CONTACT:
Rebecca Salner, Media Relations Officer
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
650.450.5525 or rsalner@siliconvalleycf.org

Community Foundation Will Distribute Grants to Strengthen Nonprofits

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Silicon Valley Community Foundation has been selected to distribute $1 million in the next three years to develop leadership and provide operating support for nonprofit organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties led by or serving communities of color.

The community foundation was selected by the Community Leadership Project, a joint effort by the David and Lucile Packard, James Irvine and William and Flora Hewlett foundations. The project was created to strengthen grassroots organizations that serve low-income people and communities of color. The money the community foundation will distribute is part of $5.7 million that the project has committed to small and mid-sized nonprofits throughout California.

The community foundation was among nine organizations selected to distribute the funds, based on its expertise and experience with nonprofit organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

"We believe there is great opportunity in collaborating with the Community Leadership Project at a critical time," said Emmett D. Carson, Ph.D., CEO and president of the community foundation. "Given the economic realities our state is facing and the difficult budget environment, it is critical that we work together to ensure that we have a strong network of organizations to serve the diverse communities in our region."

Grants will be awarded to 15 organizations over the course of three years, with each organization receiving $10,000 to $12,000 per year. The community foundation will invite applications from among the nearly 250 that applied for, but did not receive, grants from the community foundation in education, economic security, immigrant integration, regional planning and the opportunity fund.

The community foundation expects to release a request for proposals in the fall.

To learn more about the Community Leadership Project, please visit www.communityleadershipproject.org

About Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Silicon Valley Community Foundation® is a catalyst and leader for innovative solutions to our region’s most challenging problems. Serving all of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, the community foundation has $1.5 billion in assets under management and 1,500 philanthropic funds. The community foundation provides grants through donor advised and corporate funds in addition to its own Community Endowment Fund. In addition, the community foundation serves as a regional center for philanthropy, providing donors simple and effective ways to give locally and around the world. Silicon Valley Community Foundation launched in January 2007 following the landmark merger of Community Foundation Silicon Valley and Peninsula Community Foundation and is now one of the largest community foundations in the nation. Find out more at www.siliconvalleycf.org.