San Francisco Makes Major Investment to Strengthen Capacity of Community Nonprofits and Service Providers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: HRC.Press@sfgov.org | (415) 252-2535

San Francisco, CA — The San Francisco Human Rights Commission today announced a strategic partnership with Black Freedom Fund to lead a major new investment in the City’s community nonprofit ecosystem, strengthening the organizations that deliver essential services and drive economic stability in historically underserved communities.

Selected through a competitive RFP process, Black Freedom Fund will serve as a partner under RFP 101, expanding access to funding and capacity-building resources for small and emerging community-based organizations.

This investment addresses a persistent structural gap experienced by many community-based organizations serving historically underserved populations in San Francisco: limited infrastructure and barriers to accessing traditional public funding. By pairing organizational capacity building with direct investment, the City is strengthening the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of these organizations and the communities they serve.

“Our administration is working to make sure San Francisco is a place where every child has the opportunity to succeed and every community has the support needed to grow," said Mayor Daniel Lurie. "This partnership with the Black Freedom Fund will strengthen the organizations that serve San Francisco families, and we are going to ensure that every dollar is used responsibly to support community organizations that serve our young people, seniors, and families.”

Through this partnership, Black Freedom Fund will administer a portfolio of grants to emerging nonprofits across San Francisco and will pair this funding with comprehensive capacity-building support. This includes technical assistance in fiscal management, governance, compliance, and organizational development—core functions that enable nonprofits to scale, stabilize, and compete for larger funding opportunities, ensuring public dollars are spent effectively and are administered with care and integrity.

“This investment reflects a fundamental understanding that strong communities require strong institutions. If we want better outcomes, we must meaningfully commit to the organizations delivering them," said Mawuli Tugbenyoh, Executive Director, San Francisco Human Rights Commission.  "Community-based organizations often offer community-based solutions to the city's greatest challenges and are most trusted by the people they serve. By supporting organizational capacity and long-term sustainability, San Francisco is strengthening the civic infrastructure that drives equitable outcomes across our city.”

This award followed a rigorous competitive RFP process administered by HRC; the department and the awardee will next enter negotiations with the goal of a final, executed contract.

“We’re proud to partner with the San Francisco Human Rights Commission to invest in the strength of community-based organizations serving the City’s historically marginalized communities,” said Marc Philpart, President & CEO, Black Freedom Fund. “The organizations closest to community have always carried the vision and responsibility for change; what they’ve needed is sustained investment and support. This partnership helps meet that need by pairing flexible funding with culturally responsive capacity-building, so organizations can not only respond to this moment, but build the infrastructure and stability to shape what comes next. By investing in both resources and sustainability, we’re working to ensure these organizations are positioned to thrive for the long term. That’s core to the work of Black Freedom Fund: resourcing community leadership and supporting the conditions for lasting change.”

Through this initiative, HRC is aligning public investment with measurable equity outcomes, strengthening delivery of services today and the organizational capacity, viability, and sustainability of the organizations that communities rely on.

"Over the past five years, the Black Freedom Fund has boldly delivered on the vision that when we invest in organizations and leaders at the center of Black communities, everybody benefits," said Fred Blackwell, CEO of the San Francisco Foundation and board chair of the Black Freedom Fund. "This strategic partnership is a validation of the Black Freedom Fund's community-led approach and great news for all of San Francisco's historically underserved communities."

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HRC Press Release - announcing major investment in community nonprofits 2026.05.07