January News

SV2 Spring 2025 Grant Round: Education Equity

SV2 is thrilled to announce that the Spring Grant Round will be focused on Education Equity. We look forward to learning and connecting with Bay Area nonprofits carrying out this work, with your support as follows:

• Community: please nominate organizations by Friday, Feb. 7th 2025: bit.ly/orgnomination

• SV2 Donor Partners: 
  • If you're participating in our Grant Round, please join the mySV2 Education Group.
  • Join our Grant Round Open House (Information Session) on Thursday, Jan. 23rd on Zoom 12:30-1:30pm. RSVP here.
• Save the date! SV2's Education Equity Grant Round Kickoff  event is on Tuesday, March 11th in person at SV2 in Redwood City, 4-6:30pm. RSVP details coming soon. 

Family Philanthropy Interest Circle

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

SV2 Impact Investing | February Monthly Pitches

Wednesday, 2/12 | 11:30am - 1:00pm | Zoom

The SV2 Impact Investing Group meets monthly 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.

SV2 Grantmaking | Education Equity Grant Round Informational Open House

Thursday, 1/23 | 12:30pm - 1:30pm | Zoom

SV2's Spring 2025 Grant Round is focused on Education Equity. Join us to learn how to participate.
The Open House on Zoom is an introductory overview for what we'll do and learn together, and how we practice equitable, trust-based grantmaking. We're excited to have a group chat about education equity, inspiring examples, and what this means for us!
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.

SV2 Impact Investing | March Monthly Pitches

Wednesday, 3/12 | 11:30am - 1:00pm | Zoom

The SV2 Impact Investing Group meets monthly 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.

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 PARTNERS

Erin Duddy & Nick Haber

Erin Duddy and Nick Haber are recent additions to the local community. Erin, who brings both Swiss and American heritage, serves as the Director of Programming and Engagement for CSP North America, a boutique non-profit focused on research and training at the intersection of private wealth and impact investing. She's passionate about designing interventions in social behavior change and decision-making that channel more capital toward social and environmental impact initiatives.

Nick, a New Jersey native who has called Palo Alto home since 2008, is an Assistant Professor in the Stanford Graduate School of Education, where he specializes in AI and leads the Autonomous Agents Lab. He’s excited about how AI will change science and, more broadly, learning and education.

Together, they've joined SV2 to deepen their experience in evaluating philanthropic and impact investment opportunities while connecting with a like-minded local community.

Ayudando Latinos A Soñar | Community Remembrance Vigil

Friday, 1/24 | 6:00-8:00PM | In Person 
ALAS Casita (636 Purissima Street, Half Moon Bay)

Please join ALAS and the National Farmworker Ministry as we remember our beloved seven farmworkers and honor their lives on this second year anniversary.

Ayudando Latinos A Soñar | Food Pantry

Volunteer at the Food Pantry and serve our Coastside families. The next Food Pantry is Saturday, Jan. 25th 2025. Tasks include arrange, pack, tidy, categorize, count product, dismantle boxes, and more. More information and sign up here.

Climate Resilient Communities | Disaster Preparedness Workshop

Tuesday, 1/21 | 6:30-8:00PM | In Person 

2555 Pulgas Ave, East Palo Alto, CA 94303

Learn how to effectively prepare for natural disasters in our upcoming Disaster Preparedness workshop, led by the Menlo Park Fire Protection District. RSVP here.

Climate Resilient Communities | Strategic Planning Guidance

We're inviting experienced consults in strategic planning to help guide CRC in effectively planning for the next three years. Interested in helping CRC? Submit a Request for Proposal to us! More information here and submit a Request for Proposal.

Food Distribution with Redwood City Together

Friday, 2/14 | 3:00-6:00PM | In Person
Fair Oaks Community Center (2600 Middlefield Rd. Redwood City)

Join us for some community volunteering! This is a monthly food distribution where 200-250 families benefit from free groceries. This is an exciting in person 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. RSVP here.

Peer Coaching Session with Redwood City Together | Community Initiative

Thursday, 2/20 | 1:00-2:30PM | In Person
SV2 Office (350 Twin Dolphin Dr. Ste, 103 Redwood City)

Come listen, learn, and share impactful guidance to advance the success of youth and families. Join us for an inspiring and impactful discussion with Redwood City Together (SV2's Community Initiative Grantee Partner). We welcome new and seasoned Partners alike to participate. You do not have to be a Redwood City or North Fair Oaks resident to be a valuable participant. RSVP 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.