Mayor Barbara Lee, Regional Leaders, and San Francisco Foundation Announce $10 Million Fund for Immigrant Families
Sept. 19, 2025
News from: Mayor's Office
NEWS RELEASE
Mayor Barbara Lee, Regional Leaders, and San Francisco Foundation Announce $10 Million Fund for Immigrant Families
The $10 million effort will provide housing, food, and emergency aid to families impacted by federal immigration enforcement.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — In a show of regional solidarity, the San FranciscoFoundation, in partnership with Elected Leaders of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, and a broad coalition of community leaders, today announced the launch of the Stand Together Bay Area Fund. This new fund aims to raise $10 million to provide urgent financial assistance to immigrant families across the Bay Area who are facing unprecedented hardship due to aggressive federal immigration enforcement.
"Our immigrant neighbors deserve safety, dignity, and the knowledge that the entire Bay Area - Oakland, San Francisco, and beyond - stands with them,” said Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. “This fund is our commitment to protect families from the fear ofdeportations and raids, to strengthen our communities, and to push back againstpolicies that seek to divide us.”
The fund, housed at the San Francisco Foundation, will pool resources from individuals, corporations, the faith community, and philanthropic partners to support trusted, community-based nonprofit organizations working on the frontlines with this community.
These organizations will provide direct emergency assistance and outreach to families impacted by detention, deportation, violence, and the fear of immigration raids to cover essential needs such as rent, food, and other basic living expenses.
"Immigrant communities are a vital part of the Bay Area's social and economic fabric, and they are currently under attack," said Fred Blackwell, CEO of the San Francisco Foundation. "The Stand Together Bay Area Fund is our collective response to this moment. By mobilizing resources and working hand-in-hand with our elected officials, nonprofits working directly with affected communities, and committed donors throughout the Bay Area, we ensure our neighbors have the support they need to stay safe and secure."
“San Francisco's immigrant communities have been at the heart of our culture and our economy, and we will always remain a welcoming city,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie.
“That’s why, with the San Francisco Foundation, elected leaders, and community partners from across the region, we are launching the Stand Together Bay Area Fund to support immigrant families in crisis. This fund will help keep families housed, put food on the table, and make clear that we stand with our immigrant neighbors."
“This fund is a common-sense solution to a very real problem our neighbors are facing," said San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. "But it's about more than money — it's a reminder to our immigrant families, the same families who have made the Bay Area what it is today, that we have their backs. That we will do everything we can to protect their rights and take care of their families if they are unconstitutionally targeted for the language they speak or the color of their skin."
Individuals interested in donating to the fund can visit standtogetherbayarea.org andmake an online donation or contact the San Francisco Foundation at (415) 733-8590 for other donation options.
Mission Asset Fund Named First Grantee to Rapidly Deploy Funds
To ensure funds are deployed quickly and efficiently, the San Francisco Foundation has named Mission Asset Fund (MAF) as the first grantee of the Stand Together Bay Area Fund. MAF's existing ALMA Fund is a proven model for providing direct, emergency cash assistance to immigrant families experiencing a financial crisis. The new funding from the Stand Together Bay Area Fund will enable MAF to expand its reach and accelerate its support for families in immediate need.
"We are incredibly proud to be the inaugural grantee of this critical regional fund," said José A. Quiñonez, CEO of Mission Asset Fund. "Our ALMA Fund was created for moments like this, and this partnership with the San Francisco Foundation and Bay Area mayors will allow us to do more, faster. This investment is not just financial; it's a powerful statement of solidarity that will help us provide a lifeline to families living in fear and financial distress."
Initial partners also include prominent community organizations such as Faith in Action and the SF Interfaith Council, demonstrating a broad base of support from day one.
The Stand Together Bay Area Fund is designed to be a flexible and responsiveresource supporting the Bay Area counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, SanFrancisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara. It builds on the San Francisco Foundation'ssuccessful track record of managing high-impact pooled funds, including the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund and the Rapid Response Fund.
About The San Francisco Foundation: The San Francisco Foundation (SFF) is acommunity foundation committed to a Bay Area where everyone can get a good job, live in a safe and affordable home, and exercise their political voice. Founded in 1948, SFF advances its work through grantmaking, partnerships with donors, policy advocacy, and impact investing. SF Foundation Media Contact: Valerie Goode;Chief Marketing Officer; vgoode@sff.org; (415) 733-8589
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Mayor's Office Media Contact:
Justin Phillips - Communications Director