Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund - SV2

EXPERIENTIAL GRANTMAKING & IMPACT INVESTING - SV2 conducts grant rounds in which SV2 Partners (donors) gain experiential education about specific social or environmental issue areas and strategic philanthropy. SV2 Partners pool their charitable contributions and then work together to identify and select high-potential Grantees and Impact Investees from among local nonprofits and social ventures. Grantees receive unrestricted cash grants in order to scale their ability to achieve their missions and contribute to a Bay Area and world where everyone thrives.In 2021-22, SV2 made four multi-year, general operating support grants in the areas of economic inclusion and education. SV2 also conducted its seventh year of impact investing, in which Partners performed due diligence and selected three mission-driven social ventures and one mission-driven venture capital fund in which to make investments. The SV2 Teens Program, in which teenage children of SV2 Partners learn about local issues and the nonprofits addressing them, awarded two grants to nonprofits focused on environmental education. Data suggests that, as a result of the experiential grantmaking program and other learning SV2 provides, 94% of Partners increased their level of knowledge about local community needs and solutions, 87% of Partners have increased confidence in practicing effective giving, and 72% become more effective social impact leaders.

FIELD LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY BUILDING - SV2 extends its impact through field leadership (speaking, writing, social media), hosting major community-wide events, spearheading regular communications across our network, and building strategic partnerships with social impact-focused organizations across the Bay Area and around the world.

LEARNING PROGRAMS: PARTNER PHILANTHROPY EDUCATION AND GRANTEE LEARNING - In addition to learning-oriented grant rounds, SV2 hosts regular learning events at which Partners and Grantees/Impact Investees build knowledge and skills for working in the social impact space. They hear from social sector and community leaders who share their experiences and lessons learned. In-depth workshops on various topicsfor example, evidence-based pathways to education equity; investing in climate solutions across asset classes; values-aligned investing; diversity, equity, inclusion, and belongingprovide new skills, understanding of local issues, and opportunities for SV2 community members to connect with and learn from one another. All Partners and Grantees/Investees are invited to participate.