Paul Eveloff

What attracted you to The San Francisco Foundation?
I chose The San Francisco Foundation to initiate my donor advised fund because, in my areas of interest of the arts and academic and media technology training for at-risk children and youth, the Foundation's Neighborhood and Community Development, Education, and Arts and Culture program officers are very knowledgeable. It is important to me that the Foundation and its program officers are committed to funding effective programs that achieve significant outcomes. These improve the quality of life and expand services and opportunities for those most in need in our Bay Area community.

Also, it is very important to me that the Foundation provides financial reporting services and resource support that I would have to underwrite myself, if I were to establish a private foundation. This allows me to distribute a much higher percentage of my funds directly to charitable organizations.

I think there is an obligation for us, as funders, to get
personally involved in promising earlier-stage programs to help them grow
successfully.

How did your upbringing influence your philanthropy?
My parents were children of immigrant families who came to America with very little. Their parents, who worked hard and were successful, taught them that it was their obligation to help others in less fortunate circumstances. Both my parents were very giving of their time and resources in the community—my mother as an artist and social activist, and my father as a family physician and board member of many community service organizations.

What motivates your giving?
I'm motivated by the responsibility that I feel to share my personal resources and time in support of at-risk and underserved youth who—for lack of access, financial capability, language skills, and social or legal status—do not have the opportunity to obtain an education and become self-sustaining. I've been working with nonprofit organizations as an advisor and funder for many years on my own account and, for the past ten years, through my role as managing trustee of the Joseph R. Parker Foundation.

What kinds of organizations excite you?
I'm most drawn to organizations that serve the needs of at-risk children and youth. Here in the Bay Area some good examples are: Youth UpRising, Thunder Road, and YouthSounds in Oakland; BayCat and First Exposures/SF CameraWork in San Francisco; and cutting edge reading, art, dance, music and theater arts programs at grade school and high school levels in Richmond, Marin City, and the Canal Area of San Rafael. Each achieves significant results through confidence and leadership skills development and by improving academic performance.

With so many Bay Area organizations making an impact, how do you determine which organizations to support?
My interest has been to identify promising earlier-stage programs that address critical current needs for at-risk youth. Funding decisions are based on a venture philanthropy model. I think of the funding as "seed" money to support key new elements of a successful program or to support the program's growth. A program's effectiveness in its community, as well as its internal leadership and management skills, success, and ability to grow to serve additional clients directly or by example in other communities, are important funding criteria.

I think there is an obligation for us, as funders, to get personally involved in promising earlier-stage programs to help them grow successfully. In recent years, my involvement has included financial and management support, access to volunteers with needed expertise, and introductions to other funders.