Image - Giving Code
Image - Giving Code

The Giving Code

Peter Fortenbaugh, CEO, Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula
Carol Larson, President and CEO, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Daniel Lurie, CEO, Tipping Point
Heather McLeod Grant, Co-founder, Open Impact; Co-author, The Giving Code: Silicon Valley Nonprofits and Philanthropy
Tess Reynolds, CEO, New Door Ventures
Kerry Dolan, Assistant Managing Editor, Forbes—Moderator

Why are Silicon Valley's nonprofits struggling to meet demand in one of the wealthiest and most sophisticated regions in the world? In addition to national or global causes, why aren’t more Silicon Valley philanthropists directing their dollars toward local organizations and issues? And why hasn’t more entrepreneurial ingenuity been harnessed to solve local problems? 

A new report, The Giving Code: Silicon Valley Nonprofits and Philanthropy by Alexa Cortés Culwell and Heather McLeod Grant, found that despite a nearly $5 billion boom in philanthropy in Silicon Valley—driven by a 150 percent increase in individual giving from 2008 to 2013—the region's nonprofits are struggling to keep up with growing demand for their services, having less than three months’ cash on hand.

The report reveals a shocking prosperity paradox in Silicon Valley with skyrocketing wealth found alongside growing displacement of vulnerable populations and declining quality of life. Even as Silicon Valley boasts more than 76,000 millionaires and billionaires, its middle class is shrinking—nearly 30 percent of residents (roughly 800,000 people) rely on some form of public or private assistance to get by.

Our panel, comprised of prominent philanthropists and local nonprofit leaders, will take a deeper look into Silicon Valley’s giving culture.

Speakers
Image - Fortenbaugh

Peter Fortenbaugh

CEO, Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula

Image - Larson

Carol Larson

President and CEO, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

Image - Lurie

Daniel Lurie

CEO, Tipping Point

Image - Grant

Heather McLeod Grant

Co-founder, Open Impact; Co-author, The Giving Code: Silicon Valley Nonprofits and Philanthropy

Image - Reynolds

Tess Reynolds

CEO, New Door Ventures

Image - Dolan

Kerry Dolan

Assistant Managing Editor, Forbes—Moderator