by: Bill Somerville, President & CEO  

PVF has been in the vanguard in its work. Over the years, we have consulted at 400 foundations in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. on creative grantmaking. We have published over 80 bulletins relating to effective foundation work, and we are willing to try new approaches to philanthropy such as 48 hour turnaround in giving grants and minimizing the application process to the point of paperless giving. 

PVF provided funding to A.L.A.S. to support their cultural dance programs on the Coastside.

We customize giving by finding people doing outstanding work for donors to choose from. An example would be Belinda Arriaga, a social worker on the Coastside who created dance ensembles for children of farmworkers and also involving parents. She started this program, A.L.A.S., with her own money, and it grew into a project that also educates families about immigration issues and helps to strengthen the community.    

The donor who wanted PVF to "do something for teachers" actually started our teacher grant program, wherein teachers merely send us a one-page request and we give a grant in 48 hours. So far we have given out close to $7 million to teachers in small grants over the past 12 years for math materials, arts supplies, excursions, after school programs, visiting artists, and special education resources.      

A donor challenged us to get low-income parents involved in their children's education and we did. PVF hired and trained low-income women to work in an East Palo Alto middle school. The principal now states: "I couldn't run the school without them." These women are change agents, and their own lives have changed as well.    

In this video, grantee Sister Christina Heltsley of the Saint Francis Center, discusses her continued partnership with PVF.

A change agent brings about change. Hopefully, change implies doing things better. Change also means taking a risk, and we are willing to do just that. Take Sister Monica, an expert on mosquitos at UC Berkeley. Many years ago PVF provided her with the seedfunding needed to start a program in Fair Oaks serving the poor with food, clothing, and housing. This effort has grown into the Saint Francis Center, which holds 41 units of low-income housing, serves hundreds with food and clothing distribution, and includes a school and gymnasium.

There is no better role for philanthropy then as an agent of change. We are the entrpreneurial dollar of society. If donors want to see change, they might consider using PVF as their agent.

We believe - start small, think big, act quickly. This is what PVF does.