We inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

For 130 years (since 1891), Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco (BGCSF) has provided high-quality, community-based youth development services to at-risk youth in San Francisco. Our Clubs are located in neighborhoods with the fewest resources for youth, and we are open when youth need us the most—after school, on most school holidays, and all day during the summer. We impact the lives of Club members, primarily ages six to 18, by focusing on academic success, healthy lifestyles, good character and community engagement, and job readiness with learning potential. Our Formula for Impact is based on running targeted programs in these areas and ensuring regular attendance and an optimal experience in our Clubs. We believe that young people will achieve extraordinary things when they are provided with skilled and caring staff, fun and effective programs, and first-class facilities, in an environment that promotes respect, responsibility, and fun.

Source: Nonprofit submitted responses

Goal One: Ensure that BGCSF’s program and services notably build Developmental Assets and change the trajectory of youths’ lives

Goal Type: Focus on core programs to achieve mission and scale back on programs not seen as core.

Goal Two: Strengthen our capacity by becoming the employer of choice in our sector; becoming a recognized leader in child safety; becoming a recognized leader in training & professional development

Goal Type: Invest in the capacity of our organization (financial, management, technical, etc.).

Goal Three: Grow BGCSF’s impact on San Francisco’s most vulnerable youth through the building of a new Clubhouse, growing the number of BGCSF sites by at least two, and growing the daily youth served by 25%

Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served.

Describe an investment in leadership

BGCSF has a Learning and Development (L&D) Department that is developing career pathways based on core competencies for our key programmatic staff positions. L&D facilitates monthly trainings and connects staff to relevant professional development opportunities outside of our organization. These efforts are meant to ensure that staff are aware of opportunities to advance in the organization, are aware of the steps that are needed to achieve their professional goals, and that they receive the necessary training to perform at a high level in their current position.

This organization mobilizes for mission in the following ways:

• Strategic Partnerships

• Networks of Collective Impact Efforts

• Thought Leadership

• Raising Awareness

• Community Building

• Policy Advocacy

What are this organization’s external mobilizaton efforts?

Over its long history as an anchor youth-serving CBO in San Francisco’s most underinvested neighborhoods, BGCSF has grown into the role it plays today as a citywide connector and distributor of resources for underserved youth. At any given time, BGCSF has several dozen formal partnerships with various CBOs to provide high-quality programs for underserved school aged youth and their families. In addition to over two dozen arts education partnerships, other partners provide programs that span food security, literacy, academic tutoring, college prep, workforce development, mental health, and STEM. Additionally, BGCSF is a member of The California Alliance, which provides a mechanism for joint decision making, exchange of ideas, and cooperative action among more than 100 Boys & Girls Clubs in the state.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco stepped up in profoundly important ways. Four of our Clubhouses never closed their doors and ten locations opened for in-Club services starting in June 2020 with two more running virtually throughout the fall and are now in person as well. Every day, hundreds of youth completed their distance learning from inside our doors. They received lunch, a snack, and sometimes even a little breakfast with us. They played, laughed and got their school work done alongside their friends. In total, over 800 youth participated each week during the school year. In response to what was a very challenging springtime effort to support distance learning, in August 2020 we created a new position called Education Liaisons. These staff members work outside our pods but work in support of all the youth in the Clubhouse and even those who are engaged virtually. They work in partnership with schools on a daily basis and dialogue with parents and guardians. The Education Liaisons make sure that together the adults are surrounding youth with the support they need to succeed at school. After a year of almost unprecedented loss and isolation — young people need more from us now than ever before. We are developing our plans for what the Club’s services will look like during the final chapter of the pandemic and the immediate aftermath. We know for sure that supporting learning loss and improving social-emotional wellness are going to be critically important areas of need for youth. We predict that the recovery from the pandemic will last 5-10 years for most of our youth — with some never fully recovering. Summer may present new opportunities for us, as more and more adults get vaccinated. Of paramount importance, we are determined to bring joy and celebration back to kids’ lives. And, we know that retaining our outstanding staff team is critical.