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Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.5B
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1.54 billion (2024)
  • Total Assets: Over $11 billion
  • Decision Time: 8-10 weeks
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $80,000 (Community Action Grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties (Bay Area), with national and global reach

Contact Details

Website: https://www.svcf.org Email: info@siliconvalleycf.org Phone: 650-450-5400 Address: 2440 West El Camino Real, Mountain View, CA 94040

Note: EIN discrepancy exists - the provided EIN (36-6151670) does not match official records showing SVCF's EIN as 20-5205488.

Overview

Founded as the Community Foundation Silicon Valley in 2007 through the merger of several regional foundations, Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) has become the world's largest community foundation. With over $11 billion in assets, SVCF distributed $1.54 billion to more than 6,000 nonprofits in 2024, including $327 million directly to Bay Area organisations. Under the leadership of CEO Nicole Taylor since 2018, the foundation has centred its work on building equity and transforming systems, with a vision of "a community where everyone can lead financially secure, safe, and fulfilling lives." The foundation received significant recognition when Taylor was named to the TIME100 Philanthropy list, and the organisation continues to attract major gifts, including a $1.1 billion donation from Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Community Action Grants (Competitive, Annual Cycle)

  • Amount: Average $30,000; range $5,000-$45,000; exceptional multi-area applications up to $80,000
  • Focus: General operating support for organisations with budgets under $3 million
  • Geographic Scope: Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties
  • Application Method: Single annual cycle (typically in March), online portal
  • 2024 Impact: $4.6 million awarded to 115 organisations

Strategic Initiatives (Invitation-Only)

  • Early Childhood Development: Supporting access to quality early learning
  • Advancing Financial Stability: Building economic security and mobility
  • Housing: Addressing affordable housing availability

Special Purpose Funds

  • Equity Forward: Partnership fund for equity-focused work
  • LatinXCEL Fund: Supporting Latinx community organisations
  • Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund: Immediate crisis response
  • Immigration Legal Services: Supporting legal service collaboratives

Priority Areas

Core Impact Areas:

  • Economic Security/Financial Stability: Programmes advancing economic mobility for historically marginalised communities
  • Education: Early childhood development and education access ($508 million in 2023)
  • Housing: Affordable housing development and preservation
  • Immigration: Legal services, integration support, civic participation for immigrant communities (over one-third of regional residents are immigrants)

Community Action Grants Focus Areas:

  • Arts & Culture: Organisations strengthening social fabric and civic engagement
  • Environment: Climate action and environmental protection
  • Faith & Neighbourhoods: Faith-based community leadership and civic participation
  • Health: Mental health and health services ($1.6 billion in 2023)
  • Local Journalism: Supporting regional news coverage
  • Movement & Power-Building: Community organising and advocacy

Regional Planning: Promoting equitable smart-growth principles in land use and transportation (e.g., "You Choose Bay Area" initiative, Plan Bay Area collaboration)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's website does not explicitly list funding exclusions. However, Community Action Grants have specific eligibility requirements:

  • Organisations must have budgets under $3 million
  • Must serve Santa Clara and/or San Mateo Counties
  • Strategic initiatives accept applications by invitation only

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Nicole Taylor, President and CEO (since 2018)

  • Named to TIME100 Philanthropy list
  • Former roles include leadership at Kapor Centre for Social Impact
  • Key quote: "How do we play a role in having our communities here truly thrive, and the people who live in them thrive? That is the North Star for me."
  • On equity commitment: "Now is not the time to retreat. Now is not the time to walk away from communities of colour and communities that have faced systemic inequity for decades."
  • Strategic vision: "We need to build back a Silicon Valley that works for everyone, not just the folks in the top one per cent."

Marie D'Costa, Executive Vice President of Philanthropic Partnerships (appointed in 2024)

Moses Zapien, Executive Vice President of Community Action, Initiatives and Policy (appointed in 2024)

Nikhil Pillai, Vice President of Legal Affairs (appointed in 2024)

Kimy Ruiz Seitz, Vice President of Investment Operations (appointed in 2024)

Board of Directors

Greta Hansen, Chair (appointed in 2024)

John W. Thompson, Board Director (appointed in 2025)

  • Former Microsoft Chairman with over four decades of technology sector leadership
  • Previous CEO of Symantec and senior executive at IBM

Adrian Ludwig, Board Director (appointed in 2025)

  • Tools for Humanity
  • Extensive cybersecurity expertise

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Community Action Grants:

  1. Single annual application cycle (typically in March)
  2. Online application through CommunityForce platform: https://applysvcfgrants.communityforce.com
  3. Organisations can apply for multiple focus areas using one application
  4. Import tool available for previous applicants to streamline reapplication
  5. Information sessions held during application period

Strategic Initiatives: By invitation only

Pre-Application Support: SVCF encourages applicants to speak with staff for programmatic, capacity-building, and technical questions.

Decision Timeline

  • Application Close: Typically late March (annual cycle)
  • Review Period: 8-10 weeks
  • Decision Notification: Mid-June
  • Award Announcement: August

Review Process:

  1. Staff assesses alignment with eligibility and focus criteria
  2. Community advisory board reviews applications and provides feedback
  3. Staff formulates final recommendations across all focus areas
  4. SVCF leadership reviews every staff recommendation

Success Rates

SVCF does not publicly publish success rate statistics. However:

  • 2024: 115 organisations funded through Community Action Grants
  • 2024: Over 6,000 nonprofits received funding across all programmes
  • Local Bay Area funding consistently supports 2,000+ organisations annually

Reapplication Policy

Organisations previously funded may reapply immediately if they meet eligibility criteria. Organisations that have received funding may reapply for subsequent annual cycles. The platform offers an import tool to streamline the reapplication process, though applicants should verify that all responses remain accurate and current.

Application Success Factors

Specific Guidance from the Foundation

On Intersectionality: "Weave the intersectional and/or intersectoral nature of their work into their responses" with specific programme examples demonstrating how issues connect.

On Community Engagement: Applications should demonstrate genuine commitment to engaging community members in programme design and implementation, not just service delivery.

On Equity: All work must centre on "building equity and transforming systems to create a Silicon Valley where everyone can thrive." Addressing systemic disparities is preeminent amongst core strategic priorities.

Examples of Recently Funded Projects

  • Youth Utilising Power and Praise: Building youth empowerment through performing arts, fine arts, sports, mentorship, and entrepreneurship
  • Rise South City: Creating a new centre of gravity in the climate movement by uniting frontline communities towards resilient, regenerative, and equitable neighbourhoods
  • Coastside Hope: Providing necessities like food, clothing, housing assistance, and government benefits support

Language and Terminology They Use

  • "Building equity," "transforming systems," "addressing systemic disparities"
  • "Communities that have historically faced discrimination and lack of access to resources"
  • "Frontline communities," "intersectional approach," "intersectoral"
  • "Strong and engaged communities"
  • "General operating support" (preferred over restricted project grants)

Tips for Standing Out

  1. Demonstrate intersectional approach: Show how your work addresses multiple issues simultaneously (e.g., immigration and economic security, education and housing)
  2. Show community leadership: Highlight how community members shape your programmes, not just benefit from them
  3. Connect to systemic change: Explain how your work addresses root causes, not just symptoms
  4. Request general operating support: The foundation prefers funding organisational capacity over specific projects
  5. Engage with staff: Take advantage of pre-application conversations to ensure alignment
  6. Multi-area applications: Strong organisations serving multiple focus areas can request higher funding amounts
  7. Budget alignment: Organisations with budgets under $3 million are specifically targeted

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic specificity is essential: Community Action Grants strictly serve Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Demonstrate deep local roots and history in the region.

  • Equity lens is non-negotiable: Every aspect of your application should demonstrate commitment to addressing systemic disparities and centring historically marginalised communities. This is the foundation's "North Star," not a checkbox.

  • General operating support is preferred: SVCF explicitly prioritises unrestricted funding to build organisational capacity. Frame your request as supporting overall operations rather than a specific project.

  • Small-to-medium organisations are the target: With a $3 million budget cap, SVCF intentionally supports grassroots and mid-sized organisations. If you're on the larger end, emphasise community connections over organisational scale.

  • Staff engagement is encouraged: Unlike many foundations, SVCF actively encourages pre-application conversations. Use this opportunity to test your alignment and strengthen your application.

  • Intersectional approaches win: Applications that authentically demonstrate how issues interconnect (immigration + economic security, early childhood + housing) align with the foundation's systems-change approach.

  • Reapplication is welcomed: Previously funded organisations can reapply immediately, and the streamlined process suggests the foundation values ongoing partnerships over one-time grants.

References

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