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The San Francisco Foundation

Annual Giving
$216.0M
Grant Range
$0K - $1.5M
Decision Time
1mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $216 million
  • Decision Time: 30 days (Rapid Response Fund); varies by program
  • Grant Range: $100 - $1,500,000
  • Average Grant: $71,000
  • Geographic Focus: Five Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo)
  • Total Assets: $1.9 billion

Contact Details

Website: www.sff.org Email: info@sff.org Phone: 415-733-8500 Program inquiries: programs@sff.org Grant management/technical support: grantsmanagement@sff.org

Overview

The San Francisco Foundation, established on January 16, 1948, is one of the largest community foundations in the United States with $1.9 billion in assets under management. Founded by Marjorie de Young Elkus of the Columbia Foundation, Leslie Ganyard of the Rosenberg Foundation, and Daniel E. Koshland Sr. of Levi Strauss & Co., the foundation has evolved into a major force for social change in the Bay Area. In fiscal year 2025, the foundation distributed $216 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and received $227 million in donor contributions and bequests. Under the leadership of CEO Fred Blackwell since 2014, the foundation has renewed its commitment to social justice through an explicit equity agenda focused on racial equity and economic inclusion. In FY24 (July 2023-June 2024), the foundation made 569 grants to 452 organizations and 15 individuals, with 97% of grantees serving majority BIPOC communities and 64% of funding going to BIPOC-led organizations. The foundation's Community Leadership Awards, running since 1963, continue to honor individuals and organizations addressing the Bay Area's most pressing challenges.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Rapid Response Fund for Movement Building

  • Amount: $3,000 - $20,000
  • Duration: Discrete projects completed within six months
  • Focus: Small, one-time grants to frontline grassroots organizations for new projects addressing unexpected, urgent events or external challenges while strengthening the voice and power of low-income residents and people of color
  • Application: Rolling basis through Fluxx Grantee Portal
  • Decision Time: Within 30 days of application receipt
  • Eligibility: Small organizations (budgets of $500,000 or less) and new grassroots efforts, including faith-based groups and fiscally sponsored projects

FAITHS Community Partner Grants

  • Amount: Up to $25,000 per year
  • Duration: One year
  • Focus: Programs that strengthen interfaith relations, increase civic participation, develop leaders, and use community services provision to build a base, policy advocacy, and community organizing
  • Requirement: All applications must have civic engagement, advocacy, and/or policy component as the primary activity
  • Application: Opens August 15, closes September 29 annually

Leadership Programs and Awards

  • Koshland Young Leader Awards: $10,000 each to 11 San Francisco Unified School District juniors for tuition and education-related expenses
  • Koshland Program: Up to 12 community leaders receive five-year $300,000 fellowships and grants to support community projects
  • Phyllis Koshland Friedman – Retha Smith Robinson Community Leadership Award: Annual support for inspiring young women of color advancing community-driven solutions
  • Art Awards: Recognition in literature, visual arts, and playwriting for artists committed to expanding the essential role of art

General Grantmaking

  • Range: Generally $5,000 - $500,000; occasional grants of $1 million - $10 million
  • Average: Approximately $100,000
  • Note: Many grants are invitation-only, made in partnership with donors, institutional partners, and external committees

Priority Areas

The foundation's FY24 programmatic grantmaking ($40.5 million) concentrated on:

  1. Housing and Homelessness ($7.1 million) - Tenant protections, homelessness prevention, affordable housing preservation and production (the 4Ps)

  2. Movement Building and Community Development ($6.5 million) - Strengthening voice and power of low-income residents and people of color

  3. Policy and Systems Change ($5.0 million) - Advocacy and structural change initiatives

  4. Leadership Development - Programs equipping emerging leaders of color:

    • Multicultural Fellowship Program
    • Women of Color, Women of Power Program
    • Koshland Young Leader Awards

  5. Arts and Culture - Supporting the Bay Area's visual arts movement and literary community through awards and scholarships

  6. Workforce Development - Job training and employable skill building

  7. Racial Equity and Economic Inclusion - The foundation's overarching "North Star" guiding all work

  8. Faith-Based Community Organizing - Supporting congregations and faith-based organizations in equity work

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not explicitly listed in public materials, the foundation's focus is clear: all funding must advance racial equity and economic inclusion in the five Bay Area counties. Organizations outside the Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo) are not eligible.

Governance and Leadership

CEO

Fred Blackwell has served as CEO since 2014, bringing what colleagues describe as "a laser-like focus on the dimensions of social justice work with respect to racial and economic inclusion and equity." Blackwell defines racial equity as "just and fair inclusion in a society where everyone can participate, prosper, and thrive, regardless of their race or where they come from."

On the foundation's mission, Blackwell states: "We need to make sure that everybody has the chance to be a part of the prosperity of our region, regardless of their race or what neighborhood they grew up in. Our challenge as a society is to ensure that everyone has a chance to succeed. This is not just a moral imperative, but it's also an economic necessity. Our region cannot afford to continue to leave so many behind if we hope to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity."

Blackwell emphasizes that the foundation is "more explicit than we've been in the past about making equity the focus — not just in our grantmaking but also in how we work with donors, how we provide civic leadership in the region."

Board of Trustees

Trustees serve five-year terms and lead the foundation through their expertise, knowledge of the community, and passionate belief in the power of philanthropy. Recent appointments include:

  • Peter Bratt and Kimberly Brandon - Five-year terms through 2030
  • Sergio Garcia - Five-year term through 2028
  • Rev. Miguel Bustos - The Episcopal Church's manager for Racial Reconciliation and Justice
  • Holly Kernan - Chief Content Officer at KQED
  • Lateefah Simon - President of the MeadowFund
  • Bob Uyeki - Five-year term

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The San Francisco Foundation uses the Fluxx Grantee Portal for all grant applications.

For New Organizations:

  1. Create an account and organizational profile at the Fluxx Grantee Portal as soon as possible
  2. Registration can take a few days, so plan ahead
  3. Select "create an account" when accessing the portal
  4. Password requirements: 14 characters long with at least one uppercase letter and one digit
  5. After pressing "submit edits," you cannot return to edit information
  6. Use "save" if you need to return to your profile later; only press "submit" when information is complete

For Current Grantees: Apply through SFF's Grantee Portal using existing credentials

Eligibility: All 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (or fiscally sponsored organizations) based in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, or San Mateo counties can apply

For Eligibility Questions: Contact programs@sff.org For Technical Portal Questions: Contact grantsmanagement@sff.org

Decision Timeline

Rapid Response Fund: Applicants are notified within 30 days of application receipt

FAITHS Community Partner Grants: Application period opens August 15, closes September 29; decision timeline not specified

General Grant Programs: Timeline varies; many are invitation-only with decisions made in partnership with donors and external committees

Success Rates

The foundation made 569 grants to 452 organizations and 15 individuals in FY24 (July 2023 - June 2024). Specific overall success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation's transparent commitment to racial equity means 97% of FY24 grantees serve majority BIPOC communities, and 64% of funding went to BIPOC-led organizations.

The foundation supported 3,004 organizations with $238.2 million in grants in 2022, with the following awards by year:

  • 1,561 awards in 2023
  • 1,506 awards in 2022
  • 1,315 awards in 2021
  • 1,562 awards in 2020

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not detailed in publicly available materials. For clarification on reapplication after a declined proposal, contact programs@sff.org.

Application Success Factors

Criteria for Rapid Response Fund

Applications should address these criteria:

  1. Timely and Urgent - Responding to an unanticipated catalyzing event or urgent external challenge
  2. Opportunity for Immediate Impact - Strategic with a clear timeline and goals
  3. Clear Focus on Racial and/or Economic Equity - Demonstrating a clear equity framework
  4. Movement- and Power-Building - Aiming to build the voice and power of people of color or other marginalized communities

What Makes Applications Stand Out

Alignment with Equity Focus: The foundation's "North Star" is racial equity and economic inclusion. Fred Blackwell's leadership has made equity not just a consideration but the central organizing principle. Applications that explicitly demonstrate understanding and commitment to this framework are essential.

BIPOC Leadership: 82% of the Executive Directors or Co-Executive Directors of FY24-funded organizations identify as Black, Indigenous, or a person of color. The foundation prioritizes funding BIPOC-led organizations.

Serving BIPOC Communities: 97% of FY24 grantees serve majority BIPOC communities. Demonstrate how your work centers and serves communities of color.

Geographic Concentration: While all five Bay Area counties are eligible, Alameda, San Francisco, and Contra Costa receive the majority of funding. Organizations in these counties may have more examples of aligned work to reference.

Priority Issue Areas: Housing and homelessness, movement building, and policy change received the most FY24 funding. Align your application with these priority areas when relevant.

Small and Grassroots Organizations: The Rapid Response Fund specifically prioritizes organizations with budgets of $500,000 or less. The foundation values grassroots, community-based work.

Grant Duration Considerations: While most grants (72%) last 6-12 months, 43% of total dollars went to multi-year grants, suggesting the foundation values both responsive short-term projects and sustained longer-term work.

Practical Application Tips

  • Register Early: Account creation can take several days
  • Save Frequently: Use "save" not "submit" until your application is complete
  • Review Application Guidelines: Each program has specific requirements
  • Contact with Questions: The foundation encourages reaching out to programs@sff.org for eligibility questions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Racial Equity is Non-Negotiable: Every aspect of your application must demonstrate how your work advances racial equity and economic inclusion. This is not a "nice to have" but the foundation's central organizing principle under Fred Blackwell's leadership.

  2. BIPOC Leadership Matters: The foundation funds primarily BIPOC-led organizations (64% of FY24 funding). If your organization has BIPOC leadership, highlight this prominently. If not, you may face challenges in alignment with their priorities.

  3. Geographic Specificity is Key: You must operate in one or more of the five Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo). Multi-county work is valued but not required.

  4. Know Your Grant Stream: The Rapid Response Fund ($3,000-$20,000) has a 30-day turnaround for urgent needs. FAITHS grants (up to $25,000) require civic engagement components. Many other grants are invitation-only. Understand which stream fits your work before applying.

  5. Small is Beautiful: The foundation explicitly prioritizes organizations with budgets under $500,000 for some programs. Don't let a small organizational budget discourage you—it may be an advantage.

  6. Housing and Movement Building Lead: If your work touches on housing, homelessness, tenant protections, movement building, or policy change, you align with where the most FY24 dollars went. Frame your work in these terms when accurate.

  7. Technical Preparation Matters: The Fluxx portal requires advance setup. Begin the registration process early, ensure your password meets requirements (14 characters, one uppercase, one digit), and save frequently to avoid losing work.

References

  1. The San Francisco Foundation - Official Website. "Funding Opportunities." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://sff.org/what-we-do/funding/

  2. The San Francisco Foundation. "Rapid Response Fund for Movement Building." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://sff.org/what-we-do/funding/rrf/

  3. The San Francisco Foundation. "2024 Grantmaking Data." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://sff.org/what-we-do/grantmaking-to-advance-racial-equity/2024-grantmaking-data/

  4. The San Francisco Foundation. "Staying True to Our North Star: FY24 Grantmaking Highlights and Opportunities." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://sff.org/staying-true-to-our-north-star-fy24-grantmaking-highlights-and-opportunities/

  5. The San Francisco Foundation. "Financials." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://sff.org/about-us/financial-statements/

  6. The San Francisco Foundation. "2024 Annual Report: Answering the Call." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://sff.org/2024-annual-report-answering-the-call/

  7. San Francisco Foundation. Wikipedia. Accessed November 13, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Foundation

  8. The San Francisco Foundation. "Board of Trustees." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://sff.org/about-us/board-of-trustees/

  9. The San Francisco Foundation. "Fred Blackwell." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://sff.org/team-members/fred-blackwell/

  10. Philanthropy News Digest. "Fred Blackwell, CEO, The San Francisco Foundation: Community Foundations and Racial Equity." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/features/newsmakers/fred-blackwell-ceo-the-san-francisco-foundation-community-foundations-and-racial-equity

  11. The San Francisco Foundation. "Identifying Our North Star." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://sff.org/sff-75th-anniversary/our-story/north-star/

  12. The San Francisco Foundation. "Fluxx Grantee Portal FAQ." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://sff.org/what-we-do/funding/rrf/fluxx-grantee-portal-faq/

  13. The San Francisco Foundation. "Grants analysis shows SFF progress, room to improve." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://sff.org/grants-analysis-shows-sff-progress-room-to-improve/

  14. The San Francisco Foundation. "Community Leadership Awards." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://sff.org/what-we-do/leadership-programs-awards/cla/

  15. The San Francisco Foundation. "Leadership Programs and Awards." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://sff.org/what-we-do/leadership-programs-awards/

  16. The San Francisco Foundation. "FAITHS Program." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://sff.org/what-we-do/leadership-programs-awards/faiths-program/

  17. Inside Philanthropy. "San Francisco Foundation." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-s/san-francisco-foundation

  18. Fluxx. "Driving Immediate Impact: The San Francisco Foundation's Rapid Response Fund." Accessed November 13, 2025. https://www.fluxx.io/blog/san-francisco-foundation-rapid-response-fund-bay-area

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