Imagine a Bay Area where everyone, regardless of their race, has the resources and power to thrive. As progress toward racial justice faces increasing threats, San Francisco Foundation is doubling down on our commitment to fund organizations building power in communities of color. In this give guide, we highlight organizations that are serving communities most impacted by systemic racism and cultivating a diverse bench of leaders who are well-positioned to build a world where racial equity and economic inclusion are the norm.
For additional or customized recommendations, please contact your personal Philanthropic Advisor or donorservices[at]sff.org.
The Chicana Foundation of Northern California
Give here if you want to invest in the next generation of Latina leaders through scholarship and mentorship.
The Chicana Foundation of Northern California empowers Latinas by providing scholarships and intensive, culturally relevant leadership training to college students. Its unique, intergenerational model is its key differentiator; it doesn’t just provide financial aid but builds a lifelong “familia” of support, connecting students with a powerful network of Latina professionals who serve as mentors and role models. The San Francisco Foundation supports the Chicana Foundation of Northern California because it is directly building a pipeline of diverse leaders to close racial and gender equity gaps in Bay Area leadership. They are creating a future where decision-making tables in every sector reflect the communities they serve. Their impact is proven and profound: over 45+ years, they have awarded more than $4 million in scholarships to more than1,900 students, creating generations of alumnae who are now leaders in their fields and actively giving back to the community.
Equal Justice Society
Give here if you want to dismantle structural racism by changing discriminatory policies.
The Equal Justice Society works to transform our nation’s consciousness on race by combining legal strategy, social science, and the arts to dismantle structural racism. Their unique, multi-pronged approach is their key differentiator; they don’t just litigate in the courtroom but also use groundbreaking research on implicit bias and cultural advocacy to change hearts and minds. The San Francisco Foundation supports the Equal Justice Society because they are creating a future where our legal system and social structures are built on a true understanding of racial equity. A landmark achievement for the Equal Justice Society was the appointment of its president, Lisa Holder, to the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans. Through its leadership on the task force and its ongoing advocacy, Equal Justice Society has continued to champion the cause of reparations and make California a model for other states.
Transgender District Company
Give here if you want to create economic opportunity and a safe cultural haven for transgender people.
Transgender District Company is pioneering a future where transgender and gender non-conforming people have the economic security, physical safety, and cultural space to thrive. As the world’s first legally recognized transgender cultural district, its work is unique in its holistic integration of economic empowerment, cultural preservation, and land use advocacy in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, an area rooted in LGBTQ+ history. The San Francisco Foundation supports the Transgender District Company because it is building a replicable model for community-led development that directly confronts the unique systemic barriers facing transgender communities—particularly transgender women of color —in areas such as housing, employment, healthcare, and safety. The organization has provided thousands of dollars in grants and relief funds to trans-owned businesses and community members, launched a successful re-entry program for formerly incarcerated individuals, and secured affordable housing resources, all while cementing the cultural legacy of the Tenderloin as a place of transgender resilience and liberation.
Urban Peace Movement
Give here if you believe in empowering youth of color to lead the movement against violence and mass incarceration.
The Urban Peace Movement builds youth leadership to transform the culture and social conditions that lead to violence and mass incarceration in Oakland. What makes their work unique is their youth-led, healing-centered approach, which empowers young people of color to dismantle the systems that block their success rather than simply treating the symptoms of those systems. The San Francisco Foundation supports the Urban Peace Movement because they are creating a future where young people of color are not just safe from harm but are the primary architects of a more just and equitable society. Their grassroots organizing was instrumental in the successful campaign to close Alameda County’s Juvenile Hall and has been pivotal in redirecting millions of dollars from policing and incarceration towards youth development and community-based services.
