22 Years of Creative Grant Making

by: James Higa, Executive Director

We are excited to share with you our 2012 Report. The full report and can be found on our website, but here are some highlights.

Last year was a record year for our donors, who gave nearly $11M in grants through PVF. The thread that runs through our grants is people. We have come to be known as the foundation that "finds 'em and funds 'em."

We are continually looking for leaders doing outstanding work and identifying unmet needs that can be met with philanthropic support. You may wonder if we ever run out of new finds. It is quite the opposite. We are energized by the wellspring of organizations applying new approaches to tackle major issues from poverty to hunger.    

For a foundation with very limited assets to make annual grants of almost $11M is unheard of. This grant level is typically associated with a foundation over $220M in assets. How do we do this? By eliminating paperwork, simplifying the grant process, and optimizing for speed, action, and effectiveness. Our peers in the community foundation sector typically spend far more than 10% of grants made on administration expenses.

We challenge ourselves every day to ask - are the application processes too cumbersome? Are creative donors open to new ways to invest in causes they care about? Are we doing enough at PVF to think differently?   

To learn more about how we embrace the 'venture' in 'adventure', please take a look at our 2012 Report. And let us know what you think and how we can improve. We welcome your ideas on how philanthropy should and could work.  

To our current donors, we thank you for your being so supportive of our mission for grassroots philanthropy born out of creative thinking. For everyone else, why not venture with us to make something happen in your community?