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Responding to Chilean Communities in Need
A magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck the coast of Chile on Saturday, February 27th. Initial reports indicate that up to 2 million people are in need of shelter and that more than 700 were killed in the quake. The San Francisco Foundation will continue to monitor the situation, including how donors might effectively assist those in need, and we will keep you updated through our website.
FAITHS Community Partners Mini-Grants Applications Due March 24th
Every year The San Francisco Foundation's FAITHS Program supports congregations and faith-based organizations’ community service, civic engagement, or cultural and artistic programs. We invite faith-based organizations in the five Bay Area counties we serve (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo) to apply for a mini-grant of up to $5,000. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24, 2010.
Operationalizing our New Strategic Plan
Recently The San Francisco Foundation Board of Trustees approved our Strategic Plan and so marks the completion of this stage of the Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan as it was codified sets a direction, and we are now in the midst of operationalizing that direction into an implementation plan. As we develop this plan, we share with you our general direction and focus areas. These areas are both for the near term in response to the economic downturn, and for the longer term to enhance our impact in community.
Call for Nominations: The San Francisco Foundation 2010 Community Leadership Awards
In these extraordinary times, we turn to extraordinary leaders for their innovations and solutions as we work toward a more vibrant region. 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 is designated for an under-recognized, mature artist who has made a significant and ongoing contribution in the Bay Area. Awards are $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for organizations. Individuals and nonprofit organizations in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties are eligible. Nominations were due on March 2nd. Read More to learn about the Community Leadership Awards.
Support Haitian Earthquake Relief and Recovery Efforts
The United Nations has described the Haiti earthquake as the worst humanitarian disaster in decades. Please give generously to provide immediate relief and long term recovery. Our staff experts in disaster planning and response, healthcare, and education, and our donors, who contributed advice and first-hand knowledge, vetted four organizations that we are recommending to you for support. They provide critical food, water, shelter, and medical care to the hundreds of thousands of Haitians now in need.
The San Francisco Foundation 2009 Annual Report is Here
2009 was quite a year. Check out our annual report and read about our donors, our work in the Bay Area community, our grants, and our financial investments in this dynamic and unpredictable end of the decade.
Listen to CEO Sandra Hernandez, M.D., on KQED's Forum
Foundation CEO Sandra Hernandez, M.D., joined Forum host Scott Schafer to discuss making a difference in our community. From strategically selecting organizations to support, to teaching your children the culture and value of giving, listen to the show online to learn how you can make a difference.
Strategic Planning for a Stronger Future
As our communities contend with the fallout from this tough economy, The San Francisco Foundation is keeping an ear to the ground for where the need is greatest, what trends portend, and how to make the most impact. We honor both our donors’ vision and generosity, and our grantees’ tenacity and dedication, in their continuing partnership with us to help strengthen our beloved Bay Area. With a view to the recovery, and positioning The San Francisco Foundation to be a strong and nimble partner to our donors and community members, we are engaging in strategic planning. Our goal is to be adaptive and responsive, and we are developing a strategic plan to guide us through the next three years. We anticipate wrapping up the planning by early 2010, and beginning implementation soon thereafter.
Upcoming Grant Cycle By Invitation Only
The San Francisco Foundation will be awarding grants for this upcoming cycle through an invitation-only process. We have contacted grantees and asked them to apply, rather than accepting unsolicited applications.
The San Francisco Foundation Safety Net Impact Fund
Now more than ever, the community needs your support. Please give to the Safety Net Impact Fund to help the most vulnerable in the Bay Area meet their basic survival needs. The Safety Net Impact Fund leverages your dollars alongside The San Francisco Foundation resources, our on-the-ground community expertise, relationships, and our strategies, to make the most impact with your philanthropy. At the core of the Safety Net Impact Fund is our belief that timing can be everything. Your donation at this moment can literally save a family from homelessness, keep an adolescent in school, alleviate a toddler’s hunger pangs, or provide safe harbor to a bruised and battered woman.
Nonprofit Transitions Fund Supports Intentional Change - Applications due October 26th
While Bay Area nonprofits have been resilient, and even grew during recent recessions, they must radically adjust given the scope of the recent recessions. 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 invite organizations to apply for a grant from the Nonprofit Transitions Fund, providing $350,000 to support serious planning efforts, consultants, due diligence, and other expenses. Read more to learn about this Fund and how to apply.
Mayors of Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, and Richmond Assert that the Arts are Good for Business
The Mayors of Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, and Richmond convened a news conference and series of public events October 2, 2009, to announce the launch of an unprecedented partnership that shines a spotlight on arts and culture as proven catalysts for urban development, economic vitality, quality of life, and community sustainability. Read more about 510ARTS.com and the newly formed East Bay Cultural Corridor.
Join “Your SF Public Schools” to Build a Brighter Future for our Students
The San Francisco Foundation Education Program Officer Lisa Villarreal has joined with a collective of 17 public and private partners to create a permanent campaign to promote San Francisco public schools. On September 1st, yoursfpublicschools.org launched the first interactive wave of this campaign. Yoursfpublicschools.org aims to inspire each of us to play a role in helping build and ensure a world-class public education system that embodies the same spirit of equity, innovation, and community commitment that makes San Francisco so vibrant. Read more to learn how you can take action and get involved in this campaign.
Census 2010 Grants Will Bring Visibility to Hard-to-Count Populations
The San Francisco Foundation is launching a grants program to strengthen local nonprofits in their campaigns to bring visibility to hard-to-count populations. Every year, more than $300 billion in federal funds are awarded to states and communities based on census data. Census data guides local decision-makers in important community planning efforts including where to build roads, hospitals, and schools. Because state resources have been significantly reduced for the 2010 census work, it is more important than ever to engage community-based and faith-based organizations in an effort to ensure a complete count. Read more and learn how to apply by September 25th.
Environment Program Officer Arlene Rodriguez Travels to DC for Talks with Key Environmental Leaders
Environment Program Officer Arlene Rodriguez traveled to Washington, D.C., last week with a delegation of funding partners to present case studies from the Bay Area, Baltimore, and Minneapolis. In addition to an audience with key staff from the newly formed partnership between Department of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the delegation met with Congressional leaders to promote the importance of a holistic approach to issues of transportation, climate, housing, and energy in developing truly sustainable regions. This conversation with White House officials is the first in a process of ongoing engagement between regional leaders and White House staff, coordinated by the Funder’s Network for Smart Growth.
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 launched the Nonprofit Transitions Fund with a total of $700,000 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.