Silicon Valley Community Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund To respond to our changing world and evolving climate, SVCF in 2023 created the Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund, an ongoing effort that will support immediate and long-term local disaster recovery efforts. The historic local rainfalls of the 2022-23 winter season and previous fires catalyzed the fund's launch. The fund has distributed grants totaling more than $744,000 since inception, including to organizations serving those affected by storms and floods and those affected by fatal shootings at two local farms. Community Action Grants Program SVCF's Community Action Grants program funds our local organizations that nurture and build community and advance community-led solutions that alleviate ingrained problems. In 2024, Community Action Grants totaling more than $3 million were awarded to over 104 organizations across different issue areas, including arts and culture, faith and neighborhoods, local journalism, civic participation, the environment, and health. Convening Leaders to Improve Farmworker Housing In 2024, SVCF made strides toward addressing the critical housing challenges facing farmworker communities along San Mateo County's coastline. Through research, convenings and collaborative action, SVCF is working with diverse stakeholders to help develop holistic solutions for those who harvest the region's food but struggle to find safe, affordable housing. SVCF published "Homes for Those Who Harvest: Housing San Mateo County's Farmworkers," a comprehensive report detailing the housing challenges farmworkers face and proposing actionable solutions. Advancing Local Journalism with the Press Forward Initiative In 2024, SVCF deepened its commitment to supporting local journalism that amplifies community voices and ensures the region's residents have access to accurate, relevant information about issues that impact their lives every day. SVCF was selected to house the local chapter of the national Press Forward initiative, a movement investing more than $500 million to strengthen local newsrooms, close gaps in journalism coverage, and expand access to trustworthy local news. As Press Forward Silicon Valley, SVCF is cultivating a network of funders dedicated to enhancing local journalism and increasing available resources.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 98.3%; rating input score 98
• Fundraising efficiency: $1,042.5 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 96; 96th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Fail
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Pass
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.9%; rating input score 100; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 30.4%; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.62; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.14; rating input score 76; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0.1%; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 17.3% per year; rating input score 100; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 10.2% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 10.9% per year; rating input score 100; 74th percentile among comparable filings