San Francisco Foundation history

On January 14, 1948, with no more than $20 in its coffers, the San Francisco Foundation officially launched with a luncheon at the Sir Francis Drake hotel just off of San Francisco’s Union Square.

1951 The Arc San Francisco founded by parents.

1965 Launch of our first paid work program for clients.

1968 The Arc appointed by the legislature to be one of California’s first two regional centers.

1977 Golden Gate Regional Center established as a separate non-profit agency.

1981 Began donated goods resale shop partnership with ThriftTown and Norquist Salvage.

1982 Launched Supported Employment Services in partnership with University of San Francisco.

1984 Began providing Residential Services to support clients to live independently in the community.

1985 Addition of Senior Services for older adults with developmental disabilities.

1986 Residential Services expands to accommodate individuals with severe and multiple disabilities.

1999 Kicked-off of $1,000,000 Capital Campaign to build San Francisco’s first affordable housing for people with developmental disabilities.

Multicultural Center of Marin (formerly the Canal Welcome Center, 2000)

2002 Received grant from The California Endowment to establish Supplemental Medical Case Management services to improve client health and fitness.

2007 The Arc opens a new facility in Daly City, San Mateo County, with ArtReach Studios and integrated work and community services.

2011 The Arc celebrates 60 years and announces a $1,000,000 Anniversary Leadership Fund to support Health & Wellness, Transitional Youth, Residential Services and Anti-Bullying/Anti-Isolation Programs.

2014: Helped win voter approval for California’s Proposition 47, which downgraded drug possession felonies to misdemeanors, helping to reduce barriers for hundreds of thousands of Californians.

2016: Supported passage of six affordable housing measures throughout the Bay Area during the November election.

2017: Strengthened legal defense programs to protect tens of thousands of immigrants in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties.

2018: Transformed 750 affordable homes as part of the Partnership for HOPE SF

2019: Worked across sectors to support the passage of 11 state-wide bills that will prevent homelessness, protect renters, preserve existing affordable housing, and produce a significant number of new affordable homes in the Bay Area.

2020: During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, SFF’s research and partnerships helped extend eviction moratoria in Contra Costa and San Mateo counties.