One of the best things about the work of a community foundation is our ability to be responsive to the needs of our community – to pull together partners, organizations, and leaders to address the issues of our time as they happen.

In the post-9/11 world, we recognized a need to do just that.

After the attacks, there was a deepened conversation at the Foundation and among other funders in the region about the vulnerability of the Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian communities, and the perceptions and backlash they faced.

We know that what people and families want – across demographic, ethnic, or religious lines – is not that different.

People want equal opportunity, an environment free of judgment, and the ability to share cross-culturally with other communities. This is not different in the African American, or Latino, or Asian communities.

The Civic Engagement Fund is a bridge to bring these issues to life. Developing the Civic Engagement Fund was a way to reach out to a community, which as a group of funders, we unfortunately didn’t know very well. It has created an opportunity to raise their visibility, and to support organizations that build resiliency, especially a community that was underserved and under recognized in philanthropy.

The San Francisco Foundation was a founding partner of the funder collaborative and provided funding for the first staff person in 2006. We maintain a consistent commitment to the Civic Engagement Fund because we recognize the power of this work in communities.

Leadership development and building the capacity of these community organizations were major underpinnings of the work. We focused on capacity building to open doors to diversify funding. We lifted up leaders, specifically women leaders, in the community.

I encourage you to watch and share this video, which is a great example of the power of communities working together. We can continue to work together, to talk to one another, to understand that we all want similar things, and build toward a common and collective good.

The AAPIP Civic Engagement Fund (CEF) is a funder collaborative, working with sixteen AMEMSA (Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian) organizations to increase capacities to build collective power within AMEMSA communities, leading to greater potential for long-term community change. For more stories and resources, go to http://aapip.org/CEF_Story or http://www.sff.org/programs/special-programs-and-funds/faiths-program/

As I’ve reflected on the 2013 Legacy Luncheon, I am touched by the thoughtfulness and generosity of our donors, and thankful for their partnership in philanthropy with The San Francisco Foundation.

My favorite part of my work at the Foundation is connecting with donors and discussing how we can bring their long-term philanthropic vision to life.

Although I never had a chance to meet Dr. Mary H. Layman, I enjoyed reading the numerous handwritten notes in her file — notes sent back and forth between Dr. Layman and our (then) executive director, John May. They were quite close and for many years, she provided anonymous, sustaining support to meet  a variety of critical needs John helped identify.  It was no surprise then that Dr. Layman’s bequest was designed with maximum flexibility, enabling The San Francisco Foundation to continue her legacy of support as new needs emerge throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

We honored Dr. Layman’s legacy gift by hearing from Lisa Villarreal and Tere Romo, San Francisco Foundation Program Officers who make grants with funds from Dr. Layman’s gift. One of the grantee organizations who benefits from her generosity, Youth Speaks, shared moving poetry.

You might be surprised to learn that Dr. Layman’s transformative legacy was structured as a charitable bequest, which is the most common and flexible type of legacy gift.

There are many ways to structure a bequest; whether a specific amount, percentage or other specification. The charitable bequest, made by will or trust, remains one of the easiest ways to create a legacy gift.

Moving through the estate planning process is extremely personal. Gaining a deeper understanding of your own philanthropic goals makes the planning process with your attorney easier. A few questions that I have found helpful when working with people beginning to plan are:

• Which charitable organizations do you currently support?  Do you plan to do so in the future?
• What change in your community do you inspire through your current philanthropy?
• What change in your community do you want to inspire through your legacy?

By choosing The San Francisco Foundation as your partner in philanthropy, your legacy will flourish through our trusted stewardship, investment expertise, and deep knowledge of the ever changing community needs throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

When the time is right, I am here to partner with you to explore the best way to create your legacy gift. I look forward to continuing the conversation about the many options to do so through my blog posts.

Sindy L. Craig, Planned Giving Officer

Contact me:

Telephone: (415) 733-8534 or Email: scraig@sff.org

I’m very pleased to share with you, our friends, that The San Francisco Foundation will be settling into a new home as of July 1, 2013.

Everything we do is in service of our mission and values. The Foundation’s new home will allow us to reduce our environmental footprint, continue to be a space for community collaboration, and better support the work we do to build a stronger Bay Area. This includes:

• An open, collaborative environment that reflects the way we work with each other and our partners
• Increased energy efficiency, including better use of natural light
• A reduction in costs
• Improved use of technology
• A continued commitment to ADA compliance
• Accessibility to public transit
• Enhanced space for community engagement and gatherings, a cornerstone of our commitment to collaboration

I am looking forward to having you visit our new space in the near future—and to continue our work together. Thank you for your partnership and support.

As of July 1, 2013, The San Francisco Foundation’s address is:

One Embarcadero Center
Suite 1400
San Francisco, CA 94111

All phone and fax numbers will remain the same.

We believe change happens through people.
We lost these friends to hard fought health battles, but what we gained
From being on the path with them,  will never be lost.

David, thank you for the wisdom and steadfast advocacy for
That the light of justice will shine on those who have yet to realize
Its full power.

Larry, thank you for opening a wide door so that public school students
Who likely never knew you, will have the opportunity to full self-actualization
and become contributors to a more civil society.

Barbara, thank you for changing the agenda for breast cancer,
For making all industries become accountable for knowing more
And for doing more.

All of you walked with grace and tenacity. We salute you.
We will continue to till your gardens as you have sharpened
our commitment.