More Spotlights Contact: Corporate Development Officer Sabrina Pourmand (650) 568-7337 spourmand@peninsula habitat.org Home Partnerships Spotlight Sobrato Foundation Family Foundation Responds to Nonprofits' Needs with Challenge Grants The Sobrato family name is synonymous with real estate development in Silicon Valley. With more than 50 years of experience in the industry, they are one of the largest developers in Silicon Valley, owning over 250 office, research and development facilities in the Valley and 7,500 apartment units throughout the state of California. However, in 1996 after 40 years of real estate development, three generations of Sobratos added a new descriptor to the family name when they created a foundation and became grantmakers. The family hoped to share the success of their business and make a lasting impact on their local community. "The Sobrato family and its Foundation are dedicated to helping create and sustain a vibrant and healthy community where all Silicon Valley residents have an equal opportunity to live, work and be enriched," said Diane Ford, executive director of The Sobrato Foundation. "While we strive to invest in as many organizations as possible, we are particularly interested in nonprofits that focus on health and human services, education and youth development." In the early years, the Foundation followed in the footsteps of other foundations across the country by awarding program specific grants to local nonprofits, but in recent years, the Foundation changed its philanthropic strategy. "The Sobrato Foundation is unique in exclusively providing general operating support in the form of challenge grants to Silicon Valley nonprofits," said Ford. "General operating grants are unrestricted funds designed to help sustain an organization's operations, including personnel costs associated with administrative and fundraising expenses, as well as capital grants for buildings." Since its inception the Foundation has awarded over 800 grants, or more than $25 million, to local nonprofits like Peninsula Habitat for Humanity. In 2005, Peninsula Habitat for Humanity applied for and received a $15,000 challenge grant from the Sobrato Foundation. If Habitat raised an additional $15,000 to match the Foundation's grant, the foundation would then give Habitat $15,000 more for a total of $30,000. Ford said Habitat received the grant due in part to how well its work in the community aligned with the Foundation's goals and objectives. "We have a strong interest in community-based organizations that promote self-reliance and economic independence, and positively contribute to the quality of life for economically, physically and emotionally challenged individuals," said Ford. "Peninsula Habitat for Humanity meets those criteria by changing the lives of low-income families and revitalizing communities through affordable, ownership housing." While Peninsula Habitat for Humanity successfully matched the Foundation's grant, Ford said the Foundation never makes guarantees for future grants. "We had a positive first experience with Habitat, and if the organization applies for another grant, hopefully our relationship will continue to move forward," she said. In addition to Peninsula Habitat for Humanity, the Sobrato family also invests in other nonprofits that provide affordable, rental housing throughout the Bay Area. With a gift of $10 million, the family made the largest philanthropic contribution ever made to support affordable housing in Silicon Valley in 2001. Through the Foundation, they created a revolving loan fund aimed at assisting a pre-approved list of local nonprofit housing developers in creating affordable multi-family rental properties, homeless/transitional housing, and below market rate single-family/homeownership developments in Santa Clara, Southern San Mateo and Southern Alameda Counties. "To date, we've loaned nonprofits over $7.8 million for the creation of 2,016 affordable housing units, and hope to be able to respond to even more nonprofits' needs in the future," Ford said.