Destination: Home is a key organization leading the way in ending homelessness in Silicon Valley. Through powerful cross-sector partnerships with Santa Clara County, private corporations and other community-based nonprofits, Destination: Home is a pioneer creating systemic change in our region. In this episode, SVCF Executive Vice President for Community Action, Policy, and Strategy Gina Dalma is joined by leaders from Destination: Home. Destination: Home CEO Jennifer Loving and Board Member Claudine Sipili, who also sits on the Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB) as well as Director of Cit ..read more

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 speak with SVCF Philanthropy Advisor and Donor Circle for the Arts leader Tracy Wingrove. Listen to learn about the donor circle and arts organizations’ roles as our communities strive to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, and best p ..read more

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 undertaken to build community networks, increase representation and to affect solutions to the problems that impact them and their families. In this episode, we hear ..read more

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 highest pockets of poverty in the region. With over 60 percent of Gilroy’s population being Latinx, the need for uplifting these communities is dire. In this episode, Edwin Diaz, a retired educator and founding member of Latino ..read more

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 advocating for full nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people nationwide. In a discussion facilitated by SVCF Vice President of Corporate and Foundation Relations Stuart Burden, these three leader ..read more

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 CEO Nicole Taylor is joined by Akonadi Foundation President Lateefah Simon in a conversation reflecting on the meaning of Juneteenth, the advancements in the racial justice within the past year and ..read more

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 strive to advance equity in coastal communities. Anita Rees, Executive Director of PRC, and Rita Mancera, Executive Director of Puente and SVCF Community Advisory Council leader, join SVCF Philanth ..read more

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) Founding President Sonal Shah in a discussion about how this new foundation aims to address the myriad challenges AAPI communities face. Launched in May 2021, TAAF provides funding and resources to b ..read more

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 President of Strategy and External Relations Sachi Yoshii. These four leaders discuss the current events and issues AAPI communities are facing. Drawing on unique personal experiences and how their organi ..read more

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. Listen to hear how impact investing differs from traditional grantmaking, and how this philanthropic tool leverages financial capital and human resources to get important community projects off the ground. You w ..read more