SVCF Philanthropy Now Podcast

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...

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...

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 high...

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 advoca...

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 CE...

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 s...

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) Fou...

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 Presiden...

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.

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 s...

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, ...

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 Coun...

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...

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 p...

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 lea...

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 Comm...

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 me...

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.