Environment issues are now at the forefront of challenges facing the world, with many implications for the Bay Area and our local communities. Regardless of your particular issue interest area(s), climate will affect it. It is all interconnected and climate is foundational to our ability to thrive as individuals and communities. Join us for a local and actionable learning session about Climate Realities: Opportunities + Resilience for All on Wednesday, April 1st 6:30-8:30pm at SV2. RSVP here.
The Lightning Grant Round (LGR) with a broader and interconnected environment focus will happen in Spring and Fall 2020.
Both the learning session and LGR are co-led by SV2 Partners Bill Brownell and Jennifer McFarlane, and SV2 staff Amy Badiani.
This sounds amazing! What will I do and how can I sign up for the LGR?
Partners will review and select from a group of six Bay Area organizations nominated by our Funder Allies. We’re delighted and so grateful to have Heising-Simons Foundation and Sand Hill Foundation as our Funder Allies for the Spring and Fall Lightning Grant Rounds. Partners will vote on 3 organizations to become finalists.
- Meeting 1 (meet and get to know our three finalist organizations): Monday, May 4th 6:30-9pm in Palo Alto. | RSVP here
- Meeting 2 (Partners discuss our three finalist organizations and vote on Grantee): Monday, May 18th 6:30-9pm in Palo Alto. To vote, Partners must read the diligence shared about the three finalist organizations before Meeting 2 and be present in-person at Meeting 2. | RSVP here
Meeting 1 is open to SV2 Partners and Prospective Partners. Meeting 2 is open to just SV2 Partners. Both meetings will be held in the Adobe Room, Mitchell Park Community Center: 3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303. Please RSVP by Monday, April 20th 2020. You’ll get more details once you RSVP and more information about the shortlisted organizations in the beginning of April.
What is a Lightning Grant Round?
Lightning Grant Rounds are a shortened grantmaking experience, taking place over four to six weeks with only two in-person meetings. For the Lightning Rounds, SV2 collaborates with funder allies who nominate organizations from their portfolios and share their diligence materials with us. Working with funder allies relieves the burden for nonprofit applicants and allows SV2 Partners to learn how our funder allies approach their work.
During Lightning Rounds, participating Partners have the opportunity to research and get to know six organizations in the sector, learn from funder allies about these organizations, hear presentations from the leaders of three finalist organizations, and collectively select a single Grantee. Lightning Round Grantees receive a one-year general operating support grant of up to $30,000, and participating Partners get to engage in a fantastic hands-on learning experience.