Diversity

Diversity is a San Francisco Foundation core value.

The San Francisco Foundation Policy on Diversity

The San Francisco Foundation’s purpose is to improve the quality of life, promote greater equality of opportunity, and to assist those in need or at risk in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties. The Bay Area’s unique character is derived importantly from its heritage as one of America’s most diverse communities. The Foundation actively seeks to promote access, equity, and diversity, and to end discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or age.

The Foundation has a strong conviction that diversity benefits everyone and is not only compatible with but also promotes excellence. The San Francisco Foundation grantmaking policy reflects a belief that organizational performance is greatly enhanced when people with different backgrounds and perspectives are engaged in an organization’s activities and decision-making process. 

These values are pursued in practice. First, a substantial number of grants made by the Foundation are specifically designed to promote diversity, while many other grants increase access to services for diverse groups. Second, the Foundation strives for diversity among its own board and staff, recognizing that otherwise the Foundation’s ability to achieve excellence in its programs would be seriously constrained. Finally, the Foundation encourages diversity in the boards, staffs, and served constituencies of the organizations receiving its grants. This policy must be practiced flexibly and with sensitivity, as there are many fine organizations that are in the process of becoming more diverse, where mission, location, or stage of development slows diversification, and others for which substantial homogeneity may be considered more appropriate (e.g., a religious, ethnic, or immigrant group).

In this spirit, applicants to The San Francisco Foundation are asked to provide general information about the race, gender, and ethnicity of their board, staff, and, wherever practicable, served constituencies, and to inform the Foundation candidly of all considerations that may bear on this matter. As a result of this information, the Foundation is in a position to aid efforts to achieve diversity and equal opportunity throughout the Bay Area – efforts that require vigorous and sustained attention at all levels of community life. 

In addition to the nonprofit community, The San Francisco Foundation also provides important services to a diverse donor community. Generations of donors with varied backgrounds and interests have chosen the Foundation as a vehicle for enhancing the impact of their giving. The Foundation is pledged to provide services of highest quality to individual philanthropists who represent every segment of our population. In doing so, the Foundation is able to encourage full participation of all people in the gratifying community-building process of philanthropy and service.

Approved by The San Francisco Foundation Board of Trustees, 1990

Board of Trustees:

• Women - 6
• Men - 4

• African American - 2
• Asian American - 1
• Latino - 1
  
• Native American - 1
  
• White - 5

• LGBT - 1

Management Team:

• Women - 5
• Men - 1

• African American - 2
• Asian American - 1
• Latina - 1
• White - 2

 

Program Leadership:

• Women - 4
  
• Men - 2

• African American - 1
  
• Latina - 2
• Native American - 1
• White - 2