Silicon Valley Community Foundation

05/21/2026

Our President and CEO Nicole Taylor joined host Alberto Lidji on the Do One Better Podcast for a conversation on how philanthropy is evolving across generations, and the role community foundations play in connecting donors to the causes they care about, both locally and globally.

The discussion explores how donor advised funds are reshaping giving across generations and how SVCF supports donors in turning intention into impact. Nicole also shares how we work alongside local partners on key issues like housing affordability, economic mobility and healthcare access across San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

It is a thoughtful look at why community foundations remain essential civic institutions.

Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nicole-taylor-president-and-ceo-of-the/id1458730778?i=1000767135066

05/14/2026

What an incredible day at the 2026 Conference on Charitable Giving at Stanford University!

With record attendance this year, we were thrilled to welcome professionals across philanthropy, law, finance and wealth management for a day filled with learning, connection and meaningful conversations around charitable planning and giving.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, spoke, sponsored, volunteered and helped make the conference such a success. The energy throughout the day was truly inspiring!

We’re already looking forward to next year!

04/10/2026

The Conference on Charitable Giving, hosted by Stanford University’s Office of Planned Giving and Silicon Valley Community Foundation, is just a month away!

Join 300 professionals across law, finance, and wealth management May 13 on Stanford’s historic campus.

As we finalize our day of programming, we are thrilled to share some of our inspiring speakers:

- Cate Chang, Mill Law Center
- Kaitlyn Gardner, Bernstein Private Wealth Management
- Martin Hall, Hall & Diana LLC
- Russell James, Texas Tech Univ. School of Financial Planning
- Bryan Kirk, Stanford University
- Julie Kwon, McDermott Will & Schulte
- Justin Miller, Evercore Wealth Management

Visit our website to explore our speaker lineup and program:
conferencecharitablegiving.org/program

Wednesday, May 13, 2026
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM PT
Stanford University

Sign up today: conferencecharitablegiving.org

03/26/2026

What if the most effective way to address homelessness is to prevent it in the first place? A new CalMatters.org article highlights the growing momentum behind homelessness prevention strategies across California - and beyond: https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2026/03/homelessness-prevention-pilot/

Destination: Home, one of SVCF's supporting organizations and close partner in our homelessness and housing efforts, helped launch Santa Clara County’s Homelessness Prevention System in 2017. Today, that model is demonstrating what’s possible: targeted, flexible financial assistance can help families stay housed - avoiding both the trauma of losing their home and the significantly higher costs of rehousing.

Building on this success, Destination: Home is now expanding this approach nationally through Right at Home USA - supporting communities across the country to develop and test their own homelessness prevention programs.

At SVCF, we believe lasting solutions require both immediate support and upstream strategies. Prevention is a critical part of that equation - and a powerful example of what’s possible when philanthropy, community organizations and public partners work together.

Homelessness prevention shows promising results in California, as advocates push to spread it statewide and nationally.

03/13/2026

📣 Bay Area nonprofits, you have two more weeks to apply!

SVCF is now accepting applications for the Community Action Grants program through Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. PT.

We are proud to support organizations advancing community-driven solutions in County of San Mateo and County of Santa Clara.

The RFP is open to organizations engaged in:
• Arts and culture
• Environment
• Faith-based organizing
• Health
• Local Journalism
• Movement- and power-building

If your organization is leading change in one of these focus areas, we encourage you to apply.

Interested in applying?
✔ Review the requirements
✔ Watch our virtual information session
✔ Schedule time with SVCF’s grantmaking team for additional guidance

Questions?
Reach out to our grantmaking team at [email protected]

We look forward to supporting community leadership across Silicon Valley!

Learn more and apply here: svcf.org/nonprofits/grants

03/12/2026

CEO Nicole Taylor, Christine Thorsteinson and other SVCF staff gathered for ChooseChildren's first 2026 gubernatorial candidate forum in Northern California on Tuesday at the EPACENTER ARTS ARTS in East Palo Alto.

It was a great opportunity to hear candidates Betty Yee and Tony Thurmond express their commitment to increasing support for California's young children and families.

SVCF is a proud partner in the Choose Children initiative, along with FIRST 5 California, The Children's Partnership and many more. California has the 4th largest economy in the world, and yet nearly 19% of children live in poverty. The Choose Children campaign is about ensuring that our next governor will do better for young children and their families.



FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
First 5 San Mateo County

03/07/2026

Earlier this week, Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga (District 5, County of Santa Clara) hosted an “Eat ‘N’ Greet Mixer” bringing together nonprofit leaders, foundation partners and County staff for an afternoon of connection and collaboration.

Silicon Valley Community Foundation was proud to co-host alongside Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation and the Palo Alto Community Fund. After brief remarks from Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga and foundation leaders -including our CEO Nicole Taylor - the event focused on what matters most: building relationships and strengthening partnerships across our community.

One initiative highlighted during the gathering was the Passport Equity Fund, launched by LAMVCF in partnership with Supervisor Abe-Koga. The fund helps youth and families access U.S. passports by covering application and renewal fees and supporting hands-on workshops with nonprofit partners. By reducing financial and logistical barriers, the program creates a welcoming and supportive pathway for families - especially those who may otherwise face obstacles navigating the process.

Access to a passport can open doors to opportunity, belonging and connection. We are grateful to be part of a community working together to remove barriers and expand access.

Thank you to Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga and our foundation partners for convening such a meaningful afternoon together!

03/07/2026

Last Friday evening, SVCF staff were proud to attend and sponsor Peninsula Family Connections’ gala, “Shining Night of Dreams 2026.” The event highlighted their powerful work supporting children and families - strengthening our broader community in the process.

Peninsula Family Connections provides free, high-quality, whole-family education paired with in-depth support, focusing on children’s cognitive and social-emotional development while helping parents build stability and resources.

We heard from Executive Director Eric Valladares, staff and parents whose families have been deeply impacted. What stood out most was how they describe their role: walking alongside families. 💛

Grateful to support organizations creating lasting impact for local families.

03/03/2026

📣 Now Open: 2026 Community Action Grants RFP
SVCF is now accepting applications for the Community Action Grants program through Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. PT.

We are proud to support organizations advancing community-driven solutions in County of San Mateo and County of Santa Clara.

The RFP is open to organizations engaged in:
• Arts and culture
• Environment
• Faith-based organizing
• Health
• Local Journalism
• Movement- and power-building

If your organization is leading change in one of these focus areas, we encourage you to apply.

Interested in applying?
✔ Review the requirements
✔ Watch our virtual information session
✔ Schedule time with SVCF’s grantmaking team for additional guidance

Questions?
Reach out to our grantmaking team at [email protected]

We look forward to supporting community leadership across Silicon Valley!

Learn more and apply here: svcf.org/nonprofits/grants