San Jose, CA
Executive Director: Elise Cutini
Co-investor: David & Lucile Packard Foundation
Pivotal’s (formerly Silicon Valley Children’s Fund) high-impact programs help foster youth in Santa Clara County become successful and self-sustaining adults. Pivotal scholars are 10 times more likely to graduate college than other foster youth. Its high school mentor program matches students with MSW interns to develop and achieve academic goals. Its summer offerings include credit-recovery courses to earn credits lost due to changes in school placement, enrichment classes, career exploration workshops and college tours. Its high school STEM program offers work-readiness training and paid internships with top technology companies. Pivotal’s higher education scholarship recipients are connected with coaches who help with academic and budget planning, and connect scholars to tutoring, financial aid and other critical services.