Document Actions
What's New
Applications Welcome for Open Invitation Summer Grants Program
The San Francisco Foundation is pleased to welcome applications for the Open Invitation Bay Area Grants Summer 2009 Program through Grantee Center, our online interactive community resource for applicants and grantees. The San Francisco Foundation welcomes unsolicited applications in five program areas twice a year. Applications are available now through Friday, July 17, 2009 (funding decisions by November 2009). Learn how you can apply online.
The Community Leadership Project
The Community Leadership Project is a collaboration between foundations and communities of color to strengthen grassroots organizations. The David and Lucille Packard Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation have committed $8 million to the Bay Area, Central Coast, and San Joaquin Valley over the next three years. The San Francisco Foundation is honored to join eight other grantmaking organizations in this ongoing commitment to organizations supporting low-income and communities of color. Read more to learn about our involvement in this program.
Report Released Outlining the Reform of San Francisco’s Nonprofit System
Mayor Gavin Newsom, Sandra R. Hernández, M.D., and City Attorney Dennis Herrera released the Mayor’s Community-Based Organizations Task Force report, “Partnering with Nonprofits in Tough Times.” Comprised of key city, nonprofit, and philanthropic leaders, the Task Force report presents six key recommendations for the city and the nonprofit sector, including: consolidation of nonprofit administration, supporting nonprofit mergers and closures, aggressively pursuing funds to maximize revenue, improving management and oversight, promoting financial sustainability measures, and developing a strategic plan for delivery of the most vital community-based services.
Nonprofit Transitions Fund Launches to Support Intentional Change
While Bay Area nonprofits have been resilient, and even grew during recent recessions, the scale and scope of the current downturn is clearly different. Given the tumultuous economy, many organizations are rethinking operations in order to continue delivering mission related programs. Some face hard decisions about streamlining, merging, consolidating, or even sunsetting. Growth used to be a barometer of success. In the current economic climate, adaptability is a more pertinent measure. As part of The San Francisco Foundation’s emergency response grantmaking, we launch the Nonprofit Transitions Fund with $250,000 to support serious planning efforts, consultants, due diligence, and other expenses. To learn more about this Fund, please read more.
Hear Program Officer John Killacky on KQED's Forum
John Killacky, Program Officer for Arts and Culture, joined Michael Krasny's Forum on Monday, March 23rd. A trusted expert in the field, John discussed arts and the economic downturn.
Community Leadership Awards Nominations Deadline Extended Until Friday, March 6th
The San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Awards recognize individuals and organizations whose leadership has made a significant impact in their particular Bay Area communities. This work may confront societal or civic issues, address health or environmental concerns, or promote arts and humanities. One of the four Awards distinguishes an under-recognized, mature artist who has made a significant and ongoing contribution in the Bay Area. Individuals receive $10,000 awards and organizations are awarded $20,000. We invite you to nominate outstanding leaders in your community. Read more to learn about how.
Listening and Responding to Our Community
As the community foundation of the Bay Area, we believe that in order to be effective and inclusive problem-solvers, we must develop a shared understanding of the issues and challenges at hand. As the economy continues to dominate local, state, and national policy dialogues, we are sharply focused on strategies that allow us to continue being a stable resource for the community. We remain committed to fulfilling our existing grant obligations and are establishing an Emergency Fund to support three key areas.
The San Francisco Foundation Impact Fund
These are challenging times for families. We feel the impact of an unstable global economy close to home; a rise in unemployment, foreclosures, a surge in the need for food and shelter, and overall anxiety as every family tightens its budget and many go without. This season, we launch our San Francisco Foundation Impact Fund, a mutual fund of effective philanthropy to make your dollars make a difference. The 2008 Impact Fund features three areas that focus on your most critical concerns: Children and Youth, Healthy Communities, and End Poverty. Learn how you can support The San Francisco Foundation Impact Fund this season.
January 16, 2009: Deadline for Open Invitation Bay Area Grants Program
The San Francisco Foundation invites you to apply for grants in our six program areas twice a year. The current application is now available on our website in Grantee Center. The San Francisco Foundation has simplified its grantmaking process and is now requesting full applications instead of our previous two-step Intent to Apply process.
Transformative National Leadership: Global and Local Opportunities
The Bay Area, the nation, and the world are enthusiastically looking forward to an exciting new social and political agenda outlined by President-elect Obama. Much of The San Francisco Foundation’s values, programs, and initiatives are aligned with those of the President-elect and his team. Many of these values and priorities were exemplified during the long campaign and manifested in Nov. 4’s election demographics. The youth vote, first-time voter rolls, and turnout by people of color broke all previous records. We look forward to a national agenda that aligns with The San Francisco Foundation’s regional vision.
No Exposure to Madoff Funds
With the recent revelations regarding large losses in portfolios managed by Bernard Madoff, we would like to reassure our donors that The San Francisco Foundation has no exposure, either directly or indirectly to these funds.
Fight for Civil Rights Continues After Proposition 8 Passes
Proposition 8, the ban on marriage equality, passed statewide November 4th. In the Bay Area, however, we voted down this initiative aimed to revise our state constitution to discriminate against an entire class of people. The San Francisco Foundation endorsed a No on 8 position and in the coming weeks and months we will be tracking closely the next steps to continue the strategy for justice. A legal recourse will likely take the issue to the California Supreme Court and perhaps ultimately to the Federal Supreme Court. The San Francisco Foundation strongly opposes the violation of civil rights for any individual or group of individuals, and we continue our work in the area of human rights, civic engagement, and fighting discrimination.
San Francisco General Hospital Rebuild Wins San Francisco Mandate
With a strong 83% approval for Proposition A, San Francisco voters conveyed their extraordinary support and confidence for San Francisco General Hospital as the centerpiece of our public-private health care delivery system. The San Francisco Foundation joined forces with an impressive array of San Francisco’s diverse leadership to ensure the passage of Proposition A.
Congratulations to the 2008 Community Leadership Awardees
Each year we showcase outstanding individuals and organizations whose leadership and commitment have made a significant impact in their particular Bay Area communities. We're proud to announce The San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Awards 2008 recipients: Van Jones, Malcolm Margolin, Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez, and Asian Women's Shelter. Read more for complete event details.
Join The San Francisco Foundation in Supporting Proposition A to Save San Francisco General Hospital
Proposition A, the general obligation bond measure on the November ballot in San Francisco, will build a new seismically safe San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH). The measure authorizes an $887,400,000 bond to rebuild SFGH without a net increase in the city’s debt load or property tax burden. SFGH is San Francisco’s only Trauma Center and is a critical component of our city’s public health system that we must protect. After careful consideration, The San Francisco Foundation is endorsing this measure because we are confident that everything possible has been done to ensure the city will deliver the new hospital building on time and on budget. Read more to learn more about Proposition A and how you can help support it.
The San Francisco Foundation Supports Protecting Civil Rights by Formally Opposing Proposition 8
Proposition 8 on the November ballot would rewrite our California Constitution to limit marriage to between a man and a woman – denying same sex couples the respect, dignity, and responsibility that come with marriage. After careful consideration, the Board of Trustees of The San Francisco Foundation unanimously agreed to formally oppose Proposition 8 on the November 2008 ballot. The Foundation strongly opposes the violation of civil rights for any individual or group of individuals. Read more to learn about the impact of the Proposition, how we are working to defeat it, and what you can do.
Welcome New Multicultural Fellows
We are pleased to welcome three new Multicultural Fellows: Nacala Jendayi, Navin Moul, and Vanessa Camarena-Arredondo, who are working in the areas of Education, Social Justice, and Arts and Culture, respectively. As part of the Multicultural Fellowship Program, each new Fellow brings unique perspectives and experiences to the two-year program, during which they willgain dynamic hands-on leadership experience to prepare them for future positions in the nonprofit, philanthropic, and public sectors.
$5 Million Initiative Addresses Mortgage Foreclosure Crisis
In response to the national mortgage foreclosure crisis, The San Francisco Foundation joined forces in a public/private partnership to support the California Home Owner Preservation Initiative. This important collaboration has already raised $5 million from financial institutions, foundations, and private donors, and is expected to help thousands of homeowners currently at risk of foreclosure. This first-of-its kind Initiative will provide grants to community-based nonprofit housing counseling agencies to expand the availability of foreclosure intervention counseling services in California during the next two years.
Apply Online Now for the June 2, 2008, Deadline
Register now for Grantee Center, our new interactive community resource for applicants and grantees. From Grantee Center you can apply online, view your current and past applications and grants, submit reports, view the latest information about grant opportunities, and more. Intent to Apply forms for our June 2nd deadline must be submitted through Grantee Center, so check it out today.
Support Burmese Relief and Rebuild Efforts
Cyclone Nargis hit Burma on Saturday, May 3rd. So far, accounts of casualties may reach 70,000, and more than a million may be hurt and homeless. The Foundation for the People of Burma is actively organizing relief and rebuild efforts. Please go to www.foundationburma.org for more information on the situation, and to lend your support. On Friday, May 16, 2008, we hosted an emergency briefing and we invite you to listen to the audio of the event to learn more about the critical situation in Burma and what you can to help.