On July 14th, NCG member The San Francisco Foundation announced its $34 Million investment into the City of Oakland. The gift of an anonymous donor, the investment will focus on closing the achievement gap, affordable housing, creating cradle-to-career pathways of opportunity, growing middle wage jobs, and removing barriers to health access for parents and children across the city.
"By investing in jobs, housing, education, and healthcare, this holistic approach will create pathways of opportunity in Oakland neighborhoods that need it most,” said Fred Blackwell, CEO of The San Francisco Foundation. "We are proud to work hand-in-hand with our donor who is deeply committed to the children and families of Oakland, and wants to ensure that all of Oakland is a place of opportunity. Together, we are turning the tide for our future generations, investing in our kids and the possibilities that are in store when all residents can access the prosperity and economic growth that this region has to offer."
The Foundation gave a breakdown of how the grant would be dispersed all through Oakland:
Breakout of the Investment
- Kiva Oakland: $500,000 to support Kiva Zip’s goal to become a primary capital source for financially excluded small businesses in Oakland by funding at least 400 entrepreneurs in the next two years.
- East Oakland Youth Development Center: $1 million to support the capital campaign, which will renovate existing facilities and add expanded space for children and youth services.
- East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation: $1 million to support neighborhood development in the San Pablo Corridor.
- EastSide Arts Alliance: $1 million to secure the building.
- Ella Baker Center for Human Rights: $1 million in support of Restore Oakland/Restaurant Opportunity Center (ROC).
- Urban Strategies Council: $1.2 million for CEO transition and low-income housing development.
- Destiny Arts Center: $1.3 million to eliminate the organization’s debt service, expand their work with incarcerated youth at the Alameda Juvenile Justice Center, and increase the participation of LGBTQ youth in their “Moving the Movement” program.
- Center for Employment Opportunities: $1.5 million to support reentry employment.
- Alameda County Health Care Services Agency: $1.5 million to support the Best Babies Zone.
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center: $1.5 million to support the Oakland DACA/DAPA Project.
- California School-Based Health Alliance: $2 million to support trauma-informed care in the school-based health centers in Oakland Public Schools.
- Oakland Community Land Trust: $2 million to support the stabilization of Oakland neighborhoods.
- Youth Uprising: $2.5 million in support of Castlemont community development.
- Asian Health Services: $3 million to support the clinic renovation.
- Unity Council: $3 million in support of the Fruitvale Transit Village.
- Oakland Codes: Housed at TSFF, this $4 million investment will fuel seven Oakland-based organizations – Black Girls Code, David Glover Center, Hack the Hood, Hidden Genius Project, Qeyno Labs, #YesWeCode, and Youth Impact Hub – to ensure that one of Oakland’s strongest assets, its diversity, is reflected in the rapidly growing hub of high-tech employers.
- Oakland Public Education Fund: $6 million investment to support a Pre-K – 12 system of support including Early Childhood Education, Restorative Justice, African American Student Achievement, and Community School Coordinators.
We look forward to seeing great impact in the East Bay!