Brad and Janice Silverberg

SOURCE OF WEALTH: Microsoft, Ignition

FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Health, Environment, Jewish Causes

OVERVIEW: Brad and Janice Silverberg move their philanthropy through the Kismet 805 Foundation, which gave away around $323,000 in a recent year. The couple support their schools. Other interests include health and the environment.

BACKGROUND: Brad Silverberg graduated with a bachelor’s in computer science from Brown University in 1976 and a master’s in computer science from the University of Toronto in 1977. During his nine-year tenure at Microsoft, he was a senior vice president and member of Microsoft’s nine-member Executive Committee. He was responsible for driving all aspects of the Windows business during the early 1990s. Silverberg is a founding partner of Ignition, investing in software, infrastructure, and consumer companies.

ISSUES:

EDUCATION & YOUTH: The Silverbergs support University of Washington, including its new Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering. The couple are part of a group who call themselves “Friends of Bill & Melinda” which has collectively donated more than $30 million toward the $110 million building project. Other grantees have included Brown University, Claremont McKenna College, KIPP, USC, Seattle Academy, College Success Foundation, and Carnegie Mellon University.

HEALTH: Grantees have included Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation, and Preeclampsia Foundation.

ENVIRONMENT: Support has gone to Environmental Defense Center, Washington Trails Association, Seattle Science Foundation, Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center, and Grand Teton National Park.

JEWISH CAUSES: Grantees have included Jewish Day School, Jewish Family Service, Hillel, and Temple Tifereth Israel .

LOOKING FORWARD: Expect the family’s varied giving to continue for now. Perhaps more money will move out in coming years.

CONTACT:

Kismet 805 Foundation
PO Box 3831
Bellevue, WA 98009