Building Resilient Communities
During 2020 and 2021, Full Circle Fund (FCF) marked 20 years of community engagement. What started as an informal circle of friends who wanted to create a new model to give back to the community—in time, talent, and funding—has evolved into a network of passionate professionals working with local nonprofits focused on economic opportunity, education, environment and energy, and health.
While we were not able to gather in-person to celebrate the 20th anniversary, we are grateful to the supporters who contributed to our Anniversary Campaign. Check out our new Insights Report: Community Experience for a complete list of donors and project highlights. In addition, we appreciate the tireless work of our volunteer Members, nonprofit Grant Partners, and the FCF team and board who completed this work--all working remotely during this unprecedented year.
The FCF model is unique. While some grantmakers provide funding and other organizations provide volunteers, FCF provides both. As we look to the next two decades, our goal is to grow our impact and scale our programs so that we can connect more nonprofits with more professionals to build more resilient communities. And, hopefully, celebrate together in person soon.
COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE
Who We Are: After 20 years, Full Circle Fund (FCF) continues to be at the forefront of connecting high-impact nonprofits with local professionals who are ready to apply their skills and experience to advance social justice. In partnership with the community, FCF identifies and engages individual volunteers with nonprofit community organizations advancing social justice initiatives and innovative solutions in the Bay Area and beyond.
What We Do: Central to FCF’s Participatory Grantmaking work is a selection process designed to elevate voices of community members: FCF staff, volunteer Members, and Alumni Grant Partners do the due diligence. The process also elevates the impact of Members and Corporate Partners, connecting them directly with organizations with innovative structures, thoughtful strategies and solutions, strong leadership, and proven impact.
How We Work: FCF works nonprofits at an inflection point on projects designed to help develop strategies, unlock growth opportunities, and scale current and new ways to ultimately fulfill their missions. During the six-month hands-on engagements, volunteer Members provide professional skills and experience that help solve critical nonprofit needs. In addition, nonprofit Grant Partners each receive unrestricted funding.
- Grant Cycle: Individual volunteer Members provide professional skills and funding for nonprofits working in economic opportunity, education, environment & energy, and health;
- Tech Accelerator Fund (TAF): Tech professionals providing pro bono services and funding for nonprofits focused on technology products or services;
- Corporate-Nonprofit Accelerator Fund (CNAF): Company teams providing pro bono services and funding for nonprofits to help scale community impact.
FCF is a trusted partner to help companies reach Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals, as well as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Belonging (DEIB) goals, bolster employee engagement, satisfaction and retention, and fulfill leadership development objectives. Project team members participate in a “Power and Privilege” training to learn how to work collaboratively and effectively with professionals from diverse backgrounds.
After the projects are completed, Members and Grant Partners are invited to complete a survey to help FCF evaluate and improve our program design and impact. This report includes survey highlights and project summaries.
Philanthropy
ReInvest in Philanthropy: By 2025, we will unlock $100 million in new resources invested back into Bay Area nonprofits. $60 million will come from FCF members’ time. And $40 million worth of grants. Beyond $100 million, 10,000 Members and 8,000 nonprofits:
- Individuals: Are transformed philanthropically, volunteering with Grant Partners on other projects, joining as board members and/ or donating at significantly higher levels
- Nonprofit Organizations: Are adequately resourced to achieve their missions.
- Corporate Sector: Engaged corporations leverage their financial and intellectual capital through skills-based volunteering and measure their CSR impact based on the outcomes for their nonprofit partners.
- Society: From the closing of the empathy and resource gap, all nonprofits provide services for all citizens to thrive in an equitable community.
Thank you to our 20th Anniversary donors.
For more information, visit Philanthropy.
Case Studies
Economic Opportunity: One Fair Wage
Education: Community Education Partnerships
Environment & Energy: GirlVentures
Health: YLabs
Tech Accelerator: Beyond 12, Community Technology Alliance, Tarjimly
Corporate Nonprofit Accelerator: CareerVillage, CommuintyConnect Labs, One Degree (now known as Alluma)
Testimonials
Economic Opportunity
“FCF provided us with a great team of strategists who helped us advance a part of our work that we never previously had the capacity to figure out on our own. It was extremely helpful.” –Saru Jayaraman, President, One Fair Wage
Education
“Being an FCF grant partner was a truly wonderful experience, the positive impact of which we will feel for a very long time. As an organization, we gained the tools and language needed to better demonstrate our impact to potential partners and funders, and we developed important professional skills and connections along the way.” –Erica Mohan, Executive Director, Community Education Partnerships
Environment & Energy
“Full Circle Fund's support helped GirlVentures develop tools and processes to advance our operations and program delivery, contributing skills and experience that we didn't have internally. Our experience with FCF also built strong relationships with a new group of supporters, and positioned us well to continue to evolve and grow during a challenging time.” –Emily Teitsworth, Executive Director, GirlVentures
Health
“It's wonderful to have a community of people who understand the challenges of working in the social impact non-profit space, and to have a safe environment in which to share ideas and support one another. After our partnership, YLabs feels like a stronger version of itself and better positioned to grow sustainably.” –Jordan Levine, Epidemiologist, YLabs
Corporate Nonprofit Accelerator Fund
“You'll have access to some very talented, engaged people who can really help your organization. You may identify long-lasting organization champions.” –Rey Faustino, Founder & CEO, One Degree
Tech Accelerator Fund
FCF Members helped us design and sell a high quality employee volunteering program that showcases the kind of bridge the world needs between Silicon Valley and the humanitarian sector.” –Atif Javed, Executive Director, Tarjiml
Volunteer Members
“I built great relationships with both my non-profit partners and other teammates. This experience inspired me to give back more and I plan to continue working with CareerVillage and join at least one non-profit board and give more of my time” –Chris Koehler,Chief Marketing Officer, Box (Corporate Accelerator Fund member participant)
Impact
After the projects are completed, Members and Grant Partners are invited to complete a survey to help FCF evaluate and improve our program design and impact.
of Members reported that they understand the needs of the Bay Area nonprofit sector compared to 35% before the program.
of Members reported that they know how to apply their professional skills to support nonprofits.
of Members reported that they have formed new relationships.
of Members reported that when considering their long-term career plans, the opportunity to engage in social impact activities as part of their professional role is important or very important.
of Members reported that the FCF project gave me important professional and personal skills.
of Members reported development of new professional and/or personal relationships.
of Grant Partners increased its capacity to fulfill its mission as a result of this program.
of Grant Partners formed new relationships that will help my organization succeed in its mission.
My time and energy spent at FCF has resulted in the development of some deep and meaningful professional and/or personal relationships.
My time and energy spent at FCF has provided me with important professional and personal skills.