How much of my donation goes directly to kids in need?
100 percent of our funds go directly to help children and teens in the foster care system. Our Board of Directors serve as unpaid volunteers, and we work hard to keep operating costs as low as possible.
Who are the youth you serve?
We serve children and youth ages 0-21 who have been impacted by the Child Welfare system. These individuals are San Francisco dependents who live both in and out of the home. Any San Francisco dependent can access both our general grants and our scholarships.
What are the ages of the youth you serve?
We serve children and youth ages 0-21. Since many funding sources stop when teens age out of the foster care system, we make an especially large impact on young adults who would otherwise be left to fend for themselves.
Where do the youth live?
All of the youth we serve are of San Francisco origin, meaning they were born and raised in San Francisco before they entered foster care.
Because youth are placed all over the state of California and occasionally out of state, some individuals are not currently living in the SF area.
A San Francisco social worker and court jurisdiction follow them wherever they live to ensure their needs are being met.
Will my donation go directly to youth in the foster care system?
100 percent of our funds go directly to help children and teens in the foster care system. Our Board of Directors serve as unpaid volunteers, and we work hard to keep operating costs as low as possible.
Does the SFFYF serve children who live outside of San Francisco?
Although some SFFYF recipients may currently reside in other locations, every child and teen we serve originated in the San Francisco area.
What types of activities does the SFFYF fund for individuals in foster care?
We pay for a number of essential experiences and items that aren’t covered by state and federal programs, including extracurricular activities, travel costs, self-improvement courses, summer camps, graduation costs, and college scholarships.
What are some of the colleges that our youth have attended?
The youth we support attend a variety of two-year, four-year, and trade school programs. Recently, we have supported students who have attended UCLA, University of San Francisco, Chico State, San Francisco State University, UC Riverside, the University of California Merced, Sonoma State University, Sacramento State, Vanguard, CSU Dominguez Hills, Cal State LA, CSU Monterey Bay, Laney College, and CSU Channel Islands.
What are the goals of the youth you serve?
Like all kids and young adults, the youth we serve have a variety of goals and dreams. Emotionally, they want to feel safe and loved. Most value growing relationships with their family and siblings and want to build healthy relationships with trusted adults and peers.
More concretely, our younger children want to read better, attend camps, learn to ride a bike, or hope to play in the NBA someday. The teens and older youth we serve are hoping to graduate high school, attend college, and pursue the same opportunities as their peers: learn to drive, go to prom, improve grades, and save money for their future.
How do I donate?
The best way to support the SFFYF is through a monthly online gift. 100 percent of your funds go directly to kids and teens in the San Francisco foster care system. You can also support our fund by organizing a fundraiser or participating in our annual events.
How will my donation help break the barriers that youth in foster care may encounter?
Your donation makes a huge difference in the lives of our youth! Most state and federal funding programs don’t cover the costs we consider “essential” in a child or teen’s life. Your donations ensure students gain equal access to the same activities and opportunities as their peers.
From summer camps and sports teams to educational opportunities and family visits, if a youth is in need, we do our absolute best to say yes.
As Kenneth, scholarship recipient and college graduate, said, “It took a lot of weight off my shoulders and helped with unforeseen expenses. It allowed me to be fully engaged with my academics, active on campus, and involved in student organizations. Without the scholarship, [obtaining this degree] would have been much harder.”
What’s more—your donation is a reminder to every individual that they have a community of supporters who care about them and are rooting for them to succeed. In a system where these youth often feel alone, your support is one of the most incredible benefits.
What sort of difference does my donation make in the life of the youth?
We help level the playing field for youth in the foster care system by providing equal access to the same opportunities as their peers. These opportunities spark lifelong interests, passions, and desires, and help youth discover their unique gifts.
There are grim statistics that highlight the barriers our youth face both while in care and once they age out of the foster care system. SFFYF helps youth rewrite the statistics by supporting them as they graduate high school, attend college, graduate college, and find stable housing. We support youth who are starting online businesses, pursuing higher education, and giving back to the communities they’ve come from.
When did the SFFYF start?
The San Francisco Foster Youth Fund (formerly Workers’ Children’s Fund) was established in 1986 by child welfare workers of the San Francisco Department of Human Services (DHS).
The organization was formed in response to what was seen as a serious shortfall in available resources for abused and neglected children who had been receiving services through DHS. You can read more about our story here.
Are there ways for me to support youth in foster care without making a monetary donation?
We are so grateful for your interest in working with us to empower youth in the foster care system. Even if you’re unable to donate, you can spread the word to friends and family about our efforts—subscribe to our mailing list and encourage others to do the same.
Depending on your situation, you could also donate an experience for a child or teen in the foster care system. For instance, if you work at Pier 39, donate an outing to Alcatraz. If you work at a hospital, consider providing a private tour to a student who’s interested in medicine and would love to see how things work. If you’re a season ticket holder and can’t make a game, gift it to one of our youth to attend.
How does the SFFYF keep operating costs low?
We operate 100 percent on donations. We have no paid staff, so all our board members are volunteers. We work hard to have minimal overhead so your donations fully support the youth. Our donations come from fundraising efforts, our Annual Wine Tasting event, selling merchandise, and other events throughout the year.