SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Parks Alliance (SFPA), once a trusted nonprofit championing public green spaces, has shut down abruptly following allegations of financial mismanagement and donor betrayal involving at least $3.8 million in donations.
The nonprofit, which had long been the fundraising partner of the city’s Recreation and Parks Department, is now under scrutiny by city officials and donors — some of whom say their contributions were misused, leaving parks unbuilt and trust in tatters.
💸 “A Real Sense of Betrayal”
Among the most vocal donors is Nicola Miner, whose Baker Street Foundation gave $3 million to SFPA to fund the construction of two local playgrounds. Instead, she discovered nearly $2 million was diverted to cover the nonprofit’s general operating expenses — not the playgrounds she was promised.
“The money was not for general operating expenses… I just feel a real sense of betrayal,”
— Nicola Miner to CBS News
🎭 Bonuses, Galas, and Financial Deficits
According to The San Francisco Standard, the nonprofit’s internal spending included:
- Executive bonuses during times of deficit
- Lavish fundraising galas that lost money
- Operational mismanagement despite public donations
Joan Harrington, a nonprofit ethics expert at Santa Clara University, criticized the SFPA’s decisions:
“You would never, in a million years, give a bonus under these circumstances.”
🛑 City Response and Subpoenas
In May, Mayor London Breed froze the city’s funding to the SFPA. Soon after, City Attorney David Chiu launched a full integrity review of the nonprofit.
When former SFPA executives and board members failed to appear before the San Francisco Government Audit and Oversight Committee, the city issued subpoenas in a rare public accountability move.
🧾 A Cautionary Tale for Donors
The SFPA’s collapse serves as a warning for philanthropists: even high-profile, city-affiliated nonprofits can falter.
Experts recommend thorough due diligence before making major donations. The Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society offers resources like:
- The Guide to Effective Philanthropy
- The Philanthropist Resource Directory
- Websites such as GuideStar, Charity Navigator, and GiveWell
These tools help answer vital questions about a nonprofit’s:
- Tax compliance
- Use of restricted vs. unrestricted donations
- Transparency and reporting standards
⚠️ The Bottom Line
What began as a mission to improve parks has ended in scandal, lawsuits, and broken promises. For donors, the SFPA implosion is a stark reminder: trust must be earned, not assumed — even with reputable brands.
