Our work
The Nextdoor Kind Foundation believes when many are struggling with daily expenses, that we all have a responsibility as good neighbors to raise our hands to help. Our focus is on microgrants to individuals, nonprofits, and small businesses to support neighborhoods at the hyper-local level.
We believe small gifts can inspire and empower new leaders across the country, and the world, to deepen our connections to each other and inspire kinder communities.
Our purpose
To cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighborhood they can rely on.
Our mission
The Nextdoor Kind Foundation seeks to inspire and empower new leaders to change the world for the better – one neighborhood at a time.
Our approach
Built by doers
Doers make things happen. We are looking for the scrappy, the persistent, the unstoppable.
On the rise
We believe good ideas start at the grassroots level. People know their own neighborhoods better than anyone else and, with a little help, are well-positioned to be a force for positive change in communities.
Spark a movement
Our hope is that these microgrants light a spark within recipients to drive change in their community and inspire similar efforts in communities around the world – ultimately creating a movement of kindness rising.
Our opportunities
The Nextdoor Kind Foundation partnered with the NAACP and Hello Alice to offer $5,000 microgrants to entrepreneurs of color across the United States through our Keep it Local Business Fund.
Grants
Microgrants for
small businesses
The Nextdoor Kind Foundation partnered with the NAACP and Hello Alice to offer $5,000 microgrants to entrepreneurs of color across the United States through our Keep it Local Business Fund.
Microgrants for
individuals
The Nextdoor Kind Foundation launched microgrants for individuals in Los Angeles County in 2024.
Partnerships
Partnering with Nextdoor’s Social Impact team to amplify impact
Sell for Good
Nextdoor users can donate all or a portion of goods sold on Nextdoor to charities via the PayPal Giving Fund. Over $500,000 was donated to nonprofits through this program in 2021-2022 via Nextdoor users.
Pro bono ads
Nextdoor partners with select nonprofits to make a meaningful difference in times of need. Recent partnerships include working with Vote.org and the NAACP to help neighbors participate in elections, the United Nations Human Rights Commission to raise funds for displaced persons during the Ukraine Crisis, and supporting the ASPCA.
Get in touch about partnerships
Latest updates
About the team
Executive Director
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Shireen Santosham
Executive Director of the Nextdoor Kind Foundation, Head of Social Impact for Nextdoor
Shireen Santosham has over 20 years of experience working across sectors to find innovative solutions to pressing social issues. Previously, she served as the first Chief Innovation Officer for San Jose where she pioneered efforts to close the digital divide for the city. She has worked for innovative startups in Silicon Valley, as an impact investor, as a strategy consultant at McKinsey, and with numerous nonprofits. She currently is on faculty at the Stanford GSB where she teaches a class on the Future of Cities and serves on the board of CETF. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and MPA in International Development from the Harvard Kennedy School as well as a BA and BS from the University of Pennsylvania with honors.
Donors
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Sarah Friar
CEO of Nextdoor
Sarah Friar is the CEO of Nextdoor. She sits on the board of Walmart and the advisory board of HOPE Global. She is the co-founder and board member of the nonprofit Ladies Who Launch.
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Sarah Leary
Co-founder of Nextdoor
Sarah Leary is an experienced technology entrepreneur who has started or built multiple companies over the last twenty years. Most recently, she co-founded Nextdoor, the free and private social network for neighborhoods, where she served as Vice President of Marketing, International and Operations.
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Prakash Janakiraman
Co-founder of Nextdoor
Prakash is Nextdoor’s Co-Founder, formerly Chief Architect, and Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). Prakash previously led engineering teams for Google Maps. Prior to that, Prakash was at Shopping.com, Epinions, and Excite@Home.
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Bill Gurley
Board Member of Nextdoor
Bill Gurley has spent over 20 years as a general partner at Benchmark. In addition to serving on Nextdoor’s board of directors, Bill serves on the board of Stitch Fix as well as several other private companies.
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Nirav Tolia
Co-founder of Nextdoor
Nirav Tolia is a Co-Founder of Nextdoor and was previously its Chief Executive Officer. Prior to Nextdoor, Nirav was Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of both Fanbase and Epinions. He has also had positions at Benchmark, Shopping.com and Yahoo! Inc.
