Food Distribution with Redwood City Together | Community Initiative

Friday, 4/14 | 3:00pm - 6:00pm | In Person
2600 Middlefield Rd. Redwood City, CA 94063

Join us for some community volunteering! This is a monthly food distribution where 200-300 families benefit from healthy and free groceries. This is an exciting in person, family friendly volunteer opportunity to be in community with Redwood City Together, our new Community Initiative Grantee Partner. We have five slots available for the SV2 community each month.

SV2 Impact Investing | Due Diligence Training

Wednesday, 4/19 | 11:30am - 1:30pm PT | Zoom

The SV2 Impact Investing Group (IIG) is offering a special training session on early-stage social venture due diligence in lieu of April Pitches. We will review SV2's investment selection criteria, impact measurement, and risk assessment frameworks, cover commonly used terms in early-stage impact investing, and walk through data room documents.

How to be a Great Board Member: Insights from Nonprofit Executive Directors

Thursday, 5/4 | 11:00am - 12:00pm PT | Zoom

Nonprofit Board service can be a powerful way to volunteer time and skills in support of the social sector. This interactive workshop will offer an opportunity to gain tips and insights directly from local nonprofit Executive Directors about what makes for a great Board member. Our speakers – all current or former SV2 Grantee Partners – are Rolland Janairo, Executive Director of Silicon Valley Urban Debate League, Ivan Martinez, Executive Director of Redwood City PAL, and Linda Prieto, Executive Director of Upward Scholars. These leaders have many insights from working on the ground in partnership with their Boards of Directors to lead their organizations. Come ready to be inspired and challenged! 

Get Proximate Recap: Rain Gardening with Climate Resilient Communities

How might we take excess rainwater and put it to good use? This past February, we rolled up our sleeves and did some rain gardening in East Palo Alto - a water re-directing, fresh dirt-filled, joyful planting experience! We did this with Climate Resilient Communities (CRC) - our new Climate Justice Grantee Partner, and Fresh Approach. This was an “SV2 Get Proximate” event. Through our Get Proximate events, we are actively in community with our Grantee Partners, changemaking together, and cultivating a strong relationship together earlier on. 

WELCOME NEW SV2 PARTNERS

Raphael Lee & Margaret McCarthy

Raphael Lee (he/him) co-founded U.S. Digital Response, a nonprofit which helps state and local governments respond quickly to critical public needs. He was previously an engineering leader at Airbnb and Lob.  Margaret McCarthy (she/her) is the Executive and Co-Director of Southern Exposure. She has over a decade of experience at nonprofits working for social change, including four years at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, and has led long-term organizational strategy, communications, fundraising, and staff and volunteer management at other San Francisco nonprofits. She is a board member of the Center for Artistic Activism.

Bilen Mesfin Packwood

With nearly 20 years of experience in media and communications, Bilen Mesfin Packwood is the founder and principal of Change Consulting, LLC, a full-service communications agency based in Oakland for social and racial justice leaders. She has established a reputation as a trusted strategic communicator and advisor to leading changemakers. Prior to founding Change Consulting, Bilen advanced communications efforts for then San Francisco District Attorney Kamala D. Harris. As a journalist, Bilen has written for the Associated Press, the Nashville Tennessean, Edutopia and Art & Antiques, among other publications. She has a Master’s in Journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BA in English from Vanderbilt University. She lives in Oakland with her daughter, Elyana, and husband, Damon.

Braven

We’re proving what’s possible when you empower the next generation of leaders with the skills, networks, experiences, and confidence necessary to launch a strong career. Our 2023 Jobs Report is out!

Climate Resilient Communities 

Storm Preparation Tips from CRC

ICA

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

Una Vida | One Life Counseling

Una Vida is a division under One Life that provides mental health support and services for the latinx community. Please join us on May 11 at 6pm in hearing about our program, how we are increasing our services for the underserved community and our goals for the future! We also know how imporant self care is so please join us for a salsa lesson led by an instructor. The profit from this night will go to more free and affordable therapy sessions, parenting groups, teen/children groups and workshops for the community. RSVP.

RCEF Equity Summit | Evolving to Meet the Needs of Our Students

The Redwood City Education Foundation (RCEF) invites you to its RCEF Equity Summit on Tuesday, April 25th, from 9:00 - 11:00 am at the CZI Community Space. We'll gather government and school officials, local partners, and community members for an impactful panel discussion examining the critical role of educational equity in shaping vibrant local communities. RSVP.

Redwood City PAL

Family Art Nights - Last Friday of every month | Join an evening full of enrichment through art that is fun for all ages and members of your family. Taught by our professional PAL staff. In-person or virtual events are available. Upcoming PAL Events.

Upward Scholars

Supporting local small businesses started and owned by Upward Scholars students and alumni helps students continue to live out their entrepreneurial dreams! Support a student

Upward Scholars

In 2023, one of Upward Scholars' goals and priorities is to acquire no-cost or low-cost office space for our now seven-person team, and we need your help! The ideal Upward Scholars office:
Located in Redwood City (or East Palo Alto to Belmont) Accessible by public transit
With dedicated parking or street parking
Approximately a 400-square-foot space for shared coworking With access to a conference room
Accommodates the presence of children during work hours Available beyond the traditional Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm workday
With a minimum 10-month lease

If you know of spaces that might be a good fit, please contact us: marta@upwardscholars.org and abadiani@sv2.org

Listen4Good

Are you looking for ways to accelerate your community impact and advance your equity goals?  Listen4Good just opened registration for its next round of feedback programs that kick off in July! 

Listen4Good is a capacity-building initiative, launched by Fund for Shared Insight, that supports nonprofits to build high-quality, equity-focused feedback loops with those they serve. Over time, organizations that work with L4G become more client-centric, more impactful, and also more inclusive—fostering shared partnerships with their clients.

Over the course of 18 months, organizations will benefit from 1:1 coaching, robust survey tools, and peer learning opportunities. To learn more, attend one of our upcoming free informational webinars or schedule a time to chat with a Listen4Good teammate. Ask L4G how we can help you secure a funder to support your participation in Listen4Good. Register by June 1, 2023 here.

Regeneration Through Agriculture: A Learning Journey for Investors and Funders

Sallie Calhoun and the #NoRegrets Initiative team will be hosting Regeneration Through Agriculture: A Learning Journey for Investors and Funders at Paicines Ranch, May 2-4, 2023. The 3-day Learning Journey takes place at Paicines Ranch, a regenerative ranch located two hours south of San Francisco in San Benito County, California. Learn more.

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

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 20 years, SV2 has been a trusted social innovation leader supporting locals to connect, learn, and practice giving in community alongside their peers.