Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $1.54 billion (2024)
Decision Time: 8-10 weeks
Grant Range: $21,000 - $80,000 (Community Action Grants)
Average Grant: $30,000 (Community Action Grants)
Geographic Focus: San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, CA (local focus); also national and international
Budget Limit: Organisations with budgets over $3 million are not eligible for Community Action Grants

Contact Details

Main Office: 2440 El Camino Real, Suite 300 Mountain View, CA 94040

Phone: 650-450-5400 Website: www.svcf.org

Grant Inquiries: Email: applysvcfgrants@siliconvalleycf.org

General Donations: Email: donate@svcf.org

Overview

Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) was established in 2007 through the merger of Peninsula Community Foundation and Community Foundation Silicon Valley. As one of the largest community foundations in the United States, SVCF has averaged over $1 billion in grantmaking annually over the last five years. In 2024, the foundation granted $1.54 billion to more than 6,000 nonprofits and community organisations locally, across the country, and around the world, with $327 million directed specifically to Bay Area nonprofit organisations.

SVCF operates primarily through donor-advised funds, allowing individual donors to recommend how their charitable dollars are distributed. Under the leadership of President and CEO Nicole Taylor (appointed in November 2018), SVCF has shifted its strategic approach to centre equity and racial justice in all its work. The foundation's mission is to support strong and engaged communities building equity for Silicon Valley residents, addressing the region's housing crisis, childhood education gaps, and economic disparities through grantmaking, advocacy, research, and policy work.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Community Action Grants (Open Application)

Average grant: $30,000
Range: Up to $80,000 for organisations applying to multiple focus areas with exceptionally strong cases
Funding type: General operating support
Application method: Annual competitive process, one round per year
Application window: March 3-31 annually
Budget requirement: Organisations must have budgets under $3 million

Focus areas for Community Action Grants:

Arts & Culture - Strengthening social fabric, nurturing artistic expression, creating community-driven solutions
Environment - Building power of communities impacted by environmental disparities, supporting environmental policy participation
Faith & Neighbourhoods - Community-based initiatives
Health - Community-based, equity-driven solutions; improving access to care; culturally responsive mental health services
Local Journalism - Coverage of hyper-local issues in underserved communities, community-driven stories
Movement- and Power-Building - Amplifying voices of historically underrepresented communities

Strategic Initiatives (Invitation-Only)

Early Childhood Development - Access to care, education, and resources; strengthening early childhood infrastructure
Advancing Financial Stability - Equitable policy reforms, financial literacy, economic security, career development
Housing - Creating communities where everyone has a place to live; addressing housing challenges

Other Programmes:

Community Opportunity Fund - Time-sensitive community issues and innovative ideas
Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund - Immediate and long-term disaster recovery for 10-county Bay Area region
Community Lifeline Fund - Rapid-response support for food, housing, healthcare, legal services
LatinXCEL Fund - Supporting Latinx-led organisations
Equity Forward - Partnership-focused initiatives

Priority Areas

Organisations led by people of colour and allied organisations
Programmes with clear racial justice focus
Community-engaged programme design and implementation (community members in leadership roles)
Organisations serving San Mateo and Santa Clara counties
Smaller organisations (budgets under $3 million) for Community Action Grants
General operating support rather than project-specific funding

What They Don't Fund

Organisations with budgets over $3 million (for Community Action Grants)
Organisations that do not serve San Mateo or Santa Clara counties
Religious organisations unless the project serves the wider community without regard to religious beliefs
Strategic Initiatives and Special Project funds do not accept unsolicited proposals (invitation-only)

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Nicole Taylor (appointed November 2018)

Board Chair: Greta S. Hansen

Recent Board Additions:

John W. Thompson - Former Microsoft Chairman, over four decades in technology sector leadership
Adrian Ludwig - Tools for Humanity, cybersecurity expert (Atlassian, Google background)
David Chun - Corporate governance and board diversity expert
Archana Sathaye - Career spanning industry, academia, and nonprofits

Investment Committee: Advisory committee composed of board directors and community volunteers with deep investment expertise, assisting the board in fulfilling fiduciary responsibilities.

Leadership Philosophy: Nicole Taylor has been recognised as Inside Philanthropy's Community Foundation Leader of the Year and named to the Silicon Valley Business Journal Power 100. Her quotes reflect SVCF's approach:

"I want philanthropy to actually listen to the people who are on the ground doing the work, leading the work. And give them the resources and get out of the way... And I also want philanthropy to share their power with the very people they're trying to serve."

"All of this work has a race and equity lens to it and helping communities build and exercise their own power. It's about allowing people to chart their own path."

"The pandemic exacerbated all of the inequities that existed before and as we build back a better normal, we must keep that in mind through economic mobility, early childhood education, and economic justice... We need to build back a Silicon Valley that works for everyone, not just the folks in the top one percent."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Community Action Grants (Public Application Process):

Application Period: March 3-31 annually
Application Portal: applysvcfgrants.communityforce.com
Application Type: One application can cover up to two priority focus areas
Grant Request: Organisations do not specify a requested amount; SVCF determines award amounts based on review
Support Available: SVCF staff offer virtual office hours and email support (applysvcfgrants@siliconvalleycf.org) for programmatic, capacity-building, and technical questions

Required Application Materials:

Budget for current fiscal year
Demonstration of community engagement in programme design and implementation
For fiscally sponsored projects: sponsor agreement outlining roles/fees and advisory board member list

Strategic Initiatives and Special Projects:

Invitation-only; no unsolicited proposals accepted

Decision Timeline

Application closes: March 31 (11:59 a.m. Pacific Time)
Decision timeframe: 8-10 weeks after application closes
Announcement: Mid-June for March applications

Review Process:

SVCF staff assess alignment with eligibility criteria
Community advisory board provides feedback on staff recommendations
SVCF staff formulate final recommendations across all focus areas
SVCF leadership reviews all staff recommendations

Success Rates

While specific acceptance rates are not published, in 2024 SVCF awarded $4.6 million through Community Action Grants to 115 organisations, with an average grant of approximately $40,000 (note: the foundation states the typical average is $30,000, suggesting variation by year).

Reapplication Policy

Yes, organisations can reapply. All organisations that meet eligibility criteria can apply, even if they received funding in the previous year. Previous applicants may use an import tool to carry over prior responses, streamlining the reapplication process.

Application Success Factors

Based on SVCF's documented guidance and leadership statements, the following factors are critical:

1. Centre Racial Justice and Equity Organisations must demonstrate a clear focus on racial justice with a plan to centre the community they serve in leadership, design, and implementation of programmes. As Nicole Taylor emphasised, "Equity is part and parcel of our entire sector."

2. Community Leadership and Engagement SVCF strongly values organisations where community members are in leadership positions and drive programme design. This aligns with Taylor's philosophy: "I want philanthropy to actually listen to the people who are on the ground doing the work, leading the work."

3. Organisations Led by People of Colour Organisations led by people of colour and allied organisations are highly encouraged to apply. SVCF has made a strategic commitment to support organisations that amplify voices and agency of historically underrepresented communities.

4. General Operating Support Focus SVCF's Community Action Grants provide general operating support, recognising that unrestricted funding allows organisations to be most effective and responsive to community needs.

5. Collaborative Approach SVCF emphasises that grants are "a catalyst for systemic change" through equity and collaboration. Demonstrate how your organisation partners with others and works toward systems-level change.

6. Grassroots and Small Organisations Welcome With a budget cap of $3 million, SVCF is particularly accessible for smaller community-based nonprofits. The foundation explicitly supports grassroots organisations working directly in communities.

7. Multiple Focus Areas Organisations can apply to up to two priority areas in a single application. Those that make "exceptionally strong" cases in multiple areas may receive larger awards (up to $80,000 total).

8. Building Community Power Applications should demonstrate how the work helps communities "build and exercise their own power" and chart their own path, rather than imposing external solutions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Equity lens is non-negotiable - Every application must demonstrate how racial justice and equity are centred in your work, with community members driving decision-making
Small organisations are ideal candidates - With a $3 million budget cap, SVCF explicitly targets grassroots and community-based organisations
General operating support simplifies applications - Focus on your organisation's overall mission and impact rather than specific projects
Reapplication is encouraged - Previous applicants can reapply annually and use tools to import past responses
Geographic focus is strict - Must serve San Mateo or Santa Clara counties; organisations headquartered elsewhere must demonstrate significant local service or partnerships
One application window annually - Plan ahead for the March application period; there are no rolling deadlines
Take advantage of support - SVCF staff offer virtual office hours and email support; use these resources to strengthen your application
Don't specify an amount - SVCF determines award amounts based on review; focus on demonstrating strong need and impact instead

References

Research completed: December 16, 2025

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Start your 4-week free trial Learn More