About Us
Great Futures Start Here
Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco believes that every child and teen has the potential to BE GREAT and deserves a chance at a GREAT FUTURE. Every day, our nine Clubhouses open their doors to youth who need us the most, providing skilled & caring staff, fun & effective programs and first-class facilities in an environment that promotes respect, responsibility and fun. Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco prides itself on empowering youth to reach their full potential, and gain experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise have. Whether it’s leadership development, opportunities in the arts and sports, homework help, preparing for college or volunteering in the community, our youth members are learning to do better in school, stay physically fit, make healthier lifestyle choices, and be ready for life. These are the skills they need to BE GREAT and build GREAT FUTURES!
Who We Are
Founded in 1891, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco serves more than 1,200 youth (ages 6 to 18) per day, offering a safe place to learn and grow. We operate nine Clubhouses in the city’s toughest neighborhoods, as well as Camp Mendocino, a residential summer Camp in Mendocino County. Dedicated to helping the kids who need us most, BGCSF provides a broad range of programs that inspire young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. Our award-winning programs and professional staff help our members build strong character and skills that will last a lifetime. Our four focus areas include: Academic Success, Good Character & Community Engagement, Healthy Lifestyles and Job Readiness with Earning Potential.
Our Mission
Our mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.
Core Belief
We believe that young people will achieve extraordinary things when they are provided with skilled & caring staff, fun & effective programs, and first-class facilities in an environment that promotes respect, responsibility & fun.
Youth Development Approach
Our Clubhouses, staff, and programs come together to create stability, consistency, and a sense of physical and emotional safety for our members. Our youth development professionals serve each day as positive role models who provide ongoing caring relationships with our youth. They work to develop moral character and instill a sense of belonging, competence, usefulness, and influence. Staff members make the Club feel like home, fostering a family atmosphere and creating a sense of ownership for members.
Our Green Initiative
Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco is a youth organization that models environmental sustainability for our young people and their families and the communities we work in. In order to achieve sustainability, BGCSF has created a “Green Initiative” with three main areas of focus: conserve, explore and recycle — that ensures our environmental objectives are supported and reflected in the work we do every day.
Conserve: we seek to conserve resources to be a good global citizen and to effectively manage expenses.
Recycle: we reduce the amount of waste generated in our facilities by using less new materials, optimizing the recovery of materials for re-use and recycling, as well as composting waste.
Explore: we believe that exploring nature is a critical component of environmental sustainability. We give our members opportunities to experience and appreciate the great outdoors, and hope they develop habits for a lifetime.
