Philanthropic Ventures Foundation
Philanthropic Ventures Foundation (PVF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Oakland, California, founded in 1991. The organization operates as a creative, responsive grantmaking foundation dedicated to testing new approaches to philanthropy and maximizing the impact of philanthropic dollars. PVF functions as a "living lab" for innovative grantmaking practices, serving as both a direct grantmaker and a depository for charitable projects and donor-advised funds.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$89.4M
+9.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$32.0M
+362.0% YoY
Grant Count
136
+3.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$235K
+345.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
PVF's core mission centers on advancing philanthropy through creative grantmaking approaches and maximizing philanthropic impact. The foundation operates on several key principles:
Grantmaking Philosophy:
- Grassroots Grantmaking: PVF prioritizes funding at the grassroots level, leveraging over 33 years of expertise to identify and support outstanding local leaders while responding immediately to community needs. The foundation funds based on trust and relationships forged with grantees.
- Paperless Giving: The foundation emphasizes simplicity and effectiveness in grantmaking, believing that fewer procedures and obstacles allow every dollar to work harder and accomplish more. PVF funds people, not paper.
- Radical Collaboration: The organization works to connect diverse sectors—high-tech companies, grassroots community organizations, venture funds, and foundations—to reinvent philanthropy and address systemic challenges.
- Tackling the Inequality Gap: A primary focus area is addressing the widening inequality gap in the Bay Area.
Grantmaking
PVF makes grants across various focus areas and maintains active grantmaking programs. Recent grant recipients have included organizations working on community development initiatives. The foundation also administers specialized grant programs, including awards for teachers and students in special education, social workers, and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) programs.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
PVF's primary geographic focus is the Bay Area, with particular emphasis on Oakland and San Mateo County. The foundation maintains a San Mateo County Program Director position, indicating dedicated regional programming.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $89.4 million
- Total revenues: $58.7 million
- Total expenses: $49.1 million
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $81.6 million
- Total revenues: $71 million
- Total expenses: $24.9 million
- Total liabilities: $46.9 thousand
Tax Status: PVF is a 501(c)(3) public charity (Tax ID: 94-3136771), tax-exempt since August 1991. The organization operates a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $89,430,220 | $81,605,913 | $32,597,542 |
| Revenue | $58,681,026 | $71,022,800 | $22,915,613 |
| Expenses | $49,068,184 | $24,930,502 | $23,373,623 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $5,053,053 | $1,782,223 | $472,587 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Philanthropic Ventures Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Staff:
- James Higa – Executive Director
- Dawn Hawk – Chief Operating Officer
- Sheryl Young – San Mateo County Program Director
- Savannah Lira – Program Manager
- Aly Quiroz-Perez – Grants Administrator
- Cayman Bentley – Gifts Administrator / Social Media Manager
- Andrea Smith – Program and Communications Associate
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BILL SOMERVILLE | PRESIDENT/FOUNDER | 24 | — |
| MOIRA C WALSH | CHAIRMAN | 2 | — |
| JAMES HIGA | TREASURER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 32 | — |
| DUNCAN BEARDSLEY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAMES R CODY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KAMBA TSHIONYI | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| COLBURN S WILBUR | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ALICIA AGUIRRE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DAWN HAWK | COO | 40 | $210,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
PVF continues to expand its grantmaking initiatives and thought leadership in the philanthropic sector. Recent programming includes:
Grants supporting special education teachers and students
Grants That Grow Possibilities: Celebrating Special Ed Teachers and Students\Social worker and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) grant programs
Grants That Grow Possibilities: Celebrating Special Ed Teachers and Students\Scholarship and fellowship programs
The Next Generation: Scholarship and Fellowship Programs at PVFCommunity initiatives addressing Bay Area inequality
The foundation actively shares its grantmaking experiences and innovations through conferences, public speaking engagements, and publications, positioning itself as a thought leader in creative philanthropy.
Contact Information
Address: 1222 Preservation Park Way Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 645-1890 Fax: (510) 645-1892 Email: info@venturesfoundation.org Website: www.venturesfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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