“Without Community Initiatives, California would not see the impact of hundreds of beneficial projects. They are an important part of our nonprofit landscape.”

Pamela H. David
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WALTER AND ELISE HAAS FUND
In 1996, The San Francisco Foundation found itself inundated with nonprofit projects requesting its fiscal sponsorship.
In response to this need — and recognizing that the nonprofit sector would benefit from a structure that allowed community-benefit projects to incubate their ideas before taking on the rigors of incorporation — the Foundation launched a new 501(c)(3) organization called San Francisco Foundation Community Initiative Funds. The organization later changed its name to Community Initiative Funds of The San Francisco Foundation, and then to CIF of The San Francisco Foundation. Initially, it shared staff and some trustees with the Foundation.

In September 2008, after this long and fruitful association with The San Francisco Foundation, and with both organizations flourishing and in need of more space, we began the second phase of our history. We streamlined our name to Community Initiatives, moved to larger quarters in San Francisco’s financial district, formally separated our shared governance and shared staff from the Foundation, and hired additional staff to better serve our fiscally sponsored projects and our funders.

Since its inception, the organization has sponsored more than 160 projects throughout California and received more than $115 million in donations for their support. Today, Community Initiatives has more than 90 active projects, a budget of $20 million (most recent audited), and 90 employees and 300 independent contractors working across the state, with a focus on the San Francisco Bay Area. These projects operate in all areas of nonprofit endeavor, including arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, and public affairs.

Community Initiatives continues to grow and expand its “service to great ideas” in the nonprofit sphere.