Silicon Valley Community Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) is the biggest community foundation in America, and a major player on the Bay Area's funding scene. It prioritizes a range of issues, including economic security, education, immigrant integration, regional planning and community development.
IP TAKE: This is an accessible funder with a straightforward grant application process. The foundation accepts unsolicited proposals at any time of year if they are submitted through its website. However, grantseekers should be aware that each program has its own deadline, so it is worthwhile to check the website often to be sure you don’t miss anything. The foundation partners with individuals, institutions, and other organizations.
PROFILE: Established in 2007, Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) has become the largest community foundation in the world. It seeks to “advance innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems.” The foundation also facilitates philanthropy “[t]hrough visionary leadership, strategic grantmaking and world-class experiences” in the form of donor partnerships that “strengthen the common good locally and throughout the world.” Since its inception, it has acquired $13.5 billion in assets. SVCF funds immigration issues, STEM and K-12 education, financial stability, leadership, housing and transit, Silicon Valley, civic participation and other interests.
While SVCF makes a variety of grants, all of its grantmaking uses a racial justice and equity lens. It prioritizes work centered on what it calls “three core impact areas.” These include advancing financial stability, early childhood development and housing. It also funds broadly via its Community Action Grants Program, as well as additional select programs. See previous grantees listed by year here.
In addition to its core impact areas, the foundation also supports Arts & Culture, California Black Freedom Fund, Environment, Equity Forward, Faith, Health, Immigration, Journalism, LatinXCEL Fund, Movement- and Power-Building, and Neighborhoods.
Many of these grants are by invitation only.
SVCF also offers limited scholarships “for high school seniors, college and graduate students, re-entry students, and vocational and technical school students.” It awards almost $5 million in scholarships annually. The application cycle for these typically opens in December of the year preceding the award.
Important Grant Details
SVCF makes large grants that prioritize Silicon Valley and California. National and international causes are occasionally funded. Information about grantees and grant amounts is available at the foundation’s financial page. SVCF’s grant application page offers concise directions, but applicants must stay abreast of evolving deadlines since the foundation releases requests for proposals throughout the year. The application process is completed via the foundation’s online portal, so applicants must register their organization on the foundation's webpage. Grant applications are no longer accepted through email or postal mail.
General questions can be directed to the foundation staff at grants@siliconvalleycf.org.
PEOPLE:
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