Empowering People Living In Poverty 

The work of Philanthropic Ventures Foundation is to empower people living in poverty to improve their lives. We work with teachers in public schools, new immigrants, young people in foster care, and program directors.

At PVF, we are not just a source of funds but also a referral source to help people, programs, and professionals. Not a week goes by where we aren't referring people to programs, programs to programs, and programs to new resources.

PVF funds programs that help low-income people. We know where people and programs can get used furniture, or where food, clothing and counseling can be accessed. We know people who have expertise that can help on about any issue. We help people conceptualize their ideas so they can become operational. We help people plan into their futures. We think this is what foundations are supposed to be doing. It's not just a matter of money.

How does one empower people to move out of poverty?  

• At PVF we offer scholarships for young people to learn a trade at a community college. Students may be youth emancipating from foster care, single mothers, or English language learners, all persevering to enter a vocation despite multiple obstacles.  As one Meng Scholarship recipient writes, "your support will have continued positive affect on many lives:  In addition to mastering my trade as a carpenter, it is my goal to apprentice and mentor young people who share the background I have survived, youth from dysfunctional no-parent homes and at-risk lifestyles." 

• PVF gives discretionary money to agencies serving the poor so they can use it as they best determine to help people become self-sufficient. Our money comes with no strings, and the reports from the agencies show the wide variety of client needs this funding helps to meet. We give such money without being asked and there is no application. We honor those with whom we work as they honor their clients in the services they offer.  An example is a discretionary grant to the Wilderness School program in Daly City, an intensive outdoor leadership training course that works with teens who have dropped out of school and may be heading into gangs, homelessness, poverty.

All of these efforts, we hope, help make our society more humane and healthy and we thank our donors for making it all possible.

Join Us

Philanthropic Ventures Foundation has come to depict exciting philanthropy - grassroots giving that is born out of creative thinking. If readers would like to explore new possibilities in their giving, we are ready to meet at your convenience. We believe your giving should be fun, satisfying and significant.

We can be reached at (510) 645-1890.

About the Editor

Board of Directors

John P. Carver, Chair

Retired Senior Vice-President

The Gap Inc.

Marketing Consultant

William E. Green

Attorney

William Green & Associates

Attorney

Carr, McClellan, Ingersoll,

Thompson & Horn PC

Bill Somerville, President

Executive Director

Philanthropic Ventures Foundation

U.S. Representative

12th District of California
 
Moira C. Walsh

Attorney and

Philanthropic Advisor

Board of Advisors

Where's Bill?

PVF's 2010 Report

PVF's 2010 Report is now available! Click here to view.

Highlights:

        - Over 20 years we have given out over $68 million in grants

        - In 2010 we gave out over $5 million in grants

Want to Know More?

Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, 1222 Preservation Park Way, Oakland CA 94612-1201

Telephone: (510) 645-1890  Fax: (510) 645-1892

www.venturesfoundation.org