San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
Food For All
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
1 in 4 people in San Francisco and Marin are considered food insecure today. We're talking about families with children, people working multiple jobs to stay above water, senior citizens living on fixed incomes.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
College Pantry
In order to best address both the chronic and emergency hunger faced by residents in San Francisco and Marin, the Food Bank has established a range of strategic food distribution, education and advocacy programs.
Pantry Network - Our flagship program is our neighborhood-based Pantry Network, which serves more than 30,000 households each week and accounts for 68% of our total food distribution. We initiated this innovative program several years ago after our local needs assessment revealed a critical need for food assistance among working poor families, along with a nearly complete lack of food distribution sites in accessible neighborhood locations.
Now grown to more than 250 sites across San Francisco and Marin, our Pantry Network brings food directly into the neighborhoods where it is most needed for free distribution to low-income families and individuals. Each pantry distribution contains 25-30 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, bread and other grains, juice, and a variety of cooking staples and snacks. Located in easily accessible locations like schools, churches and community-based organizations, the pantries eliminate many of the transportation obstacles presented by traditional meal service programs downtown. By providing groceries that can be prepared into meals at home, pantries have the added benefit of preserving a measure of autonomy, privacy and normalcy for people in need.
Based on extensive needs analysis, the Food Bank has developed six different pantry models that provide weekly groceries to targeted low-income populations:
- Healthy Children Pantries serve families with children at public schools and other family-friendly sites
- Neighborhood Grocery Network pantries are open to neighborhood residents
- Brown Bag sites reach low-income seniors
- Supportive Housing distributions take place at low-income housing sites
- Immigrant Food Assistance supplies groceries to low-income immigrants
- Community Food Partners reach families living in public housing
Each year, Food Bank program staff conduct a local needs assessment to determine target neighborhoods for new Pantry Network sites. Neighborhoods are chosen based on demographics, economic conditions and the existing availability of food assistance. Food Bank staff identify and establish potential pantry site partners, then provide ongoing technical assistance and monitoring to continually improve pantry performance.
Shopping Program: Enables over 300 nonprofit agencies to select from the Food Bank's supply of packaged groceries and fresh produce, allowing them to provide nutritious and culturally-appropriate food for their meal, snack and pantry programs.
Supplemental Food Program: Provides a monthly box of nutritious USDA food to over 11,000 low-income seniors, pregnant women, women up to one year postpartum, and children under the age of six.
Emergency Food Box Program: Provides a three-day emergency food supply to families and individuals in crisis.
Disaster Relief Program: Distributes emergency food supplies to low-income neighborhoods in the event of a citywide disaster.
Advocacy: Raises public awareness about the problem of hunger and helps mobilize support for government programs and policies that provide adequate nutrition for low-income people.
Food Pharmacies
Good nutrition is essential for good health
Patients are referred by their physicians to our weekly, farmers’ market-style pantries, located right at the clinics where they receive medical care. At the Food Pharmacies, patients can enhance their cooking skills through cooking demonstrations, receive nutrition and health tips, undergo health screenings, and get referrals to other food assistance programs. By working with both healthcare providers and patients, we are building knowledge and connections that can improve health for years to come.
Where we work
Awards
Four Star Charity 2010
Charity Navigator
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award - To Gary Maxworthy member of the San Francisco Food Bank Board of Directors 2010
Jefferson Award for Public Service
External reviews

Videos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our goal is simply stated: We are committed to ending hunger in San Francisco and Marin Counties through a series of programs designed to get to the heart of the issue.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We are continuing to work with our community leaders, corporate partners, and generous donors to raise the funds necessary to feed as many hungry people in our region as possible. In addition, we have a number of programs designed to feed as many people as possible. From our 260+ farmers market-style pantries, to our Food Pharmacies, we are reaching more people than ever. But the cost of living is simply too high for some people to make a living and thrive.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
Board of directorsas of 6/13/2019
Ms. Lynda Sullivan
Financial Services
Mr. Michael Terris
President, Terris, Barnes and Walters
Scott Brubaker
Managing Director, TPG Special Situations Partner
Jennifer Chang
Senior Program Manager, Zendesk
Kathryn Grant Ellman
Public Relations & Marketing Consultant
Tyler Florence
President, The Florence Group Inc.
Rodney Fong
President, Fong Real Estate Company, LLC
Pepe Gonzalez
Principal, Laurel Dell Elementary and Short Elementary Schools
Carly Levin
Executive Director, J.P. Morgan NEXT
Jennifer Levy
Retired Partner, Rockwood Capital
Hyun Park
Senior Vice President and General Counsel, PG&E Corporation
Michael Bailey
Senior Vice President, Director and General Counsel, Bechtel Group, Inc.
Jonathan Walker
President, Economists Incorporated
Çigdem Gencer
EVP, Head of International HR ,Wells Fargo & Co.
Michael Mauze
Managing Director, Co-Founder, VMG Partners
Dinyar Mistry
Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer for PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Brett Nissenberg
Partner and General Counsel, Lightspeed Venture Partners
Elliot Schrage
VP Communications & Public Policy, Facebook
Hillary Kessler Seligman
Assistant Professor in Residence, University of California San Francisco