Our Mission
The Sobrato family is committed to Building a Strong & Vibrant Silicon Valley Community through Business and Philanthropic Leadership. As the primary grantmaking vehicle of the Sobrato Philanthropies, the Sobrato Family Foundation [SFF] invests exclusively in nonprofits serving those most in need in Santa Clara, San Mateo and Southern Alameda counties.
Our Community Impact Platform
SFF has been known for nearly twenty years as a place-based grantmaker that funds millions of dollars each year in general operating support, donates land and buildings to community nonprofits, and provides rent-free office and conference space to Bay Area organizations through our three Nonprofit Centers. In late 2013, SFF also began making responsive and strategic grants to support our mission. In 2014 we outlined four interrelated program areas focused on Community Impact, guided by our desire to promote economic opportunity and mobility for all who work and live in our community.
Healthy People and Places Program—Building on our general operating support program, we seek to make strategic grants to increase pathways out of poverty for the economically disenfranchised by increasing access to housing, jobs, and economic opportunities.
21st Century Education Program—Aligned with our belief that education is the key to economic opportunity, we seek to increase the number of high-quality classrooms and school leaders, and support youth in completing high school prepared for college or a career.
Thriving Nonprofit Sector Program—Acknowledging the need for strong and innovative partners, we seek to increase the effectiveness, scalability, and impact of socially-minded organizations, and support the development of visionary social entrepreneurs.
Philanthropy Engagement Program—Recognizing the power of collective action to solve social problems, we seek to promote a culture of philanthropy in the Valley that eliminates economic disparity.