Silicon Valley Community Foundation Opens for Business
Organization announces new headquarters and key appointments

Following the landmark merger of Community Foundation Silicon Valley and Peninsula Community Foundation, which was finalized in late 2006, Silicon Valley Community Foundation is now formally open for business, creating one of the largest community foundations in the nation, with more than $1.5 billion in assets under management and 1,400 philanthropic funds.

With the launch, the community foundation is also announcing its future headquarters in Mountain View and the appointment of several key leadership positions.

This is an exciting time for the community foundation, as the organization marks a new chapter for philanthropy in Silicon Valley. “Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the privilege to experience firsthand the boundless energy and creative ideas that make this region the nation’s capital for innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Emmett D. Carson, Ph.D., CEO and president. “I look forward to channeling that energy and creativity to engage the nonprofit, public and private sectors and pioneer a new standard for civic engagement.”

The community foundation’s first headquarters will be located at 2440 West El Camino Real (near North San Antonio Road) in Mountain View. The community foundation has signed a 10-year lease and will occupy the second and third floors of the building. Silicon Valley Community Foundation expects to move into the headquarters this summer and will maintain offices and community meeting space in both San José and San Mateo to continue to serve its donors and clients in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

“We are delighted to have found a location that has space for growth and will allow easy access to amenities and transportation routes for our staff, donors and community members,” said Carson. “Like our existing sites, the new headquarters will have community conference space where we will hold workshops and events for nonprofits and donors. In addition, the space will be available to community groups.”

Carson also announced key leadership positions for the organization, which include:

• Peter Hero, senior advisor, former president of CFSV.
  
• Vera Bennett, chief financial officer, former CFO and interim CEO at PCF.
  
• Mari Ellen Reynolds, chief of staff, former director of development at CFSV.
  
• Sandi Hutchings, chief administrative officer, former controller at PCF.
  
• Candice Balmaceda, vice president, finance/controller, former director of finance at CFSV
  
• Ellen Clear, vice president, grantmaking, former vice president of community programs at PCF.
  
• Ash McNeely, vice president, donor engagement, former vice president of philanthropic services at PCF.

New elements of the foundation are highlighted through the organization’s website, www.siliconvalleycf.org. Donors, nonprofits, professional advisors, community leaders and individuals will find the new site an invaluable resource to learn about the community foundation’s mission, staff, grantmaking, ways to give, and innovative solutions to the region’s issues. Fundholders will also have access to DonorConnect, the community foundation’s online tool for managing advised funds. With DonorConnect, fundholders can recommend grants to charities, review investment summaries, find out about upcoming events, and contact staff.

Information on the new board of directors is also available on the website. The board is balanced between nine members from CFSV and nine from PCF. Greg Avis, founding managing partner of Summit Partners, is chairman of the board. Please visit the website for updates and a full list of board members.

Silicon Valley Community Foundation will continue the existing grantmaking programs of the parent foundations for the near time as it thoughtfully evaluates and plans future programs and initiatives. The community foundation’s goal is to be a leading voice and catalyst for innovative solutions to the region’s most pressing issues.