PVF Invites You to Support Teachers

Philanthropic Ventures Foundation

August 2012

progress

a newsletter for our donors and colleagues

Back to School Funding - Thanks to PVF Donors!

PVF is excited to announce a full roster of Teacher Resource Grant Programs to support Bay Area teachers this Fall.

For 13 years PVF has supported teachers in the Bay Area with grants for science equipment, art supplies, special education resources, after school programs, artists in the classroom, math supplies, excursions, and doctors in the classroom.

After School: For public school teachers grades 6-12 in select Bay Area school districts. Supported by funding from the Barkley Fund at PVF.

Arts Grants: For public school teachers grades K-8 in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Supported by funding from the Westly Foundation.

Excursion Grants: For public school teachers grades K-5 in Alameda & San Mateo Counties. Supported by funding from the Geballe Family.

San Francisco Teacher Resource Grants: For public school teachers grades K-5 in San Francisco to help them enhance their instruction.

Science Grants: For public school teachers grades K-12 in Alameda & Contra Costa Counties. Supported by funding from the Joseph & Vera Long Foundation.

Visiting Artist: For public school teachers grades 1-12 in Alameda and San Mateo Counties. Supported by funding from the Geballe Family.

PVF makes it easy for teachers to apply: all the

teachers do is send a one page request by fax listing what is needed, on school stationary, co-signed by the principal. Almost all the requests are funded and a check is sent in 48 hours.

Because of budget cuts, field trips, arts, and other resources are eliminated from schools, especially in low income areas. Teachers, for years, have been contributing over $500 a year from their own money. Our goal is to address this by giving grants up to $500 directly to teachers. Teachers love this program, which they call the "fax grants program." A teacher wrote in recently: "PVF has the complete recipe for a teacher-friendly grant - an easy application, prompt mailing of the check, and an easy reporting process."

PVF has raised the money to run these programs over the years. Individual and foundation donors have generously come forth to support particular programs. PVF can create customized teacher grant programs for donors by focusing on a particular geographic area, a particular school district, a subject area of choice, or by coming up with a new idea to fund.

You can contribute by credit card to PVF's Teacher Resource Grants by clicking the button below. Select "Teacher Resource Grants Program" under Support PVF's Immediate Response Programs.

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 Chief Executive Officer. 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

Duncan Beardsley, Chair

Director, Generosity in Action

John P. Carver

Retired Senior Vice-President

The Gap Inc.

William E. Green

Attorney

William Green & Associates

James Higa

Executive Director

Philanthropic Ventures Foundation

Albert J. Horn

Attorney

Carr, McClellan, Ingersoll,

Thompson & Horn PC

Bill Somerville, President

CEO

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

Eustace-Kwan Family Foundation

Dien Yuen

Chief Philanthropy Officer,

Give2Asia

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Teacher Resource Grant Thank You's

Each year we receive heartfelt thank you letters, pictures and projects from teachers who have been awarded grants from our various Teacher Grant Programs. Here is a selection of what we have received:

Pier 39 - Acorn Woodland Elementary, Oakland: Ms. Lissette Averhoff took her students to Pier 39:

"As more funding gets cut, students in under-served communities get hit the hardest; we work hard to level the playing field for our kids by giving them access to an excellent education and to enriching experiences. Thank you for providing such an amazing opportunity to my class."