CENTER FOR VENTURE PHILANTHROPY

The Center for Venture Philanthropy was launched in 1999 to create an environment where community donors could collaborate and drive positive change in our communities. Using a venture capital model, local investors base "social venture funding" on results-oriented business plans focused on specific causes. Investors work directly with the Center for Venture Philanthropy staff and nonprofit leaders to understand community and nonprofit issues, problem-solve and structure their investments.

To learn more, contact cvp@siliconvalleycf.org.

Social Venture Funds

With each social venture fund, donors invest in multi-year business plans that tackle persistent community problems. These investments are strategic and have the potential for tremendous social return. Working with donors across Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Peninsula, the Center applies an accountability-for-results process adapted from the venture capital world. Investment dollars support the work of multiple nonprofit partners working to bring their programs to the next level, and investment council members can offer their expertise and involvement to support social venture fund goals.

Active social venture funds include:

Environmental Solutions Forum: Phase II
Environmental Solutions Forum began as a four-year social venture fund to increase the impact of environmental education organizations serving Silicon Valley. With the sunset of the first phase in 2006, Environmental Solutions Forum II was launched to address gaps in environmental stewardship by seeking to engage youth in their natural environment. ESF II launched with a three-year plan in fall 2006.

Fostering the Future:
Successful Transitions for Youth in Foster and Kin Care
Fostering the Future works on systemic change in an effort to support our community's foster children. In 2004, the State of California launched an ambitious new plan for child welfare reform following the state's failure of a federal review. San Mateo County joined 10 other counties to pioneer this system reform. Like other social venture funds, this initiative applies a joint investment strategy in order to transform the lives of youth in foster and kinship care in San Mateo County.

Raising A Reader®
Launched in September 2000, this award-winning literacy program prepares children for kindergarten success by promoting an early love of books. To accomplish this goal, Raising A Reader has teamed with home visiting programs, preschools, agencies serving families in poverty and libraries throughout the region. The Center’s investment pool supports the local region south of San Francisco, while the Raising A Reader supporting organization is taking this program to scale nationwide.

Completed social venture funds include:

Assets for All Alliance
Launched in July 1999, Assets for All Alliance provided the means for members of low-income families to gain college education for themselves or their children, save for home ownership, start or expand a business, or plan for retirement. This fund closed in December 2005, exceeding its goals and providing data that guided the increase of national individual development accounts, or IDA’s, as a successful means to combat poverty. Today, the nonprofit partners continue to apply this successful model. The community foundation recently released a report detailing the successful results of Assets for All graduates and profiling several participants. Click here to download a copy of the report (PDF), or if you would like a copy mailed to you, please contact us at info@siliconvalleycf.org.

Environmental Solutions Forum: Phase I
The first phase of the Environmental Solutions Forum was a four-year social venture fund involving thirteen local nonprofits and the outdoor departments from both the San Mateo County and Santa Clara County Offices of Education. Participants traded ideas, measured their progress and adopted best practices in a shared pursuit to protect and preserve the local environment.