Grantmaking

Partners for amplifying the power of nonprofits.

We collaborate to fund Bay Area nonprofits led by diverse teams that truly represent the communities they serve.

Partners for amplifying the power of nonprofits.

We collaborate to fund Bay Area nonprofits led by diverse teams that truly represent the communities they serve.

Grantmaking

Every year, SV2 Donor Partners work together to select four nonprofits operating in the Bay Area to receive unrestricted grants totaling $90,000 each ($30,000 per year). We then provide valuable Beyond the Dollars support. Grantees choose Partner Champions to collaborate with throughout the full three-year term of the grant.

The organizations we support are committed to addressing social issues and making a tangible impact on people affected by these issues, with diverse leadership teams that are representative of the communities they serve.

SV2’s partnership has been invaluable to our growth. Beyond the flexibility of their unrestricted funding, the Beyond-the-Dollar support has opened doors that would have taken years to find on our own. Between the deep thought partnership of the staff and the warm introductions from our Partner Champion, SV2 creates a unique community where we can navigate major strategic decisions alongside trusted peers and funders.

Remi Sobomehin, Founder & CEO, Ambition Angels

How does it work?

Kwok Lau

Serving as an SV2 Partner Champion has been one of the most meaningful parts of my 14 years with SV2. It has given me the privilege of working alongside community-based organizations that deeply listen to and amplify the voices of the people they serve. Being invited into their work—as a thought partner, connector, and learner—has been both humbling and inspiring. The relationships we’ve built often continue well beyond the grant period, and I count that as one of the greatest rewards of the experience.

Kwok Lau, SV2 Donor Partner
Deb Dauber

Participating in SV2 Grant Rounds allows me to revisit sectors I care deeply about and rethink what it truly means to make an impact. Through SV2’s equity-centered approaches, I don’t just learn about new organizations; I deepen my understanding of the entire sector and help build a more inclusive community. This intentional focus on equity is exactly why I choose to participate in the Grant Rounds. As a direct result of deepening my engagement, I’ve even served as a Partner Champion to a number of our Grantees.

Deb Dauber, SV2 Donor Partner

SV2 hosts two Grant Rounds per year, one in the Fall and one in the Spring, each focused on a different topic area. Recent topics have included Economic Mobility & Inclusion, Education Equity, Environmental Justice, Advancing Immigrant Equity, and Mental Health & Wellbeing.

During the four-month process, Donor Partners learn about an issue area, get to know Bay Area nonprofits and other community leaders working in that sector, and participate in a rigorous diligence approach that incorporates equity-centered grantmaking. Following this learning and diligence, Donor Partners select two nonprofits to receive unrestricted grants. Our grants are unrestricted because we believe the leaders we choose to support know best how to allocate their funds.

Like everything else at SV2, grantmaking is a collaborative effort. The process is led by SV2 staff and two Donor Partners who serve as the Grant Round Co-Leaders. They help plan the meetings and events, coach participating Donor Partners on performing nonprofit due diligence, and lead the group in discussion and decision-making.

Following the grant decision, new Grantees select Partner Champions to provide them with advice and subject matter expertise over the three-year term of their grant. Our Donor Partners bring a wealth of experience in areas ranging from finance to marketing to technology to operations, and this support has proven to be highly valuable to organizations looking to grow their capabilities.

How does it work?

SV2 hosts two Grant Rounds per year, one in the Fall and one in the Spring, each focused on a different topic area. Recent topics have included Economic Mobility & Inclusion, Education Equity, Environmental Justice, Advancing Immigrant Equity, and Mental Health & Wellbeing.

During the four-month process, Donor Partners learn about an issue area, get to know Bay Area nonprofits and other community leaders working in that sector, and participate in a rigorous diligence approach that incorporates equity-centered grantmaking. Following this learning and diligence, Donor Partners select two nonprofits to receive unrestricted grants. Our grants are unrestricted because we believe the leaders we choose to support know best how to allocate their funds.

Like everything else at SV2, grantmaking is a collaborative effort. The process is led by SV2 staff and two Donor Partners who serve as the Grant Round Co-Leaders. They help plan the meetings and events, coach participating Donor Partners on performing nonprofit due diligence, and lead the group in discussion and decision-making.

Following the grant decision, new Grantees select Partner Champions to provide them with advice and subject matter expertise over the three-year term of their grant. Our Donor Partners bring a wealth of experience in areas ranging from finance to marketing to technology to operations, and this support has proven to be highly valuable to organizations looking to grow their capabilities.

Kwok Lau

Serving as an SV2 Partner Champion has been one of the most meaningful parts of my 14 years with SV2. It has given me the privilege of working alongside community-based organizations that deeply listen to and amplify the voices of the people they serve. Being invited into their work—as a thought partner, connector, and learner—has been both humbling and inspiring. The relationships we’ve built often continue well beyond the grant period, and I count that as one of the greatest rewards of the experience.

Kwok Lau, SV2 Donor Partner

Participating in SV2 Grant Rounds allows me to revisit sectors I care deeply about and rethink what it truly means to make an impact. Through SV2’s equity-centered approaches, I don’t just learn about new organizations; I deepen my understanding of the entire sector and help build a more inclusive community. This intentional focus on equity is exactly why I choose to participate in the Grant Rounds. As a direct result of deepening my engagement, I’ve even served as a Partner Champion to a number of our Grantees.

Deb Dauber, SV2 Donor Partner

The Grant Round process:

  • Open Call & Selection: SV2 issues an open call for nonprofit nominations within the active issue area, typically receiving 50–70 names. From this pool, SV2 staff narrows the list down to five final organizations.

  • Landscape Learning: A team of Donor Partners, known as the Landscape Learning Team, acts as a vital bridge between Bay Area community experts and the SV2 Donor Partner network. Working alongside Grant Round Co-Leaders and staff, they guide the collective learning process to ensure funding decisions are grounded in authentic community insights.

  • Meeting #1: SV2 invites community leaders and subject matter experts to share their knowledge and perspectives, preparing Donor Partners to make informed decisions. The five finalist organizations are announced at this Grant Round Kickoff Event.

  • Meeting #2: The five finalist organizations introduce themselves and their work to all the Donor Partners participating in that Grant Round, and this also serves as an opportunity for the five finalists to get to know the SV2 community.

  • Financial Diligence and Coffee Chats: Donor Partners conduct financial analysis guided by SV2’s staff and established methodology. Small teams of participants also meet with each finalist in virtual “Coffee Chats” that take the place of a written grant proposal, saving potential grantees time and effort and allowing all involved to get to know one another.

  • Meeting #3: Donor Partners discuss their learnings from the financial analysis and Coffee Chats.

  • Meeting #4: After another round of discussion, Donor Partners who have participated throughout the process vote to select the two Grantees. The other three finalists receive an honorarium.

Organizations seeking grant funding from SV2 should:

  • Be a 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored.
  • Not have previously received an SV2 three-year grant.
  • Deliver programs and maintain an executive presence in one of these Bay Area counties: San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Francisco, and/or Alameda.
  • National organizations must have a local office, an Executive Director/CEO, and a local Board of Directors.
  • Deliver programs and maintain an executive presence in one of these Bay Area counties: San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Francisco, and/or Alameda.
  • Address the Grant Round Topic issue.
  • Have an annual budget of $500,000–$4 million.