This story first appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, The San Francisco Standard, and other publications on September 18, 2025.

SAN FRANCISCO – An impromptu partnership that quickly came together after the closure of the San Francisco Parks Alliance announced today that it has created the San Francisco Neighborhoods and Parks Fund. The fund has already raised over $2M to back the Community Partner Network, a coalition of approximately 80 neighborhood groups that revitalize parks and public spaces in San Francisco neighborhoods.

The new fund will support projects that were left in the lurch after the demise of the San Franciso Parks Alliance in June, including:

• GreenTrustSF’s native gardens throughout the mixed industrial neighborhood of Dogpatch/Central Waterfront

• Friends of Esprit Park’s revitalization and new community programming

• Friends of Lakeside Village’s transformation of the commercial corridor on Ocean Avenue between 19th Ave. and Junipero Serra Blvd.

• 22nd Street Jungle Stairs Project restoration of the various hillsides and stairs between Diamond and Castro Streets

• Glen Park Greenway’s resumption of its all-volunteer team to restore vegetation, create a foot-trail, and establish native grassland and chaparral

The Advisory Committee of the Community Partner Network is led by Ildiko Polony, Executive Director of Sutro Stewards, and Rasheq Zarif, President of the Buena Vista Neighborhood Association. The fund was spearheaded by Susan Hirsch, Principal at Third Plateau, a philanthropy advisory and social impact firm, in partnership with Mayor Daniel Lurie, and made possible with significant contributions from Baker Street Foundation, Crankstart, and other prominent San Francisco philanthropists.

“The mismanagement of the Parks Alliance violated the public trust and jeopardized projects that are important to our communities. Now, because of the individuals who stepped up to create the San Francisco Neighborhoods and Parks Fund, these vital projects have the funding needed to move forward—fulfilling the promises that were made to our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “I’m proud to support the San Franciscans leading the charge in their own neighborhoods and I want to thank them for driving forward each of these unique neighborhood projects.”

“The San Francisco I know and love is at its best when leaders in our public and private sectors come together, roll-up-their sleeves, and get to work. Thank you to the Mayor’s office and philanthropists who swiftly rose to the occasion by supporting the San Francisco Neighborhoods and Parks Fund,” said Susan Hirsch, Philanthropy Advisor and Principal, Third Plateau social impact and philanthropy consulting firm. “The Community Partner Network, led by Ildiko and Rasheq, are an extraordinary group of local heroes and volunteers who love this city deeply. I’m inspired by their commitment and collaboration to make San Francisco better, and now this fund will set them up for success.”

“We faced a major setback where we weren’t sure if our volunteer-run community organizations would survive. We all put our best foot forward to come together, raise money, and create a fund to sustain San Francisco’s neighborhood groups that revitalize our local public spaces,” said Rasheq Zarif, President of the Buena Vista Neighborhood Association and Co-Chair of the Community Partner Network Advisory Committee. “I’m energized knowing the Mayor’s office and philanthropists in San Francisco have our backs and prioritize quality of life in our neighborhoods.”

“I’m thrilled this situation has been turned around thanks to San Francisco leaders. With $2M raised to make these community organizations whole, I am now confident that our donation is going towards playgrounds and parks for kids and families,” said Nicola Miner, Philanthropist and Board Member, Baker Street Foundation. “I’m proud to be part of this effort to renew San Francisco and restore much-needed funds to our neighborhoods groups.”

“A big part of the magic of San Francisco is the abundance of volunteers and community organizations that step up every day to care for and beautify our public spaces. One of my biggest anxieties about the Parks Alliance debacle has been the possibility that these individuals and groups would be left in lurch, collectively losing nearly $2 million in hard-raised funds,” said Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman. “I am so glad the Mayor and other Supervisors have shared this concern, and I am so grateful that Susan Hirsch and some of San Francisco’s most generous philanthropists have rallied to make these folks whole.”

“From Friends of Lakeside Village to the Sutro Stewards, District 7 is home to many community groups who spend countless hours to make our neighborhoods more beautiful and more welcoming,” said District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar. “I am so grateful that the Mayor and his team recognize that small improvements make a big difference for our communities on the Westside and look forward to working together to make the organizations supporting our parks or open spaces whole again.”

The Community Partner Network represents public spaces in neighborhoods across San Francisco—in all 11 Supervisorial Districts—including large parks, small parklets, playgrounds, stairways, cross-town trails for hikers and bikers, and commercial corridors. The more than 80 groups in the network are largely powered by volunteers who are committed to a vibrant and livable San Francisco.

The now-closed SF Parks Alliance was a fiscal sponsor for community groups that relied on the organization for charitable status to allow for donations to the community groups, as well as operational support. Its closure abruptly left the respected groups in the Community Partner Network without a fiscal sponsor and access to money they had already successfully fundraised. The Advisory Committee emerged as community members saw the opportunity to unite as one voice to develop a path towards restoration. The committee is currently led by Matthew Blain, Irma Lewis, Kath Tsakalakis, Jolene Yee, and co-chaired by Ildiko Polony and Rasheq Zarif.

The organizations have been stabilized by the new San Francisco Neighborhoods & Parks Fund, which is administered by Contina Impact, an affordable and user-friendly Model C Fiscal Sponsorship for emerging projects and collaborative philanthropic initiatives around the U.S.