Mayor Lurie Launches New Community Funding Opportunity Through The Human Rights Commission Rooted in Accountability and Transparency

SAN FRANCISCO—Today, Mayor Lurie announced a new funding opportunity through the Human Rights Commission (HRC) for community-serving organizations, a critical step in rebuilding trust, fostering transparency, and delivering tangible outcomes for underserved communities in San Francisco. The new HRC 2025 request for proposal (RFP) process has been reformed to ensure funds directly benefit the communities they are designed to serve, including advancing the Dream Keeper Initiative’s (DKI) mission to address structural inequities faced by the Black community.

Prior to the release of this RFP, organizations doing essential work in San Francisco were hampered by a funding freeze on all DKI contracts last year pending investigations into the management and grantmaking of the program. This pause in payment led organizations to lay off staff, shutter doors, and caused significant harm to the San Francisco’s Black community. The restructured program and release of this new RFP will unlock those critical investments and reaffirms the administration’s commitment to providing opportunities to all communities throughout the City and County of San Francisco.

"Our residents need to feel the benefit of every dollar the City spends. Effective organizations who are doing critical work in the community also need transparency and clarity from the City on how we are supporting them," said Mayor Daniel Lurie. "This is a fresh start as we turn the page and refocus on what truly matters: delivering lasting, positive change for San Franciscans.”

The overhauled process includes several key changes aimed at ensuring accountability, clarity for community partners, and the effective use of taxpayer funds. The new process replaces the previous model with a structured, outcomes-driven approach including:

• Exclusive use of a Request for Proposals procurement process for all awards; previously used Request for Qualifications
• Multi-year duration grants contingent on performance; previously one-year duration grants
• Clearly defined, data-driven methodology for award calculations; previously there was not a standardized methodology for determining awards
• Exclusively funds programs serving San Francisco residents; previously allowed services outside of San Francisco
• New scoring approach that considers organizational capacity and financial stability; previously scoring approach did not evaluate organizational financial capacity
• Clearly defined minimum and maximum award amounts; previously no stated minimum or maximum award amounts
• Standardized budgeting and reimbursement approach; previously varied processes which caused confusion in implementation and reimbursement
• Restricted to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations; previously open to individuals and private businesses

Building on Mayor Lurie’s commitment to accountability and fiscal stewardship, this new RFP framework will include added enhancements such as a restructured evaluation process to ensure impartiality and to avoid potential conflicts, and transparent public disclosure of the evaluation criteria including scoring methodology and award decisions. Prospective grantees will have the opportunity to participate in multiple technical assistance workshops to maximize community engagement and opportunity to receive funding. Grant awards will be reviewed by appointed commissioners on the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and the HRC Director will conduct routine performance reviews with all grantees to ensure grantees are meeting service delivery milestones.

“A lot of hard work and commitment to the mission of the Human Rights Commission has brought us to this step today,” said Mawuli Tugbenyoh, Acting Executive Director, San Francisco Human Rights Commission. “The Dream Keeper Initiative was a bold step that moved San Francisco beyond rhetoric to real meaningful investment. I want to recognize the staff at HRC as well as the community organizations and grantees that are committed to the city and doing the work to make our communities safer, healthier, and stronger. This new funding opportunity and reformed grant making process will ultimately lead to generational change in economic and social outcomes for the Black and other marginalized communities, more equitable and transparent funding decisions, and restore the integrity of the Human Rights Commission and our core programming. We look forward to receiving and reviewing the dynamic proposals in the weeks ahead.” 

HRC is seeking proposals from organizations that have experience providing direct services to underserved communities in several key areas, including health and well being (food insecurity, mental health, maternal health); education and workforce (job training, economic mobility, violence prevention); and arts and culture (strengthening cultural institutions and arts organizations), among others.

“I am excited about continuing to make good on the promises made to the Black community in San Francisco,” said District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton. “The city owes resources to a community that has been pushed out and over-criminalized and has suffered from the negative impacts of discrimination and racism. This continued investment is one step to righting a wrong.”

“I thank the Mayor for reaffirming the commitment to invest in Black San Francisco, especially at a time when many communities feel under attack” said Joi Jackson-Morgan, MPH, Chief Executive Officer at 3rd Street Youth Center & Clinic. “This work must continue to build on the progress of the past three years and drive real, lasting change.”

“San Francisco’s Black community has been clear about our needs and today, we see that Mayor Lurie has been listening,” said Dr. Jonathan Butler, President of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) San Francisco Branch. “This $12 million per year investment is a step in the right direction. This is progress, not the finish line. Public funding is not enough. We hope this commitment inspires private donors and corporate partners to step up and invest in the future of Black San Francisco. We will continue to push for deeper, long-term commitments to ensure equity for Black San Franciscans. This funding sends a clear message: San Francisco’s Black community matters.”

With this request for proposals, HRC is seeking organizations that demonstrate the qualifications and the desire to successfully provide essential services and to expand access to opportunities often outside the reach of many communities in San Francisco.

The new HRC request for proposal will be available this afternoon and the full details will be found at:

https://www.sf.gov/information--human-rights-commission-funding-opportunities