September 2025

Progress Newsletter

By James Higa, Executive Director of PVF

Can we think differently about corporate giving? We think so.

PVF has always been rooted in the spirit of being a demonstration foundation for what philanthropy could be. At the heart of this lies our belief in ‘radical collaboration’. How can we radically transform how companies can work with foundations? We fundamentally believe that companies large and small want to do good in the world. But it’s not easy, even for the companies in Silicon Valley that are steeped in innovation and creativity.

Starting a private foundation is hard. It’s a lot of heavy lifting. You have to go through the uncertain application process to obtain your 501(c)(3) status from the IRS. You have to form a board and conduct regular meetings. You have to pay out at least 5% of assets a year in grants. There are audits to comply with and 990s to file at no small expense. 41 states and the District of Columbia require charitable registration before soliciting. It’s no wonder that companies feel like ‘it’s like starting another company within my company’, ‘we're too small to make a difference’, and ‘it’s just too hard and complicated’.

That’s why we started our non-profit as a service model. PVF does all the heavy lifting of overhead and administration for you. We administer your grants. We send the acknowledgement letters out. We cover the audit and 990 as it falls under our umbrella. You don’t have to start your own foundation. All you have to do is decide how you want to give back and who to make grants to. Because we are a public charity, you can open the doors to your fund raising to accept donations from other companies, partners, and individuals who need to make a donation to a registered 501(c)(3) and to file for and obtain charitable deduction on their tax return. 

Taskrabbit for Good and Maven are great examples of this radical collaboration at work, setting up Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) through PVF to further their missions.

Taskrabbit for Good (TR4G) is TaskRabbit's social impact program. Established in 2018, TR4G supports small, grassroots organizations in the U.S., Canada, UK, and EU that align with its mission of helping people find work and a place to call home. TR4G facilitates job skills trainings for individuals seeking work, provides in-kind furniture assembly services for non-profits addressing homelessness, and connects employee volunteers with organizations in their communities. They have supported 90+ community partners, and, as part of their commitment to Pledge 1%, 20 annual hours of volunteer time off for Taskrabbit employees.

TR4G Taskers and TaskRabbit employees building a tiny house to benefit a nonprofit organization.

Maven Clinic is the world's largest virtual clinic for women's and family health. As part of Maven's social impact strategy, and in partnership with 4Kira4Moms, they run the annual MPact for Families initiative.

MPact for Families is a program that invests in community-based organizations (CBOs) that are filling gaps in the traditional health care system, and building the trust within their communities that is core to delivering better reproductive or maternal health outcomes. Over 12 months, Maven Clinic and March for Moms will provide financial support, coaching, and capacity building to the selected CBOs dedicated to advancing maternal health. 

They have supported several incredible organizations over these past few years, including the 2024-2025 fellows: Ttáwaxt Birth Justice Center and the Iowa Black Doula Collective.

Ttáwaxt Birth Justice Center is an organization that centers its mission on the revitalization of Indigenous intergenerational matriarchal practices and systems. The Center provides crucial pre and postnatal care, reproductive healthcare, breastfeeding support, childbirth education, cultural classes, plant medicine, and advocacy support for families on the 2-million acre Yakama Nation Reservation in Washington state, where the nearest hospital for many is several hours away.

Iowa Black Doula Collective (IBDC) was established in 2020 to positively impact Black maternal health in the state of Iowa. IBDC's mission is to train and prepare diverse doulas to advocate for and empower BIPOC individuals through their prenatal, birth, and postpartum experiences. IBDC provides evidence-based, equity-centered support for birth workers through comprehensive services and education to cultivate community among birthworkers, families, and healthcare professionals in Iowa.

You can read Maven Clinic's press release here for more about the MPact for Families program.

Corporate giving doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be responsive, lightweight, and innovative. It just needs a little radical collaboration.

Savannah Lira, Program Manager, is responsible for program management and development, as well as communication materials at PVF. She is an AmeriCorps Alum and has a background in economic development and grantwriting.