San Francisco (March 18, 2026) – Spark SF Public Schools, the official nonprofit arm of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), today marked a major milestone with the release of its first 10-year impact report on its mission to champion great public schools in San Francisco for all children to realize their brightest potential. Looking ahead at its next decade, Spark announced an ambitious new goal to triple its investment in San Francisco public schools.
As the independent nonprofit formally partnered with the SFUSD to receive and mobilize philanthropic donations on the district’s behalf, Spark serves as a bridge between philanthropy and San Francisco’s public schools, and is uniquely positioned to pilot new programs, propel promising ideas, and scale high-leverage practices across San Francisco’s public school system.
Since launching in 2015, Spark has raised more than $154 million to expand opportunity for students, strengthen districtwide initiatives, and support schools through both long-term transformation and urgent moments of need. This decade of success was capped in 2025, Spark raised $16.3 million.
With the release of the report, Spark has adopted a new 10-year goal to deepen and expand San Francisco’s support for its public schools, by reaching $50 million in annual donations by 2035.
The report reflects Spark’s evolution from a bold idea born a decade ago into a firmly established citywide institution with a track record of mobilizing philanthropy, community partnerships, and strategic investment on behalf of SFUSD students.
This reflects the growing Spark community and impact on SF public school students:
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Over 50,000+ students are touched by Spark invested-programs annually
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Nearly 4,500 community members – families, alumni, businesses, foundations – have invested in our public schools
“Spark has grown into a sustained partnership between philanthropy and public education that is delivering real results for children, families, and schools — and the need for that partnership has never been greater,” said Ginny Fang, President of Spark SF Public Schools. “As we enter our second decade, we have growing momentum and a community of supporters who understand that strong public schools are a fundamental building block of a strong city.”
Spark’s 2024-25 annual report highlights a decade of investments that have helped SFUSD pilot new programs, scale what works, and respond to emerging student needs. In particular, it demonstrates the kind of positive systems change that becomes possible when philanthropy and public institutions work together in sustained partnership over time. Among the report’s impact highlights:
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1,400+ educators trained on SFUSD’s new literacy curriculum
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20,000+ students impacted through by districtwide literacy efforts
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Mental health wellness centers established in all middle schools, serving approximately 8,500 students that provided over 56,000 mental health services in FY25
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Universal access to computer science courses across SFUSD
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A 400% increase in high school students participating in paid SFUSD internships
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A 100% increase in girls taking computer science courses
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82 school cafeterias redesigned to improve student experience and increase meal participation
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2,000+ homeless and at-risk students and their families supported annually
The report also comes at a pivotal time for SFUSD and school districts across California, which continue to face financial pressure from rising costs, shifts in enrollment, and limited public funding. Those challenges make sustained philanthropic partnership more important than ever.
“School districts are working relentlessly to put our energy and resources into our classrooms to educate our students and give them the experience that will set them on the course for lifelong success,” said Maria Su, Superintendent, San Francisco Unified School District. “This work wouldn't exist without partnerships like Spark. Together we can be strategic and impactful in how we invest in student success, support our educators, and build stronger, more sustainable schools for our families."
Founded in 2015, Spark was created to align philanthropy with SFUSD’s most important strategic priorities. Over the last decade, that partnership has supported initiatives spanning literacy, STEM, nutrition, student wellness, educator development, and direct services for students and families facing some of the greatest barriers.
The new report positions this moment as a major growth point for the organization. Spark is no longer a new or emerging institution, but one with a proven 10-year record, deep relationships across the city, and increasing annual momentum.
The organization’s next chapter will focus on building initiatives and ideas that are delivering for students, expanding partnerships with donors and civic leaders, and continuing to serve as a trusted bridge between philanthropy and public education in San Francisco. The new 10-year goal set by the Spark Board of Directors is to achieve $50 million in annual donations by 2035.
“In times like these, our city’s public schools are among the best investments for any philanthropist, large or small, institutional or individual,” said Diana Campoamor, Chair of the Spark SF Public Schools Board of Directors. “Yes, the challenges are great, but the potential to seed talent, equity, opportunity,and the new economy begins here: with each one of us participating in the making of excellent public schools.”
About Spark SF Public Schools
Spark SF Public Schools is the official nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in formal partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District to receive and mobilize philanthropic and community funds on behalf of the district. Spark champions great public schools in San Francisco for all children to realize their brightest potential by leveraging philanthropy to pilot new programs, propel promising ideas, and scale high-leverage practices across San Francisco’s public school system.
About SFUSD
SFUSD is the seventh largest school district in California, educating 50,000 PreK-12 students every year. San Francisco is both a city and a county; therefore, SFUSD administers both the school district and the San Francisco County Office of Education (COE). This makes SFUSD a “single district county.”
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