A statement from the Human Rights Commission

The San Francisco Human Rights Commission (HRC) abides by, and takes seriously, its responsibility to conduct the people's business and effectively provide services. One of those services is the granting of public dollars through a well-managed, accountable, rule-bound system. A City grant contract is to be awarded only after a competitive, transparent, and fair process, through which all applying organizations receive the same consideration without special favor for anyone.

In an enormously rare step, HRC has had to not only terminate a handful of contracts that were already executed and in effect — it has also had to rescind offers from 2024 to enter into grant contracts with more than 35 other organizations. This was a very difficult step to take, and not one taken lightly; HRC holds as core to its mission supporting nonprofits who do the critical work of serving San Francisco's diverse communities. Any action that threatens to interrupt that work and cause distress to organizations and the youth, families, seniors, artists, and others they serve is an absolute last resort.

Since September 2024, when HRC's previous director resigned, additional concerns and information around the awarding of grant contracts under that director's leadership have surfaced. Upon examination of grantee selection and contract agreements during the HRC's prior leadership, irregularities were discovered that were significant enough that the entire process was found to be tainted. In addition to the grant terminations and award offer cancellations, there are several ongoing independent reviews and investigations into the HRC's former director and the Dream Keeper Initiative grant funding managed by the former director. This outcome has had a significant and regrettable impact on community-serving nonprofits; the vast majority of these organizations have done nothing wrong but unfortunately have been impacted by the fallout from these revelations.

A new HRC funding opportunity inclusive of Dream Keeper dollars opened in March and is an example of a competitive, transparent, and fair process. The protocols built into the Request for Proposals (RFP) follow City guidelines completely. The solicitation period, which is open through May 5, features a number of information sessions, where prospective applicants can find technical assistance, and questions can be submitted as well via email. Each proposal will be read by reviewers who meet the criteria for that role and will all follow an identical rubric to score the submitted materials. The quality of the proposals will drive which organizations are offered grant funding, and the amount of that funding; nothing else will factor into the decisions.