Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy logo

Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy

501(c)(4) organization San Rafael, CA EIN: 85-2432657 Website

To promote the common good and social welfare of the people of San Francisco by educating the public and advocating on important issues of public policy that will improve the quality of life and governance in San Francisco.

Key facts about Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy

In short: Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy gave $417K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $104K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
85-2432657
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$417,000
Grants made (2025)
4
Average grant
$104,250
Median grant
$90,000
Total assets
$727,962
Primary geography
California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$728K

+90.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$417K

-81.7% YoY

Grant Count

4

-69.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$104K

-40.5% YoY

How Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy gives

  • Giving fell 90% from 2022 to 2025. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

About Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy

Based on IRS filings

Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in San Rafael, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $728K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $417K. Net investment income was $42K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.

States

Cities

San FranciscoOaklandSan RafaelNovatoSacramento

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$6M0 grants2020 8 grants2021 13 grants2022 6 grants2023 13 grants2024 4 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $417K (2025) to $4.2M (2022). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $417K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2025

Neighbors for a Better SF: $230KNeighbors for a Better SF$230KConnected SF: $168KConnected SF$168KSF Dem County Central Cmte: $13KSF Dem County Central Cmte$13KCalifornia Democratic Party: $7KCalifornia Democratic Party$7K

The largest 2025 recipient was Neighbors for a Better SF ($230K). Together the top 4 received $417K.

Grant Size Distribution

44 grants across all recorded years

21<$50K8$50–100K5$100–250K4$250–500K4$500K–1M2$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 44 (48%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Neighbors for a Better SF San Rafael, CASee Part IV$230,000
Connected SF San Francisco, CASee Part IV$167,500
SF Dem County Central Cmte San Francisco, CASee Part IV$12,500
California Democratic Party Sacramento, CASee Part IV$7,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M$8M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$727,962$381,793$2,907,293
Revenue$3,175,511$3,972,450$5,508,741
Expenses$2,829,342$6,497,950$3,053,485
Net Investment Income$42,074$34,888$45,634

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 15, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 26, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 10, 2025)
  5. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 23, 2026)

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy is led by Jesse Cheng, Executive Director on the 2025 filing; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Jesse Cheng

    Executive Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $164K (2025)

  • William Oberndorf

    President & Director

    Director → President & Director, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Louise Patterson

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steven Merrill

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kathryn Duryea Wyndowe

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steven S Lucas

    Secretary & CFO

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (4)
  • Former: Nick Podell (2021–2024) — President & Director
  • Former: James Sutton (2020) — Treasurer
  • Former: Mary Jung (2020) — Principal Officer
  • Former: Matthew Alvarez (2020) — Assistant Treasurer

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Jesse Cheng — Executive Director: $164KJesse ChengExecutive Director$164K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $164K, to Jesse Cheng (Executive Director).

Frequently asked questions about Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy

How much does Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy give each year?

Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy gave $417K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.3M across 13 grants.

What is Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy's typical grant size?

Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy's median grant in 2025 was $90,000, and its average grant was $104,250, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy give grants?

Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (2 grants).

Does Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "See Part IV" (4 grants).

How large is Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy?

Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy reported $728K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.2M.

What is Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy?

Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in San Rafael, CA. It holds $728K in total assets as of 2025.

What is Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy's EIN?

Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-2432657. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

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