Philanthropy at Work!
by Sheryl Young, San Mateo County Program Director
“We love our jobs and we’re here to support you!”
This is the message I communicated at the AFP Silicon Valley Chapter April meeting in Cupertino to a room full of 90 enthusiastic members, all development staff from peninsula nonprofits. Panelists at the April 16th meeting included Cheryl Chang, Program Officer for Sunlight Giving, Stephen Wahl, Community Health and Benefit Manager at Kaiser Permanente, along with Sheryl Young, and was moderated by Sarah Poulain, Executive Director of Family Connections.
Insights on emerging philanthropic trends in our Valley and how nonprofits can build stronger relationships with funders was discussed. This dialogue and open exchange of ideas and advice emphasized the importance of trust and building relationships to develop successful partnerships. Conversations that are fluid, mutual, dynamic and open are the key to strengthening this vibrant sector.
“The audience appreciated the diverse viewpoints, progressive grant making strategies, and the numerous gems of information they took away.”
– Vinney Arora
Together we can learn from each other to tackle the inequality gap and make this a better community for everyone. We are impressed with the leadership of Josh Selo, President and Vinnie Arora, Program Director of AFP – and know they are changing the landscape to expand opportunities for a healthy and thriving community.
