Victoria Penfield

 

Victoria Penfield is proof that giving begets giving. As a fifth-generation Californian, she grew up in a family with a long tradition of philanthropy and has continued that through her adult life.

“It’s something my family has always done,” said Penfield, an asset manager. “We were raised to believe that those with time and resources should share them with others.”

She is following the pattern her mother and grandmother set of volunteering and increasing involvement with charitable organizations, then, after a time, assuming a leadership position.

The breadth and quality of philanthropic training for that kind of role was one of the things that attracted her to SV2. Besides having access to local philanthropic leaders, SV2 offers seminars for partners on topics such as grantmaking and best practices for board members.

“These events have been extremely helpful and informative, and I have found that this learning, as well as the hands-on experience I have gained, has made a real difference in my effectiveness in other groups that I serve,” Penfield said.

There’s also a variety of ways for partners to become involved, depending on their time availability and their interests.

“The group provides the flexibility for partners to adjust their level of involvement as their schedules change,” she said. “SV2 manages to serve that niche where there aren’t a lot of requirements, but you can certainly really do things to make a difference.”