For nearly 80 years, the San Francisco Foundation has worked alongside local leaders, donors, nonprofits, and policymakers to mobilize resources and drive positive change in the Bay Area.
Much has changed since our founding in 1948. From the way we work to the way we consume information and build community: The opportunities and challenges that will define our generation look very different than those of the generations before us. Through all these changes, SFF’s resolve to address the most pressing challenges facing the Bay Area has remained consistent.
In 2024, we began a deeper exploration of our organizational structure in order to strengthen our engagement with our community of grantees and donors and maintain our long-term sustainability. The challenges our communities and grantees face continue to evolve, and so we must evolve how we work to meet these challenges, while standing firm in our ongoing commitment to our North Star of racial equity and economic inclusion.
Over the past 18 months, we’ve listened closely to the perspectives of grantee partners, donors, community leaders, staff, and other stakeholders.
SFF is evolving how we operate—sharpening our focus on the most critical Bay Area issues, like housing, and on the community of donors we work with to help solve them. These changes will amplify our impact by strengthening our focus on advancing racial equity and economic inclusion, while engaging new donors and partnering more deeply to invest in the Bay Area. New investments will enable SFF to deepen collaboration with donors and welcome more individuals and nonprofits to partner with us to have a positive impact on our community’s future.
As part of this process, some of our staffing needs have changed, and we will be letting go of some colleagues whose contributions to the Bay Area and SFF itself cannot be overstated. We appreciate all they have given to SFF and our communities and wish them the best.
Change can be difficult, but it is essential. And we will continue to support our grantee partners, steward donor generosity, and fight for a Bay Area where everyone can thrive.
Over the coming weeks and months, as we implement these changes, we will have more information to share.
We are confident and energized about the path forward. We are grateful for the continued support of our donors and our partnerships with grantees and community leaders, all of which will enable SFF to continue to be a catalyst for positive change in the Bay Area for generations to come.
