Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen

Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

: Learn about Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen — her early life, educational journey, philanthropic and social-entrepreneurial work, famous quotes, and the lessons we can draw from her mission of “Giving 2.0.”

Introduction

Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen is a prominent American philanthropist, educator, author, and social entrepreneur. She is best known for shaping new models of giving, promoting strategic philanthropy, and mentoring generations of social impact leaders. Her book Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World has become a reference in philanthropy circles.

In Silicon Valley and beyond, Laura stands at the interface of wealth, social change, education, and innovation—advocating that generosity, when done thoughtfully and intentionally, can scale positive change. Her work remains relevant today as more individuals and organizations seek to harness resources responsibly and meaningfully.

Early Life and Family

Laura was born around 1969–1970 in Palo Alto, California. John Arrillaga Sr., a real estate magnate and leading developer in Silicon Valley, and Frances C. Arrillaga (née Frances Marion Cook).

Her mother’s engagement in volunteer work deeply influenced Laura’s early notions of service.

Her father, John Arrillaga, was a major figure in Silicon Valley real estate. He amassed substantial wealth through the development of office parks and backing of tech infrastructure.

Youth and Education

Laura attended Castilleja School for high school (an independent girls’ school in the Palo Alto area).

She went on to attend Stanford University, where she earned multiple degrees:

• Bachelor of Arts in Art History (1992)

• MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business (1997)

• Master’s in Education / degree in Administration and Policy Analysis (1998)

• MA in Art History (1999)

Notably, at Stanford she combined studies across disciplines—art, education, business—laying a foundation for her later integrative approach to philanthropy.

During graduate school, Laura drafted a business plan to teach philanthropy and to make grants using venture capital–style frameworks. That plan would eventually become the Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund (SV2).

Career and Achievements

Laura’s career has centered on transforming how people and organizations give—shifting from instinctive generosity toward strategic, collaborative, and high-impact philanthropy.

Founding SV2 (Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund)

In 1998 she launched SV2, one of the first venture philanthropy funds. USD 10 million in support.

She served as SV2’s chairman and executive director until 2008, and now holds the title of chairman emeritus.

Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (PACS)

In 2006 Laura became founding board chair of Stanford’s PACS, a research and policy center focused on social change and nonprofit innovation. Stanford Social Innovation Review and foster discourse about the future of philanthropy.

She chaired PACS from 2006 until 2024, after which she stepped down.

Teaching & Academic Work

Since ~2000, Laura has been a lecturer in management and philanthropy at Stanford Graduate School of Business. She has developed and taught courses such as:

• Strategic Philanthropy

• Individual Philanthropy

• Philanthropy, Inclusivity & Leadership

• Philanthropic Institutions & Justice

• Power of You: Women in Leadership

Her class Philanthropy: Strategy, Innovation, and Social Change has been delivered as a Stanford MOOC, reaching tens of thousands of learners worldwide.

Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen Foundation & Philanthropic Innovation

Laura is President of the Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen Foundation (LAAF), which functions as a philanthropic “innovation lab” aimed at democratizing giving and capacity-building.

She has also co-founded and held leadership roles in several philanthropic organizations, including Andreessen Philanthropy, the Arrillaga Foundation, and Guild Theatre.

Writing & Thought Leadership

Her book Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World (2011) presents a framework for effective, modern philanthropy—moving from reactive and emotional giving to strategic, outcome-focused giving.

Over the years, she has contributed articles to The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Stanford Social Innovation Review, T Magazine, and other outlets.

She is also a board member of various organizations like the Robin Hood Education + Technology Fund, and has served as a trustee for institutions including the National Gallery of Art, Hoover Institution, and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Awards & Honors

• Jacqueline Kennedy Award for Women in Leadership (2001)

• Henry Crown Fellow, Aspen Institute (2005)

• President’s Volunteer Service Award, Points of Light Foundation (2005)

• Outstanding Philanthropist Award, Silicon Valley Children & Family Services (2009)

• Global Citizen Award (2011, with Marc Andreessen) from the Global Philanthropy Forum

• Distinguished Citizen Award, Commonwealth Club (2014)

Historical Milestones & Context

Laura’s life and work unfold against the backdrop of Silicon Valley’s shift from pure technological innovation to social responsibility. She arrived in a period when new tech wealth was rapidly accumulating—and just as rapidly criticized for inequality and exclusion. Through her influence, many tech founders and firms have integrated philanthropy into business models.

A notable example is her influence on Airbnb, Mark Zuckerberg, and Priscilla Chan, among others—convincing them to adopt giving frameworks and embed social purpose in their companies.

Her work also came at a time when the “venture philanthropy” movement was emerging—bringing metrics, rigor, and accountability to the social sector. Laura has been one of its most energetic proponents, helping bridge the worlds of capital, nonprofits, and academia.

Legacy and Influence

Laura’s influence operates at multiple levels:

• Philanthropy education: Through her foundation, courses, and writing, she has empowered thousands to think more critically about giving.

• Institution-building: SV2, PACS, LAAF – these institutions continue beyond her personal role and have institutional impact.

• Mentorship & network effects: Many of her students, protégés, and collaborators now lead nonprofits, social enterprises, and philanthropic efforts globally.

• Shifting the culture of giving: She is frequently credited with steering Silicon Valley’s philanthropists toward more intentional, measurable, and scalable giving.

Her legacy is still unfolding. As philanthropic landscapes shift and new challenges arise—climate, inequality, technology disruption—Laura’s models offer tools to adapt.

Personality and Talents

Laura is often described as deeply empathetic, intellectually curious, and purpose-driven. She combines emotional insight with strategic rigor—a duality central to her philosophy of giving.

She has also spoken openly about living with dyslexia, which she says shaped her memory, creativity, and capacity to think differently.

Colleagues often highlight her gift for storytelling, her capacity to connect people, and her conviction in what’s possible.

In interviews, she describes everyday rituals—planning (two-, five-, ten-year plans), reading, and cultivating creativity—as essential to sustaining her work.

Famous Quotes of Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen

Here are several notable quotes attributed to Laura that reflect her philosophy and approach:

1. “Moving from Giving 1.0 to Giving 2.0 is a transition from being reactive to being proactive, from emotionally based giving to strategically based giving.”

2. “Any expression of generosity should be accompanied by the same risk-taking ethos and analytical rigor that drives startup culture.”

3. “What seems so powerful to me about this [direct giving] model is that you have the personal engagement that drives two-thirds of giving.”

4. “God balances the greatest challenges we face with the most extraordinary blessings, if we are willing to find them.”

5. “I’ve always sought to create the type of meaningful, empowering academic lessons for students that I wish I could have taken to prepare me for a career as a social entrepreneur.”

These quotes capture both her spiritual dimension and her insistence on combining heart and mind in giving.

Lessons from Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen

From her life and work, we can draw several lessons:

• Intentional giving matters: Generosity is more powerful when guided by clarity of purpose, measurement, and strategy.

• Integrate disciplines: Laura’s cross-disciplinary education (art, education, business) enabled her to see giving through multiple lenses.

• Teach and scale: Changing systems requires education, not only individual acts of charity.

• Courage in adversity: She turned deep personal loss into a lifelong mission—demonstrating resilience and purpose.

• Bridge divides: She works across sectors (nonprofit, business, academia) proving that collaboration is essential for systemic change.

• Empower others: Her legacy is not just her own work, but the ripple effect through those she mentors and inspires.

Conclusion

Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen stands as a transformative figure in contemporary philanthropy—a bridge between wealth and social good, intuition and strategy, heart and rigor. Her work reminds us that giving is not just a moral act, but an art and science. Through institutions she has built, courses she has taught, and people she has inspired, her influence continues to expand.

If you want to dive deeper into her philosophy, read Giving 2.0, explore her Stanford lectures, or check out the Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen Foundation. Let her life invite you to ask: How can you give more mindfully, boldly, and sustainably?