October eNews | Join us for SV2's Fall Gathering, Mindfulness, Community Highlights

We warmly invite you to our virtual Fall Gathering on Wednesday, October 20th 6:30-8pm. RSVP here. In an inspiring and friendly 'select your own' breakout format (two rounds), we'll connect with authentic and accomplished social impact leaders and learn more about how deeper, foundational connections energize deeper, enduring impact. We’re delighted to bring together these highly accomplished and authentic Speakers and Leaders (all current or alumni SV2 Community Partner Grantees and Impact Investees): Olatunde Sobomehin (StreetCode Academy), Jane Melia (Harvest Thermal), Gatanya Arnic (Center for Youth Wellness, a program of Safe & Sound), Dianne Calvi (Village Enterprise), and Anna Schember (Accion Opportunity Fund).

In our previous article we discussed the importance of self-care and mindfulness when engaging in social impact and justice work. Practices such as these enable non-profit leaders and staff to keep their center, focus, and energy and help avoid burnout. Allies, like funders, are able to show up with a presence and awareness which support deeper, relational power shifts and collaboration. What does mindfulness mean to you, what are your go to practices, insights, stories, etc.? Please share your thoughts here or connect directly with Paru Desai, SV2 Partner.

Bao Chang retired from her psychiatric private practice in 2020. Since her retirement, she has been volunteering for the Bay Area Asylum Mental Health Project doing psychological evaluations to support asylum seekers. She previously served as a founding board member for the Alpine chapter of Young Men's Service League (a mother-son volunteer organization).

Originally from Vietnam, Bao came to the US at age 12 as a refugee. She has a BS in Microbiology and Immunology from UC San Diego and an MD from UCLA School of Medicine. She and her husband live in Portola Valley and have three grown sons. In her free time, she practices Insight Meditation, plays bridge and pickleball, and loves long hikes.

She’s very excited to join SV2 learning programs, particularly contexts to learn about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She’s also interested in Economic Opportunity, Health, International, and Youth issues.

WED. OCT. 13 | 11:30AM - 1:30PM

Impact Investing Working Group

The SV2 Impact Investing Working Group discusses prospective impact investment opportunities, hears pitches from social entrepreneurs, and performs due diligence in order to make informed investment recommendations on behalf of SV2. The Working Group is comprised of Partners who are committed to actively participating in all aspects of impact investing, including the due diligence process. All Partners are welcome to begin regularly attending IIWG meetings at any point in the year or are welcome to audit meetings on a drop-in basis.

WED. OCT. 20 | 6:30PM - 8:00PM

SV2 Fall Gathering: Deepening Connections, Deepening Impact

In an inspiring and friendly 'select your own' breakout format (two rounds), we'll connect with authentic and accomplished social impact leaders and learn more about how deeper, foundational connections energize deeper, enduring impact. We're delighted to have these Speakers: Olatunde Sobomehin (StreetCode Academy), Jane Melia (Harvest Thermal), Gatanya Arnic (Center for Youth Wellness, a program of Safe & Sound), Dianne Calvi (Village Enterprise), and Anna Schember (Accion Opportunity Fund).

THU. OCT. 28 | 12:30PM - 2:30PM

SV2 Economic Inclusion Grant Round Decision Meeting

This Grant Round has two parts, and we're looking forward to an energizing and insightful process together!

Part 1 of 2 Learning, Connecting, and Deciding: Between the Sept. 21st Kickoff and Oct. 28th, participating SV2 Partners will research community-sourced nonprofits, learn community engagement best practices, chat with Executive Directors to learn more about what economic inclusion means, community strengths and what their organizations do, organizational health, challenges, and opportunities to support, and utilize SV2's grantmaking rubric. On Oct. 28th, Partners will share learnings, do further diligence in a structured, asset-based format, and vote to determine which two organizations become SV2's newest Community Partners / Grantees.

Part 2 of 2 Getting Proximate and Relationship Building: In November and December, Partners will participate in experiences to get to know community members that both organizations support, start to develop strong trust and relationships, and learn about ways to give, champion, and be strong allies. If you have any questions, please contact the Grant Round Leader Team: Mark Wilson and Sneha Challa, SV2 Partners, and Amy Badiani, SV2 Staff.

TUES. NOV. 2 | 12:00PM - 1:30PM

Investing in Climate Solutions: Public Equities and Debt

This second session of our Investing in Climate Solutions series will focus on public equities and debt. We'll hear from Martin Grosskopf of AGF Funds who has been investing in climate solutions for over a decade and SV2 Partner Jennifer McFarlane, Registered Investment Advisor. How can I have the greatest impact on climate with my public investments? How do climate investing and ESG investing relate to each other? What are some of the strategies for public climate investing? Can I construct a balanced (e.g., geographically, market cap size, growth/value) portfolio of climate friendly investments? These questions and more will be answered in this session.

THURS. NOV. 4 | 12:00PM - 1:30PM

Family Philanthropy Interest Circle

The Family Philanthropy Interest Circle is a Partner-led group which provides a safe space to explore giving experiences, successes, and challenges in an ongoing, intimate setting. If you are a current Partner with a family foundation, a donor advised fund, family office, or some other structured family giving vehicle, please join us. This event is for current Partners only, and is led by Deb Dauber. Reach out with questions to Deb at dsdauber@gmail.com.

WED. NOV. 10 | 11:30AM - 1:30PM

Impact Investing Working Group

The SV2 Impact Investing Working Group discusses prospective impact investment opportunities, hears pitches from social entrepreneurs, and performs due diligence in order to make informed investment recommendations on behalf of SV2. The Working Group is comprised of Partners who are committed to actively participating in all aspects of impact investing, including the due diligence process. All Partners are welcome to begin regularly attending IIWG meetings at any point in the year or are welcome to audit meetings on a drop-in basis.

Celebrations, Opportunities, Events

With some of our current Community Partners / Grantees

Shop the ICA Marketplace! | By shopping with us, you’re helping the Bay Area small business ecosystem thrive.

StreetCode Academy

Check out this great article featuring accomplished StreetCode'er Max Chavez
StreetCode partners with influential ambassadors for a digital pNFT
fundraiser that will take StreetCode to the next level!

With more friends and allies...

Ashoka Changemaker Summit 2021| Online September 30th-November 25th, Onsite December 1st-3rd, 2021 (Turin, Italy)

The Summit is the global milestone to share cutting-edge ideas that change systems for the better. Meet other doers, shapers and thinkers who believe in the power of changemaking to drive social impact.

Listen4Good

While many organizations believe in asking their clients for direct feedback, figuring out how to effectively gather and respond to their input can be challenging. Listen4Good helps you harness the power of direct feedback and make client perspectives more integral to your work. Organizations can join either our January or June cohorts each year. Our January round has a registration deadline of December 1, 2021 and our June cohort has a deadline of May 15, 2022.

Silicon Valley Community Foundation Latinx Giving Guide

The Latinx-led nonprofit organizations highlighted in this guide provide leadership, direct services, advocacy and support for Latinx communities in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The LatinXCEL Fund, created in partnership with the Castellano Family Foundation, will invest in people and organizations that address the infrastructure needs of nonprofits serving Latinx communities in our two-county region.

We All Count: Data Equity Workshop | Sept. 15th & 17th, 2021 and Nov. 16th & 18th, 2021

The We All Count Data Equity Framework remains one of the few actionable systems of tools, checklists, and strategic processes that can support you in making both immediate and long-term changes in the way that your entire team uses data.