February News

Values Aligned Investing Workshop

Tuesday, 2/25 | 12:00pm - 1:30pm | Zoom

Join Values Advisor’s Kate Simpson for a workshop on Values-Aligned Investing. With a focus on interactive discussion and community building, the workshop will help you better align your investments with your values. You will be guided through a unique, personal reflection journey that incorporates guided meditations with group work and journal writing. The workshop is designed for all levels of expertise, from novice impact investors to experienced practitioners: all will uncover new learnings.

SV2 Grantmaking | Education Equity Grant Round Kickoff

Tuesday, 3/11 | 4:00pm - 6:30pm | In Person | SV2 Office

Join us in person to be inspired by examples of education equity in action! We'll also announce the five finalists for our Grant Round.

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 | Author Visit 

Sunday, 3/16 | 6:30pm - 8:30pm | Zoom

Author Dorcas Cheng-Tozun will join SV2 book club for a fireside chat about her book Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul: How to Change the World in Quiet Ways. Whether you are just starting out or have been doing this work for a while, this book is for all of us working in the social justice space. Our deep care and compassion can be channeled into positive social impact. All are welcome.

New Partner Orientation

Tuesday, 3/18 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm | 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.

Nonprofit Diligence with a Trust Based Lens

Tuesday, 3/25 | 3:00pm - 5:00pm | In Person | SV2 Office

Learn how to practice Trust Based Philanthropy in this interactive workshop. We’ll use a case study format to identify key “look for’s” and questions to ask as you consider your giving to nonprofits. We’ll introduce you to an organizational assessment framework and key indicators you can use in SV2’s nonprofit due diligence process and your own. The workshop is part of the “SV2 Essentials” curriculum, and is designed for both new and seasoned SV2 Partners – come for the first time, or come as a refresher. We’ve timed this workshop to coordinate with the currently running Education Equity Grant Round. We especially encourage Grant Round participants to attend. The workshop will be followed by a Happy Hour for more time to socialize and connect with the SV2 community.

SV2 Happy Hour

Tuesday, 3/25 | 5:00pm - 6:30pm | In Person | SV2 Office

Join us for a casual Happy Hour at the SV2 office — come 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 Yajaira at ychavez@sv2.org.

Family Philanthropy Interest Circle

Thursday, 3/27 | 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 Donor 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. 

SV2 Grantmaking | Education Equity Grant Round Meeting #2 | Get to Know Each Other

Tuesday, 4/1 | 12:30pm - 2:30pm | Zoom

Join us as we get to know our five inspiring Grant Round finalists! We'll hear about their mission and work and they'll get to know SV2. 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.

SV2 Grantmaking | Education Equity Grant Round Meeting #3 | Learning + Sharing

Thursday, 4/24 | 12:15pm - 2:30pm | In Person | SV2 Office

Join us in person! SV2 Partners will go deeper in their learning about the five finalist organizations by 'doing our homework' (learning about the organizations from what they have already shared publicly) and discussing the results of the coffee chats and our financial review. 

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

Cheryl Chin 

Cheryl brings more than 20 years of leadership experience launching innovative technologies in the healthcare industry. She has a strong background in Marketing and has played a key role in developing molecular diagnostic tests and therapies from product concept to commercialization, with a focus on oncology and immunology products. Cheryl is excited to join SV2 and looks forward to learning more about her community and giving back.

Barbara Raymond 

Barbara Raymond is a native Californian who cares deeply about making California a better place for everyone. She has spent over 30 years helping nonprofits, mission-driven leaders, and changemakers bring their big ideas to life. Barbara has worked at organizations like The California Endowment and the RAND Corporation, always focused on making a real difference. She’s excited to join SV2, and where she can connect with others who want to use their time, talents, and resources to make a lasting impact.

Lisa Westrich 

Lisa Westrich is a clinical social worker currently working as a bereavement counselor at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. She has over 30 years of experience in non-profit program development, research and evaluation, and in providing direct services for children and families in the Bay Area. Lisa is passionate about equity and community-driven impact and is eager to work with a diverse group of SV2 partners to address many of the challenges our local communities are facing.  

Ayudando Latinos A Soñar | Food Pantry

Saturday, 2/22 | Multiple Shifts | In Person 

ALAS Casita (636 Purissima Street, Half Moon Bay)

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.

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.

Food Distribution with Redwood City Together

Friday, 3/14 | 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.

Harvard Business School Association of Northern California (HBSANC) Scholarship Program 

Harvard Business School Association of Northern CA (HBSANC) is thrilled to sponsor three promising Bay Area nonprofit CEO/Executive Directors to attend the HBS Executive Education course Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (SPNM) on a fully paid scholarship during the Summer. The deadline for applying for the 2025 Scholarship is February 28, 2025. More details and apply 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.