San Francisco Organizing Project

FAQs

When was SFOP started?

SFOP was founded in 1982 as a faith-based, grassroots organization dedicated to work on projects inspired and directed by community residents.

What does SFOP stand for?

San Francisco Organizing Project. After 25 years, we feel we are more than a “project,” so we shortened our official name to SFOP. We are people of faith working to make San Francisco a place where all people can live, thrive and prosper.

Who belongs to SFOP?

SFOP has Local Organizing Committees (LOCs) that meet monthly in 40 congregations and schools in 17 neighborhoods citywide. Click here to see a list of SFOP’s LOCs.

What is PICO?

SFOP is affiliated with the PICO National Network and PICO California. PICO was founded in 1972 under the leadership of Father John Baumann, a Jesuit priest who had learned community organizing in Chicago, where the organizing principles of Saul Alinsky, grandfather of grassroots community organizing, flourished in the 1960’s.

What is the PICO organizing model?

SFOP employs the PICO organizing model to build and sustain long-term grassroots campaigns that bring systematic change. Our organizing model works through religious congregations and schools to identify and solve local neighborhood issues and broader city, state and national issues. We provide intensive leadership training and challenge community leaders to listen to the concerns and ideas of their neighbors through one-on-one meetings, house meetings and listening campaigns. We work to influence public policy from the ground up.

How does SFOP work to Create a City for All?

SFOP starts by listening. We work to make the voices of everyday people heard. We address neighborhood problems that are both small and big. Some solutions come about relatively quickly, like tai chi courts, homework centers, or new stoplights. Other problems take years to address, like affordable housing, universal healthcare, violence prevention and educational reform.

What are some of SFOP’s accomplishments?

Please look to specific Issue Areas in this website for details on some SFOP grassroots campaigns. We have been active throughout the tenures of five San Francisco mayors. Here is partial list of SFOP accomplishments over the last 25 years.

Dianne Feinstein (1978-88)	SFOP won individual garbage can pick-up at public housing developments. SFOP negotiated with PG&E to remove 890 toxic, PCB-filled transformers that threatened the health and working conditions of thousands of residents. Created San Francisco Jobs Coalition which helped implement City’s first source hiring policy. Lowered annual rent increase allowed by City from 7% to 4%.
Art Agnos (1988-1992)	Housing Authority fulfills promises to repair vacant units and broken windows at Potrero Hill and Valencia Gardens Housing Developments, turning many uninhabitable units into affordable homes for new families. Increased police presence to reduce drug activity in OceanView, BayView, and Mission neighborhoods. SFOP launches “Operation Strengthen and Grow” to reinvigorate membership and reach out to new member institutions.
Frank Jordan (1992-96)	Helped develop and implement a Community Policing program for San Francisco. Secured City and Federal resources to open the Oscaryene Williams Infant Daycare Center in Potrero Hill Housing. SFOP holds largest action meeting to date with 1,000 residents gathering at St. Paulus Lutheran Church. CalTrans reopens Silver Avenue Freeway ramps.
Willie Brown (1996-2002)	$6.2 million youth center opens in Excelsior District. Tai Chi Court designated in City park in Sunset District. $1.2 million from state to put cameras on MUNI. SFUSD designates $1 million to provide crossing guards for all elementary schools and 40 homework centers. State grants $1.2 million to create the Western Addition Computer Technology Center. Excelsior Clinic for Women and Children, and pharmacy at SF General are saved from closure. 3,000 SFOP/PICO members gather at Masonic Auditorium to launch YIMBY campaign at height of dot-com boom. SF passes inclusionary zoning policy requiring private developers to make 10-17% of their units affordable. SFOP leads coalition to put $250 million affordable housing bond on ballot. SF creates Healthy Kids program to provide health coverage to all children regardless of immigration status. SFOP sponsors outreach events that help enroll 2,000 children.
Gavin Newsom (2002-present)	SF passes first surplus properties ordinance in the country, requiring City to use all city-owned surplus property for housing homeless people. In the first year, 15 properties were transferred to the Mayor’s Office of Housing. School District agrees to include Small Schools by Design as a priority in their secondary school redesign plans. June Jordan School for Equity and Aim High Academy, two new small public schools, open in San Francisco. SFOP co-leads coalition of business groups, advocacy organizations and housing developers, to put $200 million affordable housing bond on ballot. 1,500 SFOP members gather with elected officials to launch Avenues of Hope to stem the rising tide of violence. SFOP wins $2 million in violence prevention and workforce development funding for 14-30 year-olds. City builds $2 million state-of-the-art soccer field at the renovated Garfield Park in the Mission. SF passes plan to create Healthy San Francisco, to provide healthcare for all 82,000 uninsured adults in the City. SFUSD passes most comprehensive Small Schools by Design policy in the country, and designates two SFOP member schools as the first to participate in the pilot initiative – June Jordan and SF Community School. San Francisco becomes first county in the United States to achieve universal health care for children – with 99.2% of children covered.