Who Are We?
Catalyst For Empowerment Within Communities
Our Mission
"The Mission of Silicon Valley Umbrella Project is to be a catalyst for community empowerment, providing vital support to changemakers, neighborhood volunteers, nonprofit startups, community initiatives, and community-based collaborations. Primarily through the use of Fiscal Sponsorships, Silicon Valley Umbrella Project nurtures new organizations and supports activities and programs that benefit the community."
What the Silicon Valley Umbrella Project Does
Silicon Valley Umbrella Project intends to provide fiscal sponsorship for budding organizations which will assist them in raising funds while they are in early development. This will be the primary work of Silicon Valley Umbrella Project.
Additionally, Silicon Valley Umbrella Project will act in emergency situations or in support of short-term programs as a reliable fiscal sponsor that can process donations from the public, corporate and foundation sectors.
By providing a strong early support system for developing nonprofit organizations and by being a reliable, trusted partner in processing funds for community programs, Silicon Valley Umbrella Project will help make our community stronger and more responsive to community needs.
Silicon Valley Umbrella Project is part of a national sector of nonprofit organizations, affiliatedwith the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors (NNFS) and the Social Impact Commons.
Services Provided
Basic service of Silicon Valley Umbrella Project will include:
Fiscal Sponsorship
The primary service will be fiscal sponsorship, which allows a group or person that is intending to become a nonprofit organization to raise funds under the auspices of Silicon Valley Umbrella Project (SVUP). This will include creating a public fundraising portal, receiving donations, banking the donations, extracting a percentage as a fee for service, and paying out the collected funds as needed.
Accounting
SVUP will keep an accounting of all funds for each sponsored entity and periodically report the balances and transactions of each sponsored group.
Connecting
SVUP will assist in connecting community groups and nonprofit startups with people, leaders, resources and organizations that can help them develop and grow.
Training, Mentoring and Coaching
SVUP will provide basic training and individualized tutoring for each sponsored entity, as needed; and will connect sponsored groups with nonprofit resources available (i.e., Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits) and notify them of new resources, workshops, classes that will help them build a stronger organization. Training in board development,
fundraising, marketing, and general organization-building will be prioritized.
Rapid Response
SVUP will provide rapid response to community crises that may require a credible nonprofit entity to step up to raise funds, such as occurred during the early days of COVID and following local flooding. This is especially important where there is no recognized nonprofit to take charge. SVUP will be ready to step up.
Essential Vetting
SVUP will act as an agent for vetting new nonprofit start-ups through sponsorship. The community will know that an organization, a program or an ad hoc group is
legitimate through its association with SVUP.
Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector
SVUP will provide leadership, using its resources to help
provide a trusted community partner for all. There may be needs in the community that are not
currently foreseen, but which may require a fiscal sponsorship or partnership in order to succeed. SVUP will have the best interests of the community in its actions.
Who We Serve
1
Individuals With an Idea
There are people in our community who have ideas from time to time
about providing a service or fulfilling a need or filling a void somehow. These individuals, especially those with energy and ability, should be encouraged to act. SVUP intends to provide such persons with fiscal Sponsorship to get them going.
2
Community Groups
There are a myriad of community organizations, clubs, associations,
residents, neighbors, et al, that function just fine and provide essential fabric for our lives. On
occasion, these groups may need to be a nonprofit for a specific program or to take advantage of an opportunity. SVUP will be there to provide the fiscal sponsorship they need in order to raise funds, accept a grant, etc.
3
Ad Hoc Groups
In addition to the groups that exist and may require temporary nonprofit status to participate or benefit from an opportunity, Ad Hoc Groups often form in the face of similar opportunities or programs, such as campaigning for a street repair or creating a celebration for
4
Community Emergencies
SVUP intends to be there when an emergency arises and the community needs somewhere to go to donate. there when an emergency arises and the community needs somewhere to go to donate. Existing nonprofits often have their own ongoing concern and sometimes are working in tandem with a few other nonprofits. SVUP can provide a
clear and simple direct place to go to fund all of it.
5
Ongoing, Low Maintenance Programs
There are programs that come about periodically that serve great community need, but do not necessarily require that a nonprofit organization be created. SVUP can provide the fundraising vehicle for such efforts, creating the fiscal sponsorship required and then lying dormant until needed again.
6
Fiscal Sponsor for Corporate Philanthropy
There are a number of vehicles for Corporate Philanthropy in Silicon Valley that require a nonprofit corporation to receive donations. SVUP will provide the fiscal sponsorships for efforts conducted by small community groups or by subject matter (i.e., flood relief, community rebuilding) to make it easier for Corporate Donors and their employees to give. SVUP will act as an intermediary for direct funding to a community group
whenever needed.
7
Fiscal Sponsor for Political & Government Projects
Sometimes there are projects that fall into the hands of councilmembers, mayors or others, but do not really belong in a political setting. To build credibility and trust, Silicon Valley Umbrella Project will establish a fund for the project and
make certain that it is carried out properly.
