Philanthropic Ventures Foundation

November 2011

progress

a newsletter for our donors and colleagues  

 

On the Road Less Traveled

Looking back at PVF's first 20 years, we are a unique enterprise, in that we have chosen to take the road less traveled. PVF is not merely a depository for donor advised funds, as with Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, and many community foundations. PVF is a one-of-a-kind foundation that does things no one else is doing. People who have donor advised funds with PVF want input from the foundation in order to do creative giving. To that end, PVF takes donors on field trips to outstanding grassroots projects, introduces the next generation to philanthropic ideas and best practices, and creates giving programs tailored to the giving focus of each donor.

PVF has never been driven by size. Rather than focus on growing assets and mechanizing processes, our approach is a personalized one. If there is a driving force, it is impact: using the philanthropic dollar to have impact, to bring about something positive for a better community. PVF will continue to demonstrate unique giving and will help donors to customize their giving. In addition, PVF is out in front, modeling new, responsive practices in grantmaking for the philanthropic community.

 

Click here to watch a video about PVF's
roadmap to creative grantmaking, outlined by
Executive Director Bill Somerville

A case in point is a nascent idea for PVF to help create a "design approach" to philanthropy (at Stanford, called the D school). Professional philanthropy is constantly urging non-profits to collaborate in their work. What about foundations themselves joining together? Interdisciplinary professionals could collaborate to address new approaches for philanthropy to focus on important issues, such as a safety net for low-income people in a specific area.

 

Imagine a meeting of the minds which would include a police officer, a cleric, a teacher, a business person, a foundation executive, an artist, a realtor, a banker, a nonprofit leader, to come up with ideas to serve the poor. The goal here is to realize the full potential of philanthropy. The same kind of meeting could be held including representatives of nonprofits to see how they could collaborate.

 

This is not an easy task, but it is the kind of challenge PVF undertakes. PVF is different in taking the road less traveled.

 

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

Bill Somerville has been in non-profit and philanthropic work for 50 years. He was the director of a community foundation for 17 years, and in 1991 founded Philanthropic Ventures Foundation where he serves 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

Director, Generosity in Action 

 

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, 

David and Lucile Packard Foundation 

Board of Advisors

Janet Camarena

Director, San Francisco Office,

The Foundation Center

 

Leonard Edwards

Judge-in-Residence, California Administrative Office of the Courts

 

Kathy Kwan 

Eustice-Kwan Family Foundation 

 

Dien Yuen

Chief Philanthropy Officer,

Give2Asia

Be Our Fan on Facebook! 

Where's Bill? Eating Healthy with Parents in EPA 

Where's Bill? Follow PVF's Executive Director, Bill Somerville, out of the office, for site visits and meetings with outstanding grassroots leaders.

For eleven years PVF has sponsored the Parent Involvement Workers in East Palo Alto wherein we hire immigrant women who have graduated from ESL class to work in public schools in East Palo Alto.  Their job is to get parents - especially non-English speaking parents - involved in the education of their children.  These women have become an integral part of Cesar Chavez Middle School, and the teachers and principal love them...click here to read more!

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