September News

SV2's FY24-25 Impact Report 

SV2’s impact this last year reflects the power of community. By pooling resources, knowledge, and lived experience, our Partners supported transformative solutions and advanced equity. Our work not only demonstrates our collective generosity, but also our shared belief that lasting change comes from centering the voices and leadership of those closest to the issues. The results speak for themselves. 

SV2 Impact Investing Annual Portfolio Review

Wednesday, 9/24 | 11:30am - 1:00pm | Zoom

Bring your lunch and join us online for SV2’s Annual Impact Investment Portfolio Review. This event will highlight the impact of our work from FY 2024-25 and provide updates on our current portfolio.

Each month, SV2 hosts two pitch meetings featuring early-stage, mission-driven social ventures raising seed funding. Through our immersive impact investing process, we bring together both seasoned and new investors to source, screen, select, and support entrepreneurs driving social impact.

In place of our September pitch meeting, we’re excited to showcase the traction and impact stories of our 31 current portfolio companies. We encourage you to bring a friend who’s curious about impact investing! This is also a wonderful opportunity for SV2 Donor Partners who haven’t yet engaged with our impact investing work to join us.

For more information, please contact Suhani Mohan at smohan@sv2.org.

Poverty in America Today: Why are so Many People Struggling Financially?

Thursday, 9/25 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm | Zoom

We are excited to launch our series Poverty in America Today. Whether you joined our May kick-off event or not, join us for this important conversation examining why so many Americans are struggling to make ends meet in the world’s richest nation. Explore the hidden costs, systemic barriers, and urgent realities of poverty in America today. Amy Everitt, SV2 Partner and President of Golden State Opportunity, and Shimica Gaskins, President & CEO of End Child Poverty CA powered by GRACE, will be in conversation, sharing their expertise and insights on the urgent fight against poverty in America.

New Partner Orientation

Thursday, 10/6 | 5:00pm - 6:00pm | Zoom

You’re a new Partner and we want to connect you to our community! Meet other new Partners and get oriented to the ins and outs of SV2 – programming, community norms and guidelines, answers to FAQs and more.

Grantmaking & Impact Investing at SV2 | Case Studies

Tuesday, 10/7 | 11:00am - 1:00pm | In Person | SV2 Office

Explore how SV2’s bold approach to grantmaking and impact investing drives real change. Join our case study experience!

Advancing Immigrant Equity | Grant Round Kickoff Meeting #1

Tuesday, 10/14 | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | In Person | SV2 Office

Join us in person as we connect with inspiring and dynamic speakers, and have an insightful and connecting interactive format for our learning. We'll get insights about immigrant community strengths, organizational practices, challenges and opportunities, guidance for funders, and more. We'll also announce the five finalists for our Grant Round. Dinner will be served. 

For more information, please contact Amy Badiani at abadiani@sv2.org.

SV2 Impact Investing | October Monthly Pitches

Wednesday, 10/15 | 11:30am - 1:00pm | Zoom

SV2 holds monthly meetings on Zoom to hear two social enterprise startups pitch. Partners are invited to provide input on the pitches and volunteer to participate on due diligence teams. All SV2 Partners are welcome to begin regularly attending pitch meetings at any point in the year or are welcome to attend meetings on a drop-in basis. Immediately following the pitch meeting, the Investment Committee (IC) convenes to hear the due diligence reports from the previous month and make investment decisions on behalf of SV2. All Partners are welcome to observe the IC Meetings immediately following the pitch meeting.

Family Philanthropy Interest Circle

Wednesday, 10/22 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Zoom

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 SV2 Donor Partners only, and is led by Deb Dauber.

Advancing Immigrant Equity Grant Round Meeting #2 | Get to know each other

Tuesday, 10/28 | 12:30pm - 2:30pm | Zoom

In Meeting #2 on Zoom, we'll hear directly from each of the five finalist organizations about their mission and work. SV2 and the finalist organizations will “Get to know each other”. Each Executive Director, along with any key teammates they’d like to bring, will share more about their journeys, their organization's changemaking, impact and leadership, and open up for questions.

For more information, please contact Amy Badiani at abadiani@sv2.org.

SV2 BOOK CLUB READING LIST

The Social Impact Book Club, led by SV2 Partner Paru Desai, is for Partners only and meets on the 3rd Sunday of each month. Join the Book Club on mySV2!

                  WELCOME NEW SV2 PARTNER!

Jeff Kotowitz

Jeff is a retired partner from PwC. Jeff spent most of his career in PwC’s Deals practice where he was responsible for advising technology and private equity clients on complex transactions and specialized in providing financial reporting advice associated with M&A, IPOs, joint ventures, and financing transactions. Jeff also held numerous leadership roles ranging from running divisions to being the lead relationship partner on large global accounts.  

Jeff was a board member and president of the San Francisco chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Through SV2, Jeff is looking forward to gaining a greater understanding of the needs of our community and having a direct impact through SV2’s unique, hands-on approach of “learning by doing”. Jeff and his wife Keren live in San Mateo where they raised their three adult daughters.

Ayudando Latinos A Soñar | Food Pantry

Saturday, 9/27 | Multiple Shifts | In Person | ALAS Wellness Center (507 Purissima St, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019)

Volunteer at the Food Pantry and serve our Coastside families. Tasks include: arrange, pack, tidy, categorize, count product, and dismantle boxes.

More information and sign up here.

Parent Voices Oakland | Film Screening & Discussion

Friday, 9/19 | In Person | New Parkway Theater (474 24th St, Oakland, CA)

Join Parent Voices Oakland for a Film Screening & Discussion! We can’t wait to see you on 9/19 to celebrate local early educators, the big wins of Measure C funding, and talk about how we keep build towards a child care system that works for everyone in Alameda County. Light Dinner Provided!

Join Co-Director, Jen Bradwell, for opening remarks and a lively post-panel discussion with…

- Moderator, Daisy Nguyen, Journalist at KQED
- Kristin Spanos, CEO at First 5 Alameda
- Anne Bauer, Star of Make a Circle Film, Preschool Director and Advocate
- Charlotte Guinn, Star of Make a Circle Film, Family Child Care Provider & Advocate

- Noni Galloway, Parent Voices Oakland Advocate

FREE with RSVP.

Friends for Youth | Investing 101

Wednesday, 9/24 from 5:00pm - 6:30pm | In Person | (350 Twin Dolphin Dr, Shoreway Room, Redwood City, CA 94065)

Join us for our Investing 101 Workshop with Tidal Partners! Learn the basics of investing from understanding stocks and bonds to building a diversified portfolio and making your money work for you. Dinner will be provided!

We welcome all partners, students, friends, and the FFY family to come together, connect, and gain practical tools to grow your wealth with confidence.

Sign up here.

Learning Home Volunteers | Help Change a Child’s Future

Only 30% of incoming kindergarteners have the skills they need to start school, leaving many 18 months behind. LHV is changing that, one child at a time, and we have new ways you can help.

Deliver Learning Boxes to Little Learners

Every 3 weeks, we deliver new learning sessions to families. You can help by driving; our staff will handle loading and unloading.

Deliver a Birthday Cake from Cake4Kids

Deliver a Cake4Kids cake to make a child’s birthday extra special.

To help, contact: info@learninghomevolunteers.org

Hummingbird Healing Collective

Sundays | Hummingbird Farm (1669 Geneva Ave, San Francisco, CA 94134)

You're invited to join the Hummingbird Healing Collective. Collective will meet at Hummingbird Farm, once a month on Sundays. 

• Build relationship with plantcestors growing in Yelamu.

• Build community of resilience rooted in Mama Earth to help us get through difficult times. 

• Connect with Ancestral knowledge to learn to make plant medicine to share with families in SF. 

Sunday, 9/07 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Sunday, 10/05 from 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Sunday, 11/16 from 10:00am - 2:00pm 

To register or if you have any questions contact: tere@podersf.org or call 415-680-3442

Welcoming Week with Redwood City Together

Monday, 9/8 to Sunday, 9/21| In Person 

Join us September 8-21 as we celebrate the diverse communities of Redwood City and North Fair Oaks! 

Welcoming Week Stories
Tuesday, September 16th, 6:30pm - Redwood Shores Library

Welcoming Star Celebration
Wednesday, September 17th, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
We are honored to recognize our 2025 Welcoming Stars, Project READ and Jane Slater, for their outstanding leadership, dedication, and impact in Redwood City. 

Visit the Welcoming Week website with more details about each event! Learn more here.

Food Distribution with Redwood City Together | Community Initiative

Friday, 10/1 | In Person | Fair Oaks Community Center (2600 Middlefield Rd, Redwood City, CA 94063)

Join us for some in person community volunteering! This is a monthly food distribution where 200-300 families benefit from free groceries. This is an exciting opportunity to be in community with Redwood City Together, our Community Initiative Grantee Partner. We seek up to 5 volunteers from the SV2 community each month.
 Sign up here

The José Valdés Math Institute | Volunteer Opportunities

Join us in making a meaningful impact by dedicating your time and skills to our programs year-round. Our volunteer opportunities encompass a wide range of areas: Grantmaking, Guest Lecturer, Fundraising, Legal Services, Event Planning, Outreach, or Tutoring.

More information and sign up here.

Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund (SV2) is a learning community of everyday givers committed to accelerating equity in the Bay Area through grantmaking and impact investing. For over 25 years, SV2 has been a trusted social innovation leader supporting locals to connect, learn, and practice giving in community alongside their peers.