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 PVF creates innovative educational grant programs to match donor interests, from supporting under-represented immigrant students and African future leaders, to grassroots funding for vocational career training.
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| Peninsula College Fund Doubles Its Number of College Scholarships for "Eastside" Students |
 "Scholarship funds certainly are important, but having your own mentor and opportunities for internships during the summer are invaluable," -Miriam Noriega, now a junior at Mills College.
The Peninsula College Fund (PCF) was developed in 2005 by Charles Schmuck and a group of friends concerned over the large numbers of high school seniors in East Palo Alto, East Menlo Park and Redwood City, who were unable to pursue their goal of attending college for lack of funding. Together with PVF they established the Peninsula College Fund to focus on tuition support, mentoring and internships. To serve its growing mission, Peninsula College Fund continues to welcome donors, mentors, and those who may be able to assist students with summer internships. More |
| Educators for Fair Consideration:
Sharing the American Dream |
 Iris has been unstoppable ever since she emigrated from China when she was 14. She just graduated from Mission High School, completing 7 Honors courses, 6 AP courses and earning a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Educators for Fair Consideration's (E4FC) New American College Fund provides financial awards and support services to high-achieving, financially needy immigrant college students who have grown up in the Bay Area. E4FC awarded $40,500 to nine extraordinary immigrant students, astounding for their intelligence, perseverance, and character. More |
Grace Scholarship Program:
Building the Bridge to a Better Future |
 The result of a partnership between PVF and anonymous donors, the Grace Scholarship Program provides the critical gap funding necessary for impoverished African students, who are part of the US Achievers Program (USAP), to take advantage of the generous but partial scholarships offered by US colleges and universities. In the words of one scholarship recipient from Zimbabwe: "The Foundation's assistance has inspired me to participate in giving back to the community. I am confident in my future career to work towards building free and better societies we can be proud of to pass on to our next generation." More
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The Charles and Connie Meng Scholarship:
Helping Students Trade Up to a Better Future |
The Charles and Connie Meng Scholarship Program was established by PVF in 1998 to provide $500 scholarship grants to Alameda County community college students pursuing vocational and trade careers as cooks, bank tellers, pharmacy technicians, dental assistants, paralegals, apparel designer and merchandisers, cosmetologists and x-ray technicians.
In the 10 years since the program was established, PVF has worked closely with high school and community college faculty and financial aid officers to identify mature, motivated and career focused young people for whom this financial assistance would make a difference. More |
 Through PVF, Inspired Donors Produce a Three Continent Wide Span of Projects
What do a tiny 2-room schoolhouse in the Sierras, a new school for girls in Tanzania, and an orphanage in Bhutan have in common? One generous family in San Mateo County and their donor advised fund at PVF. More
Are you a donor eager to see the impact of your giving? Contact PVF to discuss setting up a customized giving program to match your interests.
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Contact Us:
Philanthropic Ventures Foundation
1222 Preservation Park Way
Oakland, CA 94612-1201
Telephone: (510) 645-1890
Fax: (510) 645-1892
Email: info@venturesfoundation.org
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| KPIX CBS-5 feature |
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"Bill Somerville of Philanthropic Ventures Foundation is turning the business of charity upside down ... offering help in a hurry to those in need."
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| PVF Featured in Gentry |
Gentry Magazine, July 2008, Feature story on Bill Somerville and various PVF programs.
"Sparking innovative ideas, forging lasting collaborations and shaping creative grantmaking" |
| PVF in the News |
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"People always talk about thinking outside the box. Whoever came up with the idea that you needed a box?" - Bill Somerville quoted by SF Examiner writer Ken Garcia.
Foundation Center - July 24, 2008, "Philanthropy Chat with Bill Somerville" with Janet Camarena
Financial Times, May 31, 2008 "Givers, Go Out and See for Yourselves" by Sean Stannard Stockton
"A philanthropic force of nature ... a leap forward towards high- impact, efficient giving that embraces imagination and risk-taking."
San Mateo County Times April 9, 2008, "Music to Their Ears: Foundations Offer Quick Grants for Arts," by Angela Hart.
San Mateo Daily Journal, January 28, 2008, "Small is Sometimes Big." Columnist Sue Lempert tours Redwood City with PVF Director Bill Somerville, discovering outstanding grassroots programs supported by PVF.
"Somerville has been re-writing the rules of philanthropy since 1991 when he founded PVF."
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| Recent Book Reviews of Grassroots Philanthropy |
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| PVF Board of Directors |
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John P. Carver, Chair
Retired Senior Vice-President,
The Gap, Inc.
Duncan Beardsley
Marketing Consultant
Howard H. Bell
Attorney,
Bell, Rosenberg & Hughes LLP
William E. Green
Attorney,
William Green & Associates
Albert J. Horn, Chairman Emeritus, Attorney,
Carr, McClellan, Ingersoll, Thompson & Horn PC
Bill Somerville, President
Executive Director,
Philanthropic Ventures Foundation
Jackie Speier
U.S. Representative
12th District of California
Colburn S. Wilbur
Trustee, Former Executive Director, David and Lucile Packard Foundation
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