John A. & Susan Sobrato
For John and Sue Sobrato, philanthropy is deeply personal — a reflection of their faith, family values, and enduring belief in the power of community. They often say they’ve been “blessed beyond their wildest dreams,” and they hold fast to the conviction that such fortune comes with an unwavering responsibility to give back.
Sue and John were both born in San Francisco and each moved to the Valley of Heart’s Delight as children. They were both raised and educated in this region, began their faith journeys here, met and married here, began and built their family and business here. Few know Silicon Valley as intimately as they do — its opportunities and challenges, its extraordinary growth and its growing divides.
Their giving centers on four areas where they believe philanthropy can make the greatest difference: advancing solutions to homelessness and housing insecurity; expanding educational opportunity; improving health care access both locally and around the world; and widening pathways to economic mobility through impact investments in financial inclusion.
The values instilled in them from an early age — especially the Jesuit call to be people for others — continue to shape their philanthropy. As deeply engaged leaders of multiple initiatives, their energy inspires and motivates others — particularly fellow philanthropists — to join the cause.
For them, this work is not about charity, but about possibility: helping individuals and families build stability, resilience, and lasting opportunity. Whether through grants or impact investments, they champion solutions that turn potential into progress. And they’ve never been content to simply write checks. They visit project sites, meet with grantees, ask the tough questions, and work side by side with partners to drive impact. Giving, for them, is not only a responsibility — it is a joy. They hope their example will spark that same sense of purpose in future generations, ensuring the work continues, and the impact multiplies.
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