The San Francisco Foundation’s Bay Area Leads Fund underwrites the foundation’s leadership work—from advocating for equitable policies, to research and community engagement. The fund builds on grantmaking, donor support, and impact investing tools to create a Bay Area where everyone thrives. We do this by vocalizing our support for equitable policies, producing timely research about equity in the Bay Area, convening our public and private partners, and influencing public opinion to build support for our vision of an inclusive Bay Area.
In 2014, we began holding a series of listening sessions throughout the Bay Area and brought together more than 1,000 residents to hear firsthand about life in the Bay Area— our strengths, struggles, and our hopes for the future. One issue rose to the surface: our region lacked a leader that was able to work across sectors and advance equity on a broader, faster scale. We heard the community’s call for bolder leadership and established the Bay Area Leads Fund.
The fund helps make possible the following leadership activities:
- Advocacy: the fund helps us push for policies that create a Bay Area where everyone can get a good job, live in a safe and affordable home, and exercise their political voice.
- Research: the fund helps make possible the Bay Area Equity Atlas, a resource for timely, disaggregated data about equity in the Bay Area. The Equity Atlas is a partnership between San Francisco Foundation, PolicyLink, and USC’s Equity Research Institute.
- Convenings: the fund has made possible listening sessions throughout the Bay Area that have gathered 1,000 residents, a dialogue series featuring top thought leaders, in partnership with the Commonwealth Club and KQED, as well as community summits to mobilize the vote during the 2020 election year.
In Fiscal Year 2024, the fund raised nearly $1.7 million to help inform public opinion and advocate for systemic change across the Bay Area. These unprecedented times have made clear that this work is more urgent and critical than ever.
Support the Bay Area Leads Fund
- Make a gift through your Donor Advised Fund to The San Francisco Foundation and designate “Bay Area Leads Fund” as the purpose.
- Make a gift through your Individual Retirement Account. See our detailed instructions or email sdustman[at]sff.org.
- Send a check payable to the San Francisco Foundation and specify “Bay Area Leads Fund” in the memo line of the check. See our donation mailing address.
- Pay by credit card using the online donation form below, select Bay Area Leads from the Impact Area menu options, and complete the form.
- Contact us to discuss contributions of other assets, such as securities.
- Include a bequest to Bay Area Leads through your estate plan. Contact sdustman[at]sff.org for personalized bequest language.
- Join our Donor Dialogues and Briefings to reflect and learn about racial equity and explore the implications for your philanthropy. Email ckelliher[at]sff.org to learn more.
For more information, please contact:
Karolo Aparicio, Annual Giving Officer
kaparicio[at]sff.org (415) 635–3334
Pronouns: He/Him
Please note: We can accept online donations through Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Google Pay and Apple Pay. There is an option for you to pay the third-party merchant processing fees (transaction fees). These transaction fees range from 2.95% to 3.95%. The amount added to the Bay Area Leads Fund will be reduced by any fees charged unless you cover the transaction fees up front by checking the Cover transaction fees on the donation form.