Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation (SVLG Foundation)

The SVLG Foundation hosts three running events a year to raise money for local food banks, children’s charities, healthcare, and housing. The SVLG Foundation provides opportunities for community college students to achieve experience in local technology companies and assists in job placement. ¹

History

Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation is part of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG). ¹ The SVLG Foundation was founded in 2002 to work with local charities on issues that will help the Silicon Valley’s business climate and quality of life for workers. ²

While the Silicon Valley Leadership Group is a business association providing events, roundtables, working groups, and reports, the SVLG Foundation hosts events to raise money for local charities in the Silicon Valley area. ³

Activities

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in the Silicon Valley region by raising and distributing funds for food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, and other needs. ¹ The SVLG Foundation also serves as a host for non-partisan research and public policy issues including left-of-center racial activism, the environment, education, energy, healthcare, housing, land use, and transportation. ¹ SVLG Foundation focuses on providing assistance to charities, business and community leaders, and scholars. ¹

Events

Since 2005, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation has held the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot run that raises funds for local charitable organizations including the Healthier Kids Foundation, Housing Trust Silicon Valley, Health Trust, and Second Harvest of both Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz County. ¹ Since inception, the race has raised more than $10 million. ¹ The SVLG Foundation also conducts a Christmas run, the Santa Run Silicon Valley, in San Jose and the Lam Research Heart and Soles Run in Santa Clara County benefiting children’s health and wellness nonprofits. ¹ Combined, these events have raised over $1.2 million. ¹

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation founded a program in 2018 called “Hire Learning” to provide community college students exposure to learning and hiring opportunities in Silicon Valley. ¹ The program works with Silicon Valley Leadership Group member companies, community colleges, and similar nonprofits to provide students real world experiences, expand interest in STEM work, and provides career opportunities with companies in Silicon Valley. ¹

Financials

In 2022, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation reported net assets of $868,160. ² According to the organization’s tax returns, in 2022 SVLG Foundation recorded $560,372 in revenue and $460,361 in expenses. ² In 2021, SVLG Foundation raised $806,871 in revenue and $812,782 in expenses. ⁴

Leadership

Ahmad Thomas has been CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and executive director of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation since 2020. ⁵ Prior to joining SVLG Foundation, Thomas was an investment banker at Barclays from 2010 to 2020. ⁶ From 2005 until 2010, Thomas was a senior aide to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). ⁷ Since 2021, Thomas has donated at least $9,500 to Democratic candidates in California. ⁸