siliconvalleycf.org/sites/default/files/publications/cel-tech-report-2017.pdf

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

California's Next Governor Should Be a Champion for Young Kids Feb 14, 2018

Early childhood education is top of mind for California voters. Choose Children is SVCF’s initiative to inform and educate the 2018 candidates for California governor about the importance of prioritizing public investments in young children as part of their campaign platforms.

In this episode, Avo Makdessian, vice president and director of SVCF’s Center for Early Learning and Pete Weldy, the Center’s external relations officer, discuss the progress of the initiative so far and what it hopes to achieve in the coming months.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

What Philanthropy Means in 2018 Feb 02, 2018

What does philanthropy mean to us in 2018? Dr. Emmett Carson, President and CEO of SVCF discusses the state of philanthropy as we begin a new year, with a new tax plan. Learn how SVCF plans to continue to tackle the region's most challenging issues through public policy and grantmaking in 2018.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

The Fight For Water In East Palo Alto Jan 31, 2018

In today’s episode, Vu-Bang Nguyen, program officer for SVCF, is interviewing key stakeholders involved with the fight for water in East Palo Alto in anticipation of the upcoming release of our report titled: East Palo Alto’s Water Crisis: History, Impacts and Opportunities.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Why Focus on Collaboration? Merging Two Nonprofits to Help Silicon Valley Children Jan 17, 2018

This episode explores the motivations, challenges and opportunities that exist when two Bay Area nonprofits merge. Our speakers will discuss how TeenForce and Silicon Valley Children’s Fund merged to become the new Silicon Valley Children’s Fund. The merger of the two organizations is the outcome of Microsoft’s YouthSpark program, which creates collaboration among participating nonprofits.

The four speakers are Eli Latimerlo, manager of corporate responsibility at SVCF; Jakob Rosenberg, philanthropy and civic engagement coordinator at Microsoft Bay Area; John Hogan, founder and former CEO of TeenForce; and Elise Cutini, CEO of Silicon Valley Children’s Fund.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Buena Vista Mobile Home Park: Amid Skyrocketing Real Estate Costs in Silicon Valley, How One Community Was Saved Jan 03, 2018

The episode features Vu-Bang Nguyen, program officer for SVCF, Nadia Aziz from the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley and Maria Martinez from the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park. They describe the struggle to save a small, low-income community in Palo Alto.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Giving at the Holidays: Reflections on Select Local Nonprofit Organizations by SVCF’s Donor Experience Team Dec 22, 2017

This episode features Misti Sangani, our chief donor experience and engagement officer, and Leah Wilberding, a philanthropy advisor at SVCF.They discuss a some local organizations that have been supported by SVCF donors, are making a positive impact in our community and could benefit from support to further their work.

The organizations include the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, Camp Kesem, Presidio Tunnel Tops, Project WeHOPE, Sojourn to the Past, Thorn, and Valley Medical Center Foundation.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Into Your Company Dec 20, 2017

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal set of goals, targets and indicators that United Nations member states are usingto frame their agendas and political policies over the next 15 years. There is a significant movement for the private sector toalso adopt the SDG framework and become key actors role in achieving these goals through their corporate responsibility efforts.

On Dec. 13, 2017, to celebrate the launch of its new report about how companies can approach the SDGs within their businesses, Silicon Valley Community Foundation hosted a moderated discussion among corporate responsibility leaders about their experiences integrating the SDGs into their companies. The discussion was moderated by Stuart Burden, vice president of corporate responsibility at SVCF. Panelists are:Debra McLaughlin, senior manager, corporate responsibility, Symantec; Emily Stone, co-founder and CEO, Uncommon Cacao; and Mary Mazzoni, freelance journalist and sustainability author.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Imagining the Possibilities: SVCF’s Anniversary Grant Program Dec 06, 2017

Valerie Cuevas, interim vice president of strategic initiatives and grantmaking at SVCF, discusses the 10 nonprofit projects that received anniversary grants from SVCF in 2017.

SVCF’s 10th Anniversary Grants program awarded a total of $1 million in the following focus areas: economic security; education; immigration; building strong communities and civic engagement using technology.

Valerie also shares her thoughts about how the anniversary grant recipients will have an impact on their communities.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Providing Services to Immigrants Facing Challenges in San Mateo County Nov 22, 2017

Immigrants represent more than one third of the population in San Mateo County. In this episode, Manuel Santamaría, interim chief community impact officer at SVCF, speaks with Jasmine Hartenstein, coordinator of the Immigrant Support Services Department with the Office of Community Affairs in San Mateo County. They provide a look at how the county provides services to immigrant residents –from resources for legal and translation services to emergency food assistance –while helping them transition into the local community, and they offer an overview of the county’s immigrant population.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

SVCF’s New Grantmaking Strategies Nov 08, 2017

In this episode, Valerie Cuevas, interim vice president of strategic initiatives and grantmaking at SVCF, provides an overview of SVCF’s five new grantmaking strategies. These strategies were approved by the SVCF board of directors earlier in 2017. Valerie will also discuss how these strategies focus on crucial needs in the community, and are issues upon which SVCF’s grantmaking can make a significant positive impact.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Protecting and Upholding the Civil Rights of All People with Anthony Romero and Jonathan Greenblatt Oct 25, 2017

This episode was recorded Oct. 12, 2017, at SVCF’s

Regional Meeting event, held at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

The panelists are Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, and Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League. The discussion is moderated by Dr. Emmett Carson, CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation. In today’s national environment, there are mounting concerns about protecting the civil rights of immigrants and refugees, about the spike in hate crimes, and about threats to women’s rights and the rights of the LGBTQ community. These speakers are uniquely qualified to discuss these issues and address how the civil rights of all people can be protected.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Supporting Arts and Culture Through Corporate Responsibility Efforts Sep 27, 2017

With our new Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.

In Episode 21, SVCF corporate responsibility manager Blessing Okorougo speaks with Julie Lata, program manager in global community affairs – Applied Materials, and Jessica Erskine, head of U.S. consumer communications at StubHub Foundation.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

On the Table: Silicon Valley Residents Gather Over A Meal To Talk Housing Sep 13, 2017

On the Table will bring together thousands of Silicon Valley residents to have a meal, talk about our region's housing challenges — and think about what we can do to solve them. In this episode, Manuel Santamaria, SVCF’s Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Grantmaking, and Mauricio Palma, SVCF Director of Initiatives and Special Projects, describe On the Table. It’s a one - day event on November 15th that will feature meal-time discussions all over San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, and it’s a chance for people to make new connections and inspire action. Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Why California’s Next Governor Must Support Young Children and Families Aug 30, 2017

California is failing its children, but the next governor could change that. Avo Makdessian, vice president and director of the Center for Early Learning at SVCF, and Pete Weldy, external relations officer with the Center for Early Learning, discuss Choose Children 2018. This SVCF-led initiative will inform, educate and engage the 2018 candidates for California governor about the importance of prioritizing public investment in young children in their campaign platforms.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Can Technology Improve Relations Between Communities of Color and Law Enforcement? Aug 16, 2017

Gina Dalma, vice president of government relations for SVCF, and Kona Shen, co-founder and CEO of My90, discuss how technology is being used to help strengthen relations between communities of color and law enforcement agencies in the cities of San Jose and Santa Clara, California. My90 is a text-message-based community feedback system. Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Public Transit: Challenges to Access and Affordability in San Mateo County Aug 03, 2017

It’s no secret that getting around Silicon Valley using public transit is tough. SVCF program officer Vu-Bang Nguyen and representatives from Youth Leadership Institute, one of SVCF’s grantee organizations, discuss the history of public transit in our region and the challenges to access and affordability of public transit in San Mateo County specifically. Youth Leadership Institute speakers are Fahad Qurashi and Montzerrat Garcia.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Creating Affordable Housing in Silicon Valley: Policymaker panel moderated by Emmett Carson Jul 19, 2017

As part of Affordable Housing Week 2017 in Santa Clara County, a distinguished panel of policymakers discuss ways to address the lack of affordable housing in Silicon Valley. Moderated by SVCF CEO Emmett Carson, the panel includes State Senator Scott Wiener, Assemblymember Ash Kalra, Carolyn Coleman of the League of California Cities, and Paul Nieto of the Building Industry Association of the Bay Area.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

A “Nail-Biting” Journey to Affordable Housing: Measure A’s Success in Santa Clara County Jul 05, 2017

Erica Wood of SVCF speaks with Supervisor Cindy Chavez about what happened to enable the passage of Measure A for affordable housing last November in Santa Clara County. This $950 million obligation bond is a big deal for the community, as housing and homelessness has been targeted as a top issue with voters recently.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Strengthening Community Trust in Policing in San Jose, Part 2 Jun 21, 2017

Episode 14 is a two-part podcast that covers the highlights of a dynamic event held on Jan. 21, 2017 – the Community Trust in Policing Forum, held at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose. The event was a collaboration between SVCF and the San Francisco 49ers and featured speeches, panel discussions and group sessions that allowed our community to debate the status of trust in policing in our community.

Part 2 features the second half of the day's events. We will start the podcast by hearing parts of a panel discussion featuring moderator Dr. William Armaline, director of the San Jose State University human rights program; Torrey Smith, philanthropist and former wide receiver with the San Francisco 49ers; and Dr. Harry Edwards, sociologist and founder of the Institute for the Study of Sport, Society and Social Change at San Jose State University. Walter Katz, then independent police auditor of San Jose (who has since moved to a new position as the Independent Police Auditor of Chicago), describes the role of his office in overseeing complaints against the city's police department.

We move to another panel discussion with Regina Alexander from PACT; Russell Bloom, the independent police auditor for BART; Chandra Brooks, a Santa Clara County commissioner and member of the California Police Transparency Coalition; and Austin Swift, program manager at Google.org. Finally, we wrap up with a few words from SVCF CEO and President Emmett Carson.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Strengthening Community Trust in Policing in San Jose, Part 1 Jun 21, 2017

Episode 14 is a two-part podcast that covers the highlights of a dynamic event held on Jan. 21, 2017 – the Community Trust in Policing Forum, held at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose. The event was a collaboration between SVCF and the San Francisco 49ers and featured speeches, panel discussions and group sessions that allowed our community to debate the status of trust in policing in our community.

In Part 1, we hear from Walter Katz, independent police auditor of San Jose; Sam Liccardo, mayor of the City of San Jose; Jed York, CEO of the San Francisco 49ers; Emmett Carson, CEO and president of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation; and Chief Eddie Garcia of the San Jose Police Department.

Part 1 also features a discussion with a panel of community leaders: Panteha Saban, deputy public defender in Santa Clara County; Priya Murthy, policy and advocacy director for SIREN (Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network); Peter Ortiz, East San Jose native and school board member for Mount Pleasant School District in San Jose; and Jesus Ruiz, from People Acting in Community Together (PACT).

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Why Third Graders’ Literacy is Vital to Silicon Valley’s Future Jun 07, 2017

Today, Avo Makdessian, vice president and director of SVCF's Center for Early Learning, and Andrea Jones, initiative officer for The Big Lift, talk about The Big Lift program. The Big Lift is an initiative aiming to rapidly raise the literacy of our third-graders here in Silicon Valley.

Right now, only 50 percent of third graders are reading at grade level - which has stark implications for their education as they get older. Avo and Andrea discuss how the Big Lift is a four-part, comprehensive initiative that focuses on providing high-quality preschool, attendance, the summer gap, and family engagement.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Who Are the New Givers and How Are They Different? May 24, 2017

In this episode, we hear from SVCF CEO and President Emmett Carson on a panel about the new book, The Givers: Wealth, Power, and Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age.. Alongside David Callahan, the book's author, Emmett discusses the developing style of philanthropy pursued by some of the world's wealthiest people and how it can help fuel a Renaissance of philanthropy.

Emmett and David discuss how the huge influx of wealth to donors is creating a more diversified, decentralized style of philanthropy. Rather than fitting in with the traditional large foundation approach of the past, donors today are going deep into important issues and forming partnerships with the foundations they help fund.

They also take audience questions and debate the realities of wealth being concentrated among so few people, and how entrepreneurship is shaping new philanthropic efforts.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Immigrant Services and California’s Due Process for All Act May 10, 2017

On the show today we're hearing from our VP of Government Relations Gina Dalma and Zulma Maciel from the City of San Jose's Office of Immigrant Affairs. Gina and Zulma have a conversation about the current fears in the Silicon Valley immigrant community, for undocumented and visa-holding immigrant families alike.

They wrap up by covering SB6, the critical bill that would implement true due process for all people in California courts and would go a long way to fund and provide legal services for immigrant families dealing with legal and immigration issues.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

The South Coast Report with Erica Wood May 03, 2017

This week our chief community impact officer, Erica Wood, gives us an introduction to SVCF’s new report, San Mateo County’s Forgotten South Coast Residents.

Erica shares how the report came to fruition, and why it's just the beginning of the great work that community partners and SVCF will do in the region. She also shares the stories of South Coast residents and their experiences with housing shortages, education barriers and limited access to healthcare.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

International Grantmaking Apr 26, 2017

Today we're joined by three members of SVCF’s Grants, Gifts and Compliance team — D. Lea Rauscher, vice president; Christine Morissette, senior director of grants administration; and Damon James, international grants administration officer — for a conversation about the ins and outs of international grantmaking.

SVCF grants millions of dollars to international charities, but it's by no means a simple process. The participants outline the collaborative approach SVCF takes when working with donors who want to make international donations. They also discuss the importance of gathering information about international organizations and setting grant agreements with grantees.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Accounting Changes for 2017 with Paul Velaski (SVCF) and Liz Dollar (Moss Adams) Apr 12, 2017

Today we're joined by SVCF COO and CFO Paul Velaski and Moss Adams Partner Liz Dollar to discuss the Financial Accounting Standards Board's updates to the accounting standards for nonprofit entities.

Paul and Liz walk us through some of the major changes to reporting, which by and large should have a positive effect on the nonprofit sector. They cover early adoption of these standards, how disclosure requirements will change, and why accounting should be easier thanks to these updates.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

How Diverse Investment Managers Improve Communities Mar 29, 2017

In episode 7, Bert Feuss (Senior vice president of investments) and Sue McAllister (marketing director) discuss SVCF's efforts to increase the number of minority and women investment managers at SVCF. Because SVCF values inclusion and diversity in all aspects of our business, we had to take a hard look at our investment practices and acknowledge that there was room for improvement.

Bert and Sue talk about why this effort has been such a great success, including increased investment in communities that other investment managers overlook. They walk us through the process of hiring consultants and finding talented women- and minority-owned investment managers — and they look at the excellent results we've had so far. Bert and Sue also discuss steps that other nonprofits or foundations can take to increase diversity in the hiring process.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Ban the Box: Why Organizations Are Removing Questions About Criminal History from Job Applications Mar 15, 2017

SVCF and other organizations have implemented a "ban the box" policy for hiring. Removing the checkbox inquiring about applicants' criminal history is intended to make hiring more inclusive for people who have had interactions with the criminal justice system.

Gina D. Dalma (SVCF’s vice president of government relations) and Daiva Natochy (SVCF’s vice president of talent, recruitment and culture) talk about how unequal treatment by the criminal justice system often puts young people of color and those in lower socioeconomic classes at a disadvantage, because they are more likely to have had interactions with law enforcement. Gina and Daiva highlight research that demonstrates the effectiveness of banning the box and discuss why it's so important to welcome those with criminal histories into our organizations and businesses.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

How Early-Stage Companies Can Engage in Social Responsibility Mar 01, 2017

Welcome to Episode 5, in which Maeve Miccio, SVCF’s vice president of corporate responsibility, interviews Director of Corporate Responsibility Liz Lipton-McCombie. Maeve and Liz discuss SVCF's efforts to support startups and large companies alike in their efforts to strengthen social responsibility.

SVCF recently completed a report called “Starting with Purpose: How Startups can Use Social Responsibility to Deliver Purpose and Profit.” Our goal was to provide a comprehensive resource for companies that plan to integrate social responsibility and philanthropy into their work, through volunteering, charitable giving, and other efforts. Maeve and Liz give us an overview of how the report was compiled, some of the most interesting discoveries, and some actionable takeaways.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Early Childhood Learning and Digital Media: What Should Parents Know? Feb 15, 2017

Today we're featuring a conversation with Avo Makdessian, SVCF’s vice president and director of the Center for Early Learning, and Michelle Sioson Hyman, senior early learning officer. Avo and Michelle discuss what the Center for Early Learning does, as well as their recent research on how technology and digital media affect young children.

Michelle talks about some of the foundational knowledge in the field and says parents don't have to restrict their children from technology entirely. We also touch on how developers can help solve the widening disparity between families who have access to quality digital media at an early age and those who do not.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

SVCF's 10th Anniversary Grantmaking Goals and Special Opportunities with Manuel Santamaria and Valerie Cuevas Feb 01, 2017

Today our host is Manuel Santamaria, SVCF’s vice president of strategic initiatives and grantmaking. In the first half of the episode, Manuel describes the grantmaking process that has served SVCF well over the past 10 years. He outlines the four “buckets” we aim to serve: economic security, building strong communities, education, and immigration.

Manuel also talks about how the grantmaking process is going to change to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Manuel then welcomes Valerie Cuevas onto the show to talk about the special anniversary grants we will be awarding throughout the year.

Valerie is a senior program officer and the leader of our 10-year anniversary request for grant proposals. She talks about why we’re focusing on innovative ideas with our anniversary grants, and she puts out the call to anyone with a big idea to apply for a grant.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

How a Bay Area Transit Map Will Increase Ridership, Improve Public Health, and Benefit the Economy with Arielle Fleisher Jan 18, 2017

Arielle Fleisher is on the podcast today on behalf of SPUR, a member-supported nonprofit that supports great planning, development, and government in the San Francisco Bay Area. Arielle and Vu-Bang Nguyen (SVCF’s program officer for regional planning) discuss the need for a single map that includes information on all our transit systems.

Arielle outlines the positive effects the project will have, including increasing communication between operators, riders, and designers in the planning phase; improving public health by making transit more accessible; and benefitting our economy by making our transportation more tourist-friendly.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

Modern Fundraising and How to Gain Support for Silicon Valley Causes, with Emmett Carson Dec 26, 2016

Welcome to the very first episode of the SVCF Philanthropy Now Podcast! In this inaugural episode, we kick things off with a keynote address by a seasoned professional in the Silicon Valley fundraising scene, Emmett Carson, SVCF’s CEO.

Emmett has been a leading member of the local fundraising and philanthropic community for 10 years, and he delivered this address to the top fundraising professionals in the country at this year’s Association of Fundraising Professionals Symposium.

In it, he highlights the challenges that Silicon Valley fundraisers face and talks in real terms about the situation, and what organizations need to understand to effectively gain support for their causes.

Access the full show notes at siliconvalleycf.org

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