The Bay Area thrives on its rich tapestry of cultures and communities. A key element of what keeps our region strong is accessible, high-quality social services for basic needs like food, housing, and healthcare.
At the San Francisco Foundation, we’re dedicated to improving well-being, empowering every resident, and enhancing the quality of life. All people in the Bay Area should have access to vital services that build stability, uphold dignity, and open doors to opportunity. That’s why we’ve put together a list of trusted nonprofit organizations working to change lives and strengthen our communities. Your support is crucial in fueling these essential endeavors.
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For additional or customized recommendations, please contact your personal Philanthropic Advisor or donorservices[at]sff.org.
Booker T. Washington Community Service Center
Give here if you are passionate about providing comprehensive, culturally relevant social services to San Franciscans.
The Booker T. Washington Community Service Center is one of the Bay Area’s oldest Black-serving nonprofit organizations, with over 106 years of service to San Francisco. Its services include youth mental health, senior wellness, permanent supportive housing, workforce development, and critical food security programs. The recent closure of the Fillmore Safeway supermarket dramatically impacted its programs. In response, the Center is providing nutritious meals to an additional 250 neighborhood households and 300 new families via housing and school sites. Support for this trusted community institution will help it expand its multi-generational services in the Fillmore/Western Addition area and beyond.
Filipino Advocates for Justice
Give here if you want to empower the Filipino community through education, direct services, and leadership development.
Filipino Advocates for Justice is dedicated to improving the quality of life for Filipinos in the Bay Area. With immigrant communities under increasing attack, Filipino Advocates for Justice provides essential services, including know your rights trainings, family reunification assistance, and access to public benefits. It also helps vulnerable Bay Area residents gain or retain housing, offers in-school and afterschool programs, and provides space for community members to access mental health support. By connecting social service delivery to civic engagement, Filipino Advocates for Justice is addressing urgent community needs while building a new generation of leaders to ensure a more just future for all Bay Area residents.
The Transgender District
Give here if you want to support and uplift the transgender community through economic empowerment, cultural preservation, and social services.
The Transgender District in San Francisco is the world’s first legally recognized transgender cultural district, dedicated to creating a safe and thriving space for transgender people. Beyond cultural preservation, the District provides critical social services including tenant protections, employment assistance, and health and wellness programs. It is currently engaged in active negotiations with the City and County of San Francisco to scale up housing support for transgender residents of the Tenderloin, who have been chronically unhoused. It is also launching an incubator program that will help transgender entrepreneurs open businesses. A grant to the District serves to uplift the rich culture and legacy of transgender people in San Francisco and invest in their well-being and stability.
The Unity Council
Give here if you want to invest in community-driven solutions that improve the quality of life for Fruitvale and East Oakland residents, particularly Latino/a/x and immigrant families.
The Unity Council is a community development corporation that has served the Fruitvale and East Oakland neighborhoods for more than 60 years. It offers a comprehensive range of social services to the residents of its six properties, including case management and health initiatives. To the broader East Oakland community, The Unity Council offers career counseling, financial coaching, free tax services, food distribution, Head Start preschool programs, senior services, and small business support. Its holistic approach addresses systemic inequities and builds community power. In May 2025, it was named District 18 California Nonprofit of the Year, recognizing the vital role it plays in fostering opportunity, stability, and belonging in East Oakland.
