Strategic Development Success

The Tenderloin District of San Francisco is the city's most culturally diverse and economically challenged areas. As the landing place for most new Americans in San Francisco, 70% of the affordable housing stock provides a starting point for many immigrants and refugees fleeing war and economic instability. The median income is $34,500, unemployment is 10 x the national average, and 112 different languages can be heard. The streets are also home to 49% of the city’s homelessness and rampant drug dealing and use, as the neighborhood is known as the largest open-air drug market in North America. For migrant communities, the socio-economic challenges are particularly acute, as they often face language barriers, and a limited opportunity landscape.

Abigail Blue of Flint & Steel was brought on-board by the Tenderloin Community Benefit District (TLCBD), in 2021 to address funding gaps, leadership and organizational strategy, and to help build the organization’s foundational sustainability. More than four years later, TLCBD has more than tripled its funding; securing multi-year grants through city, state and federal sources and growing its private funding partnership significantly to support programmatic continuity and provide critical services in operations and stewardship as well as in policy and advocacy. We also helped TLCBD to reorganize under a strategic plan, launch a capital campaign, and better define a management and leadership structure that aligns with the community priorities and needs and meets sustainability goals set out by the Board of Directors. By building deeper governmental and anchor institutional partnerships we are helping TLCBD to lead the evolution of the Tenderloin neighborhood into a vibrant community for all!

If you wish to hire us to consult on strategic planning, or development support CLICK HERE.