February 2020
Progress Newsletter
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New Definition To Philanthropy
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Small Stone.
Big Ripple.
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(photo credit: Christopher Michel)
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A new year and continuing our efforts to do creative philanthropy.
We have a three pronged approach to our work:
- Critical intervention money - finding places where limited funds can have impact
- Quick response giving - funding when there is need, no delays or extensive application process
- Trust - funding outstanding people and giving them flexibility to serve their communities
We are well known for our nimbleness, an
d the speed
with which we work. We evaluate our giving constantly
in order to support new needs, such as early dental
care for low-income children, an employment resource
worker for an entire community affected by layoffs, or accessible
funds for individuals combating homelessness.
The border crisis is a challenge we are continuing to address
locally by supporting asylum seeker's and their families
to find housing, food, and health services within our
community.
At the same time, we give out upwards of 4,000 grants a
year to teachers, social workers, and juvenile court judges
to support children in need. Over the years, this has
amounted to over $12 million, all done through one-page
applications, 48-hr turnarounds and considerable collective
impact.
It will be a busy year ahead, and we are blessed to be able
to do our work.
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At PVF, we've long acted on the belief that the smallest
stone can make a big ripple.
Bill mentions our work around the crisis on our border.
It's a great illustration of how seemingly small starts can
grow into larger movements. The immigration crisis is
overwhelming. What can any of us possibly do?
When PVF heard about a small group of women who
wanted to go down to the border crossing in McAllen,
TX to witness what is happening there and to be
of service to the families and children seeking asylum,
we didn't hesitate to make a small grant in support.
That trip documented the horrible conditions
on the border for families and children that have endured
such danger and hardship to reach the US.
That small trip gave birth to the Bay Area Border Relief
initiative and brought more people and more dollars into
the effort.
The ripple grew outward to organizations like
UCSF and SalesForce, who joined hands with their support.
And as the universe would have it, 6 families were
relocated to the Coastside, right in our backyard. These
families have been connected to the network of great
non-profits here who can help and support them further.
So it ends up that there was a path for us to do something
about this seemingly intractable national problem.
It started small. It started local. But the small
ripple turned into a big ripple. And it all came back
full circle to our continuing work in the Bay Area.
This is why we will continue as we enter this new decade
to embrace a bias for action, trusting in people, and believing
in radical collaboration. Because we've seen with our
own eyes that even the smallest start is worth a chance.
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Bill Somerville, Founder
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James Higa, Executive Director
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We are proud to present our 2019 Report, now available online!
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Introducing Cocokind Impact Foundation's
2019-2020 Grantees
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Photo courtesy of Kimbritive, LLC, a Cocokind Impact Foundation Grantee
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Priscilla Tsai founded
Cocokind to provide a clean, certified organic, socially conscious, and accessible skincare line, based around superfoods.
Through PVF,
Cocokind Impact Foundation provides grants of $2,500 to $10,000 to female-identifying entrepreneurs in the health, wellness, and sustainability industries to create social impact through business.
Each grant recipient also receives a Cocokind Impact Mentor from Cocokind's network of successful founders and leaders in the wellness space for the year after receiving the grant.
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James Higa, Executive Director, brings 28 years of executive experience from Silicon Valley, working with Steve Jobs to change the face of technology. He was at the birth of the personal computer revolution as a member of the original Macintosh team and was deeply involved in the creation of many products and services at Apple over 3 decades. He has a long history of public service as a board member of Stanford's Haas Center and in grassroots relief efforts. |
Bill Somerville, Founder, has been in non-profit and philanthropic work for over 50 years. He was the director of a community foundation for 17 years, and in 1991 founded Philanthropic Ventures Foundation where he serves as President. Bill has consulted at over 400 community foundations, on creative grantmaking and foundation operations. Bill is the author of
Grassroots Philanthropy: Field Notes of a Maverick Grantmaker.
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PVF is a demonstration foundation practicing unique forms of grantmaking and innovative philanthropy. Our primary interest is in the creative and significant use of the philanthropic dollar. |
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