Emmett Carson Steps Down as Silicon Valley Fund Admits Missteps

Emmett Carson Steps Down as Silicon Valley Fund Admits Missteps

Emmett Carson, who in recent years raised billions of charitable dollars from some of the world’s most powerful technology entrepreneurs, has left his job as chief executive of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

In a contrite statement released midday Wednesday, the foundation’s board said that a recent investigation substantiated complaints by current and former employees about a toxic workplace culture.

"SVCF clearly failed to provide a safe and inclusive workplace environment for its employees," the statement said. "The board recognizes that this failure happened under our watch, and that many current and former staff were deeply impacted."

Without getting into specifics, the board said it is committed to "expeditiously undertaking" recommendations generated as part of the investigation, including changes to foundation policies and procedures, governance, committee structures, and reporting.

The investigation did not find any financial improprieties, the board said, noting that nobody had raised any concerns about the use of donated funds. A public report on the investigation findings was posted on the foundation's website on Wednesday. Interim president and chief executive Greg Avis will continue to lead the foundation as it conducts a nationwide search for a new permanent chief...