Message From the Chair & CEO

Dear Friends,

The Bay Area is a remarkable place to call home. As a community foundation, we are fortunate to work closely with the many inspirational people and effective nonprofits devoted to the region. Their voices deserve to be heard in our community. It is our job to connect these people, with their strong ideas and passions, to resources that will amplify their voices. The Foundation’s hallmark is its ability to bring about concrete results by nurturing new ideas.

The Foundation is a bridge between nonprofits and resources, neighborhoods and government, leadership and those in need. This report illustrates the many ways we connect with our community. Our partnership with Mayor Gavin Newsom and other elected officials, the business community, labor, and health providers on the issue of health access is one example.

We worked closely with these community leaders and public servants to build a common agenda with a tangible plan to care for the 82,000 San Franciscans without healthcare. It was an incredible opportunity to set a large table with a grand vision, backed by sound data and research.

The Foundation’s hallmark is its ability to bring about concrete results by nurturing new ideas.

Collaborations such as this demonstrate how the diverse communities of the Bay Area pioneer innovations that often seed here and spread across the nation. The Foundation’s hallmark is its ability to bring about concrete results by nurturing new ideas. With the guidance of our Board of Trustees, we use our programmatic expertise to partner with organizations dedicated to solving real, everyday problems.

We achieve these solutions by connecting our donors with nonprofits to ensure that the voices of our region continue to be heard. Our donors are a part of our philanthropic family and often use their knowledge and insight in collaboration with our Program staff. We pride ourselves on being an agile and nimble community foundation – in concert with our partners we articulate a vision, convene leadership, and make sure everyone benefits.

A central part of our mission is to be a catalyst for change – as you look back over the last year and forward to the next, there are many reasons to be hopeful. In the midst of transformations across the nation, we are reminded that the cultural diversity of the Bay Area has built a robust civic society. The future excites us, and we hold ourselves to a very high standard for enabling change that enhances community connections, builds consensus, and strengthens civic life across the region.

Tatwina Lee                            Sandra R. Hernández, M.D.
Chair, Board of Trustees         Chief Executive Officer