August News

Advancing Immigrant Equity Grant Round | Informational Open House

Tuesday, 8/19 | 5:00pm - 6:00pm | Zoom

SV2's Fall 2025 Grant Round is focused on Advancing Immigrant Equity.

SV2 will select two Bay Area nonprofit or fiscally sponsored organizations to each receive $90,000 in unrestricted funding. We'll also offer these two new Grantee Partners our beyond-the-dollars support and collaborative partnership. 3 finalist organizations will get $1,000 in honorariums each.

The Open House on Zoom is an introductory overview of what we'll do and learn together, and how we practice equitable, trust-based grantmaking. We're keen to have a group chat about immigrant equity, inspiring examples, collaborative ideation, and share ways we can all make a good impact together.

This meeting is for current SV2 community members interested in participating in our grantmaking: SV2 Donor Partners, SV2 Grantee and Investee Partners, and Teens. Other Friends of SV2 (e.g. other funders and those considering joining SV2 as Donor Partners) are also welcome to join.

If you have any questions

Power, Policy & People: Shaping Environmental Justice Today

Thursday, 9/11 | 3:30pm - 5:00pm | In Person| SV2 Office 

Join us for a timely and powerful conversation on the shifting landscape of environmental justice. Power, Policy & People: Shaping Environmental Justice Today brings together frontline leaders to explore how recent federal legislation, funding shifts, and policy rollbacks are reshaping the field, and how communities are responding with resilience, innovation, and action.

SV2 Happy Hour

Thursday, 9/11 | 5:00pm - 6:00pm | In Person | SV2 Office

Join us for a casual Happy Hour at the SV2 office -- connect with old friends and make some new ones. We'll have drinks and light snacks, and we look forward to seeing you there! Please reach out with questions to Mariana at maguilar@sv2.org.

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. We also warmly welcome 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.

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!

SV2 Holiday Party

Thursday, 12/11 | 5:00pm - 7:30pm | In Person | SV2 Office

Join us for a fun and casual evening filled with delicious food, drinks, games, and holiday cheer! This is a family-friendly event. Dress code is casual.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mariana Aguilar at maguilar@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!

Wynne Segal Dubovoy

For the last decade plus, Wynne has focused on reproductive rights and access, first as Chair of the NARAL Pro-Choice America Peninsula Leadership Council, and then as a Major Gifts Officer for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, raising money in Silicon Valley, until retirement in June 2023.

Wynne was an early Board member of WIRE for Women, and served as Treasurer. WIRE for Women is a non-partisan group helping recruit, train and identify, recruit and train local
women run for office in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, and seek appointive office.

Currently Secretary of the TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Board, Wynne has served on the Boards of Crystal Springs Uplands School and Ronald McDonald House at Stanford. Trained
as an MSW, and a dedicated community volunteer, Wynne helps new non-profits create a Development plan, as is passionate about helping all in the community, especially in the
areas of women’s health, reproductive justice, access to health care, children and education, and the arts.

Ayudando Latinos A Soñar | Food Pantry

Saturday, 8/23 | Multiple Shifts | In Person | ALAS Wellness Center (507 Purissima Street, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Volunteer at the Food Pantry and serve our Coastside families. Tasks include arrange, pack, tidy, categorize, count product, dismantle boxes, and more. More information and sign up here.

Brightline Defense | "Our Community Our Air"

Brightline celebrates three years of air quality community organizing. Their article includes 250+ needs assessment interviews, surveys, public comments on San Francisco's most vulnerable residents’ voices regarding air quality. Read more 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

Redwood City Together | Annual Report 

Check Out Redwood City Together’s Annual Report that highlights the partnerships, programs, and impact made possible through community collaboration. Explore the inspiring stories, key accomplishments, and future goals that are shaping a more connected and inclusive Redwood City and North Fair Oaks. Read more here.

Food Distribution with Redwood City Together | Community Initiative

Friday, 9/12 | In Person | Fair Oaks Community Center (2600 Middlefield Road, 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.

Welcoming Week with Redwood City Together

Friday, 9/12 to Sunday, 9/21| In Person 

Welcoming Week reflects on ways we can break barriers so that places can foster belonging for all, including immigrants and refugees.

Please contact Benjamin Juarez-Garcia for more info!

bjuarezgarcia@redwoodcity.org

Tarjimly | Volunteer as a Community Translator

Become a Community Interpreter. Volunteer as a community translator and help eliminate language barriers for people accessing critical services—whenever and wherever you can.

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