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Silicon Valley Education Foundation

EIN 20-5061316 · San Jose, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WHO WE ARE - SILICON VALLEY EDUCATION FOUNDATION (SVEF) FOCUSES ON RAISING STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN THE CRITICAL AREAS OF MATH AND SCIENCE ACROSS ALL 33 SANTA CLARA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND ALSO ADJOINING SAN MATEO AND ALAMEDA COUNTIES. OUR GOAL IS TO BE THE LEADING ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE REGION. WE ARE KNOWN FOR OUR CLEAR FOCUS ON ACHIEVING RESULTS, PARTNERING, AND EMPHASIZING CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION. BEYOND SERVING STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS, WE PROVIDE VALUE TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY BY MAKING INVESTING IN EDUCATION EASY.WHY WE MATTER - THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MORE CRITICAL TIME TO IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS. WE MUST ENSURE OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE IS PREPARED TO TAKE ON THE TECHNOLOGICAL AND BUSINESS CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD. WITH AN INCREASING GAP OF QUALIFIED WORKERS TO TAKE OVER SILICON VALLEY JOBS, OUR FUTURE AS THE HEART OF THE U.S. INNOVATION IS AT RISK.WHAT WE DO - WE ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY, AND OTHE

Income
$6.2 million
Spending
$7.0 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
246
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$319,769, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (7)
  1. $2.0 million spent. ELEVATE [MATH] ELEVATE [MATH] IS A SUMMER PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ELEVATE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN MATH. THIS PROGRAM FRONT-LOADS CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO ALIGN WITH STUDENTS NEXT YEAR COMMON CORE MATH CLASSES. BY PROVIDING A SUMMER PROGRAM FOCUSED ON BUILDING BOTH MATH SKILLS AND STUDENT CONFIDENCE, ELEVATE [MATH] HELPS PREPARE MORE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND CAREERS. ELEVATE [MATH]2 WAS DEVELOPED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AS THE SCHOOL-YEAR OFFERING THAT LEVERAGES THE SUMMER PROGRAM CURRICULUM.
  2. $1.2 million spent. 49ERS STEM LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE THE 49ERS STEM LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (SLI) PROVIDES MULTI-YEAR, YEAR-ROUND ACADEMIC SUPPORT, STEM ENRICHMENT, SKILLS TRAINING, AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. IN THE PROGRAM FROM 7TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE, STUDENTS ENROLL AT CABRILLO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEN SANTA CLARA HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE THEY TAKE SLI-SPECIFIC MATH & SCIENCE CLASSES AND THEN AP SEMINAR AND AP RESEARCH THEIR JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS, RESPECTIVELY.
  3. $649,228 spent. [COMPUTER SCIENCE] INNOVATE SVEFS [COMPUTER SCIENCE] INNOVATE (CSI) PROGRAM PROVIDES LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO COMMUNITIES FURTHEST FROM OPPORTUNITY BY INTRODUCING THE FOUNDATIONS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE THROUGH THE LENS OF MAKING AND DESIGN THINKING IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE CONTINUED PURSUIT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE LEARNING IN THE FUTURE. LIKE ELEVATE [MATH], CSI IS OFFERED AS A SUMMER PROGRAM AND AS A SCHOOL-YEAR PROGRAM.
  4. $616,450 spent. SCHOOL2HOME SCHOOL2HOME AIMS TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND THE DIGITAL DIVIDE BY INTEGRATING COMPUTERS AND ONLINE ACCESS INTO TEACHING AND LEARNING AT LOW-PERFORMING MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN CALIFORNIA. SVEF MANAGES THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ARM OF THE PROGRAM.
  5. $459,707 spent. EASTSIDE EDUCATION INITIATIVE THE EASTSIDE EDUCATION INITIATIVE (EEI) AIMS TO ADDRESS A SIGNIFICANT FUNDING GAP THAT EXISTS BETWEEN SCHOOLS IN EAST SAN JOSE AND OTHER, MORE WELL-RESOURCED, SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE BAY AREA, WHERE PROPERTY TAXES ARE GREATER. THIS DISPARITY IN FUNDING MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR SAN JOSE SCHOOLS TO OFFER MORE THAN BASIC ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. AS SUCH, A-G COMPLETION RATES ARE LOWER, COLLEGE PERSISTENCE RATES ARE DROPPING AND LIVING WAGES ARE LESS ACHIEVABLE. EEI AIMS TO DO TWO THINGS: (I) ADVOCATE FOR EQUAL FUNDING FOR EAST SAN JOSE SCHOOLS, AND (II) PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN ORDER TO PROMOTE A COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS CULTURE.
  6. $305,540 spent. AFTER SCHOOL SAFETY AND ENRICHMENT FOR TEENS SVEF MANAGES THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR EASTSIDE UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT AT 5 SCHOOL SITES. THE AFTER SCHOOL SAFETY AND ENRICHMENT FOR TEENS (ASSETS) PROGRAM A STATE FUNDING PROGRAM - PROVIDES HIGHLY VARIED ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING, PHYSICAL CONDITIONING AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE UP CREDITS TOWARD HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.
  7. $107,874 spent. EAST SIDE ALLIANCE THE EAST SIDE ALLIANCE (ESA) CONSISTS OF EIGHT DISTRICTS: EAST SIDE UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE SEVEN ELEMENTARY PARTNER DISTRICTS. WITH PARTNERSHIPS WITH SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY AND EVERGREEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, SVEF PROVIDES A PRE-K THROUGH 16 ALIGNED SYSTEM. THROUGH THE ESA, SVEF OFFERS: ACADEMIC PREPARATION, THROUGH OUR CHAMPIONING OF A-G DEFAULT CURRICULUM AND THE SPARTAN EAST SIDE PROMISE. OUR ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING PROGRAM OFFERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. THE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS IN WHICH STUDENTS CARRY OUT TASKS THAT REQUIRE THEM TO SHOW EVIDENCE OF THEIR LEARNING. FINANCIAL SUPPORT, THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH EXCITE CREDIT UNION TO PROVIDE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS TO COLLEGE-GOING SENIORS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Silicon Valley Community Foundation (Mountain View, CA), EIN 20-5205488. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.