What Does Philanthropy Mean?

To venture implies taking a risk, a willingness to proceed with an effort even through one isn't sure it will work. Risk is part of PVF's grantmaking philosophy when, in our professional opinion, we feel the risk is worth it. This is in contrast to taking a gamble, which is to leave the outcome to fate - like throwing dice. We don't gamble.

People often say change is needed. Change requires doing something different, thus change involves venture. Philanthropic money should be the venture dollar in our society. In this way, people who are working for a better community can be enabled to be creative in their thinking, making possible things that wouldn't have happened otherwise.

With risk, things might not work out; they might fail. Therein lies the rub for many grantmakers. Do we let this scenario paralyze us so that we take no risks? At PVF we take risks and we feel the payoff is substantial.

Take the Zohar Dance Company in Palo Alto started by Ehud and Daynee Krauss. They wanted support, but for the most part the dance company served families that could afford dance classes. We challenged Ehud to consider serving low-income youth. He took the challenge, we funded the effort through a donor who was willing to risk, and the rest is history.

Today Zohar Dance Company has expanded its outreach and has enrolled close to 10,000 minority and low-income youth. They have conducted dance classes in juvenile halls, at programs serving developmentally disabled, and working creatively with autistic children. This was a huge risk for the dance company to take and it paid off. One outcome we have found is that girls taking dance have increased self esteem and have far fewer teen pregnancies in their future lives. Indeed, Zohar Dance Company is now preeminent in the field of teaching dance to youth who are usually overlooked. This is venture philanthropy.

Take Khalil Shaheed, a jazz trumpeter who has spent over a decade reaching out to high school youth teaching them to play jazz. Not much money in this kind of work but he perseveres and has a significant impact on youth. Over the years PVF has funded Khalil through one of our donors who plays jazz. Khalil isn't even on the radar of non-profit rating systems and most foundations. He is an essential grassroots worker who adds to the quality of life.

PVF created the Ambassador Program in which we select people like Khalil Shaheed as Ambassadors, and set aside $10,000 for them to use as a miniature foundation to fund others who they come across doing similar creative grassroots work. Khalil gave $2,500 to a group of youth who were trying to start a jazz band just as he, Khalil, had done a few years earlier. In addition Khalil supported a jazz youth band that wished to give regular touring concerts at local senior centers.

Who better to give out money than those who have created exciting programs and struggled to find support themselves? PVF has given out seven Ambassador grants for others to use to help people get started on a project or a program. This is venture philanthropy.