San Francisco faces a profound literacy crisis that needs immediate and continued attention. Nearly half of K-12 students across SFUSD are not yet meeting literacy standards. According to the 2023-24 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), 49% of third graders are not reading at grade level. The gap widens even further for third graders who are Black, Latinx, and English Language Learners (ELLs), with just 8% of Latinx students, 19% of Black students, and 11% of ELL students meeting standards. Together, we can change this trajectory. The SF Ed Fund is SFUSD’s largest partner for high-impact literacy tutoring, the most powerful intervention for literacy growth.
The SF Ed Fund works with Stanford’s National Student Support Accelerator and schools to vet providers, then with schools to qualify and select student participants, and finally with schools and providers on implementation and evaluation. This model is unique to the SF Ed Fund, and is school-centered to ensure a continuous cycle of feedback and improvements. The SF Ed Fund currently provides high-impact literacy tutoring in 15 Priority Schools.
If you are a Priority School educator or site leader in need of high-impact literacy tutoring, please reach out to Tutoring Associate Manager Manuella Heinen at mheinen@sfedfund.org for more information.
The San Francisco Education Fund recruits, trains and places volunteers to work in all grade levels, subjects and San Francisco public schools. Any SFUSD staff person (meaning you must have an SFUSD email address) is invited to request a volunteer*.
Volunteers can tutor K-12 students one-on-one or in small groups to build math, reading, science or other academic skills. Volunteers can also lead Mindfulness lessons, become a student’s mentor, help with classroom organization and other projects, provide homework help during afterschool programs or work with students on extracurricular activities, such as music and art.
If you know someone who is interested in volunteering, the SF Ed Fund can help individuals fulfill SFUSD's clearance requirements so they can start volunteering in your classroom.
The Educator Impact Grant (formerly known as the Create Joy Grant) empowers teachers and school staff to design and lead innovative projects that make a meaningful difference in their school communities. Grants should aim to improve student attendance, strengthen student sense of belonging, and/or support teacher retention – fostering vibrant, supportive learning environments for everyone to succeed.
Educators can apply for up to $5,000 for an individual or one class project or up to $10,000 for a team or school-wide project.
“We were delighted to see a 30% increase in honor roll following the announcement of our special field trip for honor roll students!”
— Pamela Stein
Grant Recipient & Counselor at Paul Revere
Through conversations with leaders at SFUSD’s highest-need schools, the SF Ed Fund identified urgent needs amid the district’s budget crisis. Top priorities include strengthening student belonging, improving academic outcomes, and addressing staffing challenges. Read the full report here.
In response, for the 2025-26 school year, we’re focusing the Educator Impact Grant on supporting opportunities that:
Some examples of how educators have used Educator Impact Grant funds in the past include in-class workshops, professional development, arts or outdoor education, STEM/garden supplies, and sports program.
Applications for the 2025-26 school year are now open. Please apply here by September 28, 2025.
If you have any questions, please contact Sara Geliebter at sgeliebter@sfedfund.org.
Room to Be Well Stipends are available to educators at select schools thanks to the SF Ed Fund’s fiscal sponsorship of the Room to Breathe (R2B) Project. In the 2024-25 academic year, the project is providing 715 educators with $600 mental well-being stipends, increased from $400 in the 2023-24 school year.
This stipend is designed to empower educators to attend to their personal well-being so that they are best positioned to model well-being for young people and promote a positive classroom and school environment. In the past, recipients have used their stipends for yoga classes, massages, new running shoes, meditation retreats, and more.
For more information about Room to Be Well Stipends, please email hello@r2bproject.com.
The Awesome Fund Grant provides financial support for student-led projects at eligible priority high schools that help enhance the school community, keep students involved in school, and/or provide students with more joyful experiential learning opportunities.
Students can apply for a grant ranging from $100 to $1,000. Examples of past projects include providing support to K-Pop and La Raza dance clubs and a school gardening club.
Applications for the 2024-25 school year are now closed. Please check back in August 2025 for updates.
