2020 Annual Report
Creating a More Equitable Silicon Valley
In 2020, a global pandemic upended all our lives, the murder of George Floyd ignited a wave of racial justice movements, and wildfires devastated significant swaths of our state. We faced a difficult election season and crucial census count. So much was at stake.
As a community foundation, SVCF knows the strengths and the needs of our local communities, and we translate this knowledge into strategies that influence and inspire our donors and partners to act. We work collaboratively in our community to pursue equity and deliver support for those who face the greatest challenges because of systemic injustices. And when disasters arise, we swiftly convene with our partners — including other community foundations — to pool capital and drive resources to those most in need.
Last year, in concert with our partners, we raised $65 million in COVID response funds, supporting hundreds of thousands of families, businesses and nonprofit organizations across the 10-county Bay Area region. Thanks to our donors, in 2020, nonprofit organizations received $1.95 billion — and $524 million of that stayed right here in the Bay Area, helping local organizations do vital work. Stories of those inspiring individuals, organizations and partnerships are featured here in our annual report.
We are very proud of all we accomplished during very challenging times. We extend our sincere gratitude to our donors, community partners and staff. Our work is not possible without you.
2020 AT A GLANCE
SVCF establishes four pillar goals that will guide our work in 2020 and beyond. Among them: Center equity in all our initiatives and reduce systemic disparities in our communities.
As the first cases of COVID-19 appear in the Bay Area, SVCF launches the region’s first COVID response fund and partners with the CDC Foundation to host a briefing call for donors.
Recognizing the economic havoc wrought by shutdown orders, SVCF partners with eight sister community foundations to evolve our COVID-19 response fund into a regional effort to support low-income families across the 10-county Bay Area.
SVCF spearheads fundraising for seven COVID-19 response funds — which support individuals and families, nonprofits, education, childcare, small businesses, and Santa Clara County- and San Mateo County-specific communities. The result: $65M+ raised.
SVCF executives join the Silicon Valley Recovery Roundtable, ensuring that equity and inclusivity are central themes to planning for community recovery efforts.
SVCF convenes local leaders of color for the inaugural meeting of our Community Advisory Council. Goals: Prioritize community voices in our work and continue advancing racial justice in our region.
SVCF and dozens of other funders begin initial planning for the California Black Freedom Fund, a first-of-its-kind effort to raise $100 million and support Black movement-based organizations across the state.
Voting rights activist Stacey Abrams meets with SVCF donors to sound the alarm about supporting civic engagement and voting.
In two weeks, SVCF raises $2 million for the Santa Clara and San Mateo County Wildfire Relief Fund to support organizations helping victims of local wildfires.
The embattled 2020 census closes. San Mateo County and Santa Clara County report the highest self-response rates in the country — a testament to the work of SVCF’s grantees.
SVCF donors pledge historic philanthropic support for elections. To support civic engagement and community healing beyond the elections, SVCF launches our Community Catalyst Fund.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, SVCF grants $1.95 billion to local, national and international nonprofit organizations by year’s end.
Profile: von Emster Family 
The von Emster Family
Beth von Emster and her husband, Kurt, increased their annual grantmaking by more than 275% in 2020 as community need soared.
Profile: Karen Law 
Karen Law
As an “investor in a smarter, better-connected future,” Karen Law is committed to building and strengthening communities, one connection at a time. And her donor advised fund at SVCF helps make that happen.
Profile: LinkedIn 
The company sharpened its mission of addressing opportunity gaps for job seekers in 2020.
The von Emster Family
Beth von Emster and her husband, Kurt, increased their annual grantmaking by more than 275% in 2020 as community need soared.
Karen Law
As an “investor in a smarter, better-connected future,” Karen Law is committed to building and strengthening communities, one connection at a time. And her donor advised fund at SVCF helps make that happen.
The company sharpened its mission of addressing opportunity gaps for job seekers in 2020.
IMPACT SPOTLIGHT
Delivering Help to Farmworkers on the North Coast
Ayudando Latinos A Soñar provides food, personal protective equipment and support to Bay Area farmworkers during pandemic.
+ Show More
Feeding Families in Need
Food insecurity was already a problem in Silicon Valley before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and when it did, demand skyrocketed.
“At the main pantry site alone, we were up 300 percent over normal,” says Bart Charlow, CEO of Samaritan House, an anti-poverty organization in San Mateo County.
Money from SVCF’s Regional Response Fund and Nonprofit Emergency Fund has helped many area groups like Samaritan House, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley and The Health Trust meet the rising need.
“[SVCF was] one of the first to invite proposals for emergency COVID response,” says Michele Lew, CEO of The Health Trust. “When people who are hungry or homebound call you, it’s difficult to say no. We are eternally grateful for the fast and flexible funding that enables us to get meals to those who are hungry.”
+ Show More
Investing in Black-Led Organizations
California is home to the sixth largest Black population in the country, yet trails the nation in funding infrastructure for Black-led organizations. The California Black Freedom Fund looks to change that.
This five-year, $100 million initiative will fund Black-led movements and organizations statewide with the investments and resources needed to fight systemic and institutional racism. The fund is a collaboration among many partners, including more than 20 foundations; SVCF provides administrative support and fiscal management.
The fund is the first state-based fund of its kind and aims to support grassroots advocates and community leaders who are transforming our region, our state and our world. Nearly $9 million in general operating grants has been awarded to 74 Black-led groups across California.
+ Show More
Extending a Lifeline to the Homeless Community
WeHOPE offers critical services, like handwashing stations and virtual medical assessments, to unhoused residents.
+ Show More
Rallying for the Region
In a county where one out of every 10 families lives in poverty, nonprofits and foundations are faced with a double-edged sword: They have more people to support and fewer people with the means to offer support.
“Solano County is the poster child for inequity in the Bay Area,” says Dr. Lori Allio, director of strategic partnerships and advancement at Solano Community Foundation. With COVID-19, the need only grew, so when SVCF reached out to offer a partnership and grant funds, Allio says, it was quite literally a lifesaver. The help was made possible through SVCF’s Regional Response Fund, which gave SVCF the ability to channel donated relief funds to core service agencies — including Solano Community Foundation — in each of the 10 Bay Area counties.
The funding from SVCF resulted in Solano Community Foundation making 106 grants to help local residents, for a total of $1.1 million. Before that, its COVID-19 relief funding resources had equaled five grants totaling $50,000.
+ Show More
Keeping Residents in Their Homes
As it has done for so many existing issues, the pandemic has heightened concerns about housing insecurity. Job furloughs and closures have left so many people unable to earn wages that an estimated 43,000 households in Santa Clara County alone are at risk of eviction.
As part of the COVID-19 Coronavirus Regional Response Fund, SVCF supporting organization Destination: Home is working with partners to provide rapid financial assistance and resources to county residents at risk of homelessness because of coronavirus-related disruptions.
“We help with metrics, data, communication, strategy and fundraising, but it’s not any one entity — it’s literally dozens of public-sector partners and more than 100 community-based nonprofit organizations,” says Destination: Home CEO Jennifer Loving.
By February 2021, the COVID-19 financial assistance program administered by Destination: Home and its many partners had provided $36 million in direct financial assistance to about 15,000 low-income households in Santa Clara County.
+ Show More
Making Childcare Accessible for Essential Workers
The Boys and Girls Clubs of North San Mateo County transformed one of its clubhouses into a childcare center for essential workers.
+ Show MoreOUR WORK
Rising to the Challenge of a Global Pandemic
Bringing Equity to the Forefront
Building a Better Normal
Supporting Those Affected by Wildfires
Increasing Voter Turnout in an Unprecedented Election
Leading Local Counties to the State’s Highest Response Rates
Five Things We Learned
Just as it did for so many other organizations around the globe, 2020 required SVCF to respond almost overnight as the COVID-19 pandemic caused community need to soar and deepened existing disparities. SVCF staff members compiled a list of the five most important takeaways learned from the organization’s first several months of response efforts.
It was a “top-down, inside-out necessity” for staff and internal processes to adapt so SVCF could provide a swift and agile emergency response and get funds into the community quickly, staff noted. A key aspect was partnering with donors and colleagues to encourage increased, accelerated and more flexible grantmaking to benefit the local nonprofit community. A corollary to adapting quickly: Imagine far-fetched scenarios and develop contingency plans in case those come to pass.
To help things move faster, SVCF quickly streamlined its grant application and selection processes and reduced the amount of information grantees were required to report. Many donors appreciated that SVCF built quick, easy ways for people to give to their community through giving guides and COVID-19 and wildfire response funds. SVCF’s deep connections in the community helped make the path to giving easier and obstacle-free for donors.
As much as SVCF staff value meeting with partners in person, they immediately embraced the shift to virtual convenings, board meetings and donor conversations — while recognizing that people have varying levels of comfort with technology. “We had to make sure we were inclusive in our facilitation of meetings and conversations,” staff noted. That included one simple but powerful change: Recording most events so people can watch later.
2020 presented uncharted territory, with a confluence of stressful and complex events. Pretending things were “business as usual” did not make sense. So, whether they were working with those who represented corporations, donors, nonprofits or local government — SVCF staff acknowledged the shared humanity of the unusual times. “If someone’s kids or pets are joining a video call, or it takes someone a little longer to respond,” staff noted, “we can all extend grace, patience and acceptance.”
SVCF’s existing community relationships helped it spring into action quickly, partnering with local governments to support their strategies and community funding mechanisms. That’s the thing about enormous crises like COVID-19 or structural racism, staff noted, “you have to work together, and we need to be allies to move forward.”
A LOOK AHEAD
SVCF continues to advocate for our communities’ needs beyond the pandemic. We are working with local officials on equitable distribution of federal relief funds, supporting local organizations that are preparing for redistricting, and investing in local leaders of color who are building power within historically marginalized groups.
We are lifting up and centering our nonprofit and community partners — and those with lived experience — to ensure that their voices will guide these efforts. New initiatives such as the LatinXCEL Fund and Equity Forward, begun in 2021, bolster our ability to serve our community.
We are deepening our relationships with donors and community partners to galvanize resources and solutions that will create an equitable, economically secure and vibrant future for all in Silicon Valley.