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DONOR ENGAGEMENT

Silicon Valley Community Foundation offers a broad range of services to help our donor partners learn about community issues and make the greatest possible impact through their charitable giving.

We appreciate and admire the work you do to make our community a better place. From providing vital support to charitable organizations, to serving on nonprofit boards, to volunteering in the community, our fundholders are truly making a difference in our region and throughout the world. To help you be effective and efficient in your philanthropy, we offer:

  • Personal service. Our donor engagement team is available to help with all of your philanthropic needs, from researching your favorite causes and nonprofits, to helping you to make the most of your charitable giving. Read our Customer Service Commitment for more information on our commitment to world-class donor services and the donor bill of rights and code of ethics.
  • DonorConnect. Our online portal allows donors who have established funds at Silicon Valley Community Foundation to recommend grants to charities, check fund balances, download fund statements and investment performance reports, review gift and grant history and make fund additions or other gifts online. We also bring great ideas to you through Community Connections, our online forum featuring opportunities to support exceptional local nonprofits that have been vetted by the foundation.
  • Educational and networking events. Throughout the year we hold special events, receptions and educational workshops exclusively for community foundation fundholders.
  • News and updates. Our e-newsletter will help keep you informed of the latest philanthropic news, including legislative or regulatory changes that may affect your charitable giving. We also include feature stories about how other community foundation donors and nonprofits are making an extraordinary impact in our region and beyond.

Some of our special donor offerings and partnerships include:

  • Community Connections Funding Opportunities:
    Silicon Valley Community Foundation's matchmaking program, Community Connections Funding Opportunities provides our donors with interesting, innovative funding ideas matching their areas of interest. Community Connections enables donors to review – without concern of solicitation – the most current ideas, projects or critical needs in our community. Donors share their interests through personal meetings with our staff, donor seminars and a donor interest survey completed when you establish your fund. On an ongoing basis, staff posts grant proposal summaries on DonorConnect and donors can elect to support these featured programs and projects. A full listing of all projects can be found online through DonorConnect.
  • Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund (SV2): If you’re interested in meeting with other philanthropists, pooling resources to invest in the local community, and being involved in a hands-on way, then the SV2 giving circle may be right for you. SV2 is a partnership of individuals who pool their funds with two distinct goals in mind:
    • Local impact through building the capacity of nonprofit organizations by giving both money and time, a model known as “venture philanthropy”; and
    • Deepening knowledge of the issues facing Silicon Valley and growing an understanding of the array of organizations addressing those issues. For more information, visit www.sv2.org.
  • Philanthropy Incubator Silicon Valley helps people give their time, talents and financial support with maximum impact. The Philanthropy Incubator helps philanthropists create their own brand of philanthropy by offering an array of learning opportunities and personalized consulting services. Programs are geared for donors, foundation trustees and staff, professional advisors and their clients. Membership is offered at a discount for Silicon Valley Community Foundation fundholders. For more information, visit www.philanthropyincubator-sv.org.
  • The Center for Venture Philanthropy at Silicon Valley Community Foundation is a forum for community donors to collaborate and drive positive change in our communities. Using a venture capital model, local investors base "social venture funding" on results-oriented business plans focused on specific, critical issues. Click here to learn more.

For more information or questions about any of our services for foundation donors, please contact us.