Philanthropic Ventures Foundation
 November 2009
progress
a newsletter for our donors
and colleagues

What Does The Economic Downturn Mean For Philanthropy?

It means we had better be as responsive and efficient as we can be.  Almost all the work of Philanthropic Ventures Foundation is focused on poverty.  We fund programs serving the poor.  We help start programs to serve the poor.  And we give discretionary money to program managers to spend as they see fit in serving the poor.

PVF makes this money available right away.  We don't require applications nor do we have deadlines.  In most cases we take the initiative in granting funds to people and programs.  Recently we came across Judge Jacqueline Duong in the Santa Clara County Juvenile Justice Court.  She is deeply committed to the youth that come before her and wants to help them.  After talking with her in her courtroom, we set aside $10,000 to be used to meet the needs of the youth in her court.  This could include dental work, glasses, a bicycle, money to start a savings account, anything that helps a youth to get stabilized.

Now, this kind of grantmaking is interesting because we cannot give money to a judge, an elected official, nor can a judge ask for money.  So we have walked the extra mile to make this program work.  Officials associated with the court, probation officers, assistant district attorneys, CASA volunteers, can call needs to our attention and we make the decision to fund or not and then send the money.  We are even willing to make the check payable to the dentist, optometrist, etc.

PVF created the Juvenile Court Judges Program and now we make funds available for all juvenile judges in the Bay Area.  This is possible because someone like YOU put forth money to bring it about.
About the Editor
Bill with students at Holy Family School
Bill Somerville has been in non-profit and philanthropic work for 49 years.  He was the director of a community foundation for 17 years, and in 1991 founded Philanthropic Ventures Foundation serving as Executive Director.  PVF is a demonstration foundation practicing unique forms of grantmaking and conducting innovative philanthropy.  Bill has consulted at over 400 community foundations in the United States, Canada, and the U.K., on creative grantmaking and foundation operations.  His primary interest is in the creative and significant use of the philanthropic dollar.
Board of Directors
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
Attorney
Carr, McClellan, Ingersoll,
Thompson & Horn PC
Bill Somerville, President
Executive Director
Philanthropic Ventures Foundation
Jackie Speier
U.S. Representative
12th District of California
Moira C. Walsh
Attorney and
Philanthropic Advisor
Colburn S. Wilbur
Trustee and Former President
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
We are forever grateful to our donors who make all this possible.  If a donor has an idea, we are ready to make it real.
At PVF we try to get out of the office at least 50% of the time, visiting people and programs, asking people for ideas, and looking for outstanding people doing good work.  The kind of people we find aren't on the radar of listings, rankings, recommended agencies.  They are people doing good work with a passion and it is both exciting and rewarding to associate with them.  The point to be made here is that they need to be found.  Such people do not apply for funding.  They are committed to the degree that they will do their work regardless.

With your donations to PVF we give these people resource money, sometimes the first "outside" money that they have ever had and they appreciate it.  It turns out that if we can give money quickly, even a small amount can have impact.  Timing is everything and PVF, we are told, is the only foundation giving its grants in 48 hours and we do it with paperless giving.  This means that we come to agreement with someone regarding funding and we write the details and send a letter with the check to the recipient.

We are forever grateful to our donors who make all this possible. If a donor has an idea, we are ready to make it real.  If you want more information feel free to contact Bill Somerville at 510/645-1890 or email
info@venturesfoundation.org.

If you would like to support our Juvenile Court Judges Program or provide general support for PVF you can do so by clicking here.  PVF is a 501(c)(3) public charity.  Funds given to it qualify for the maximum tax deduction.
Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, 1222 Preservation Park Way, Oakland CA 94612-1201
Telephone: 510-645-1890 Fax: 510-645-1892
www.venturesfoundation.org