Great insightful piece on the fact that Silicon Valley philanthropists ignore local needs, with less than 10% of donations going to local nonprofits.  The reasons given are almost identical to those explaining why Los Angeles’ signature industry — entertainment — is guilty of the same thing:

  • Many executives are not originally from the area so may not have strong feelings about supporting local causes.
  • Many are new to charitable giving and start by supporting familiar causes, such as nonprofits with national brands.
  • Many prefer to give to communities in developing countries, where modest sums can dramatically alter people’s lives.
  • And there may be another, less-personal factor hampering progress: geography.  What and where exactly is Silicon Valley/Hollywood?  Is it a state of mind more than a defined geographic location?

https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Silicon-Valley-Donors-Ignore/238173