By the Numbers
Advancing Innovative Philanthropic Solutions to Make Our Region & World a Better Place
$1.26 billion
in grants from all types of funds to local, national and global charities
14,897
number of grants awarded
Top causes, in millions
Local: San Mateo and Santa Clara counties
$177 million in grants
Donors supported a wide range of local nonprofit organizations, from education programs to legal services groups and more.
Top 10 causes this funding supported:
Education – $98M
Human Services – $20.9M
General Nonprofit Support – $9.2M
Health – $8.4M
Youth Development – $7.9M
Arts & Culture – $6.4M
Food Security – $5.8M
Community Development – $3.4M
Other – $3.1M
Public Safety – $3M
Top causes, in millions
Bay Area¹
$302 million in grants
The Bay Area faces complex challenges, spurring SVCF donors to support a wide range of charitable causes across the region.
¹This figure excludes grants made to San Mateo and Santa Clara nonprofits.
Top 10 causes this funding supported:
Education – $69.1M
Health – $49.4M
Sciences – $35.8M
General Nonprofit Support – $25.7M
Religion – $21.9M
Community Development – $18.8M
Arts & Culture – $18M
Civic Participation – $14.5M
Environment – $11.2M
Human Services – $8.3M
Top causes, in millions
Statewide²
$80.7 million in grants
SVCF donors supported a variety of charitable causes across California.
²This figure excludes grants made to charities in nine Bay Area counties.
Top 10 causes this funding supported:
Education – $29.9M
Arts & Culture – $7.9M
Health – $7.7M
Animal Welfare – $7.2M
General Nonprofit Support – $4.5M
Civic Participation – $4M
Human Services – $3.6M
Environment – $3.4M
Community Development – $2.6M
Housing and Transportation – $1.6M
Top causes, in millions
National³
$620 million in grants
SVCF donors supported a variety of charitable causes across the United States.
³This figure excludes grants made to California charities.
Top 10 causes this funding supported:
Education – $172M
Arts & Culture – $114M
General Nonprofit Support – $81.5M
International Development – $44.2M
Civic Participation – $38.9M
Community Development – $28.6M
Health – $26M
Human Services- $23.3M
Environment – $23.2M
Public Safety – $14.3M
Top causes, in millions
International4
$82 million in grants
From Mexico to India to South Africa, 72 countries received international grants from SVCF in 2019.
4This figure excludes grants made to U.S. charities and nonprofits.
Top 10 causes this funding supported:
Education – $26M
General Nonprofit Support – $17.3M
Animal Welfare – $13.6M
Sciences – $5.5M
Religion – $5.1M
Health – $4.5M
Arts & Culture – $2.4M
International Development – $2.1M
Human Services – $1.3M
Environment – $1.2M
$17.8M
in community support
Discretionary grants and disbursements are from funds directed by SVCF staff and board. They go only to nonprofit organizations that serve residents of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The stories below provide examples of work done thanks to SVCF-directed grants and initiatives.
$8.8M
from grantmaking strategies
Our grants aim to elevate livelihoods:
$9M
from special project initiatives
Our initiatives seek to promote equity:
Gifts
69
new charitable funds created of all types for donors
SVCF received $1.4 billion in charitable contributions in 2019. We are grateful to our individual, family, nonprofit and corporate donors for their confidence in us as an effective steward and partner.
Bequests, charitable remainder trusts, life estates and outright gifts to SVCF’s Community Endowment Fund provide an important source of permanent charitable capital that helps meet the needs of our community.
Advised Funds 2019:
Fund Size
<$25K
$25K – $100K
$100K – $1M
$1M+
Scholarships
Through scholarships established with SVCF by individuals, families and organizations, we have awarded nearly $20.5 million to students since 2007.
637
scholarships awarded for the 2019-2020 academic year
$2.66M
total amount of scholarships awarded
Operating Expenses
$26.8M
total operating expenses
Program Services: $12.8M
Management & General Operations: $10.5M
Fundraising & Development: $3.5M