Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy
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.
Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $417,000
- -81.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -69.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $104,250
- -40.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $90,000
- Total assets
- $727,962
- +90.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
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
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 44 (48%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $417K (2025) to $4.2M (2022). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $417K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Neighbors for a Better SF San Rafael, CA | See Part IV | $230,000 |
| Connected SF San Francisco, CA | See Part IV | $167,500 |
| SF Dem County Central Cmte San Francisco, CA | See Part IV | $12,500 |
| California Democratic Party Sacramento, CA | See Part IV | $7,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $727,962 | $3,175,511 | $2,829,342 | $417,000 | 4 | $42,074 |
| 2024 | $381,793 | $3,972,450 | $6,497,950 | $2,276,229 | 13 | $34,888 |
| 2023 | $2,907,293 | $5,508,741 | $3,053,485 | $1,230,000 | 6 | $45,634 |
| 2022 | $251,538 | $4,945,910 | $6,081,177 | $4,181,718 | 13 | $-2,531 |
| 2021 | $1,386,805 | $4,652,851 | $3,622,200 | $2,843,000 | 8 | $-16,093 |
| 2020 | $356,155 | $3,337,152 | $2,980,997 | — | — | — |
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.
Focus Areas
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
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.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 10, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 23, 2026)
Live grants for the work Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy's focus areas in our free grants database
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