On Wednesday, local foundation Crankstart and nonprofit Lever for Change announced Boundless San Francisco, a global competition awarding up to $150 million to organizations with ideas for “making San Francisco a better place to live.”
Lever for Change is an organization that connects large-scale donors to philanthropic projects. In this case, the large-scale donor is Crankstart, an SF-based foundation run by billionaire venture capitalist Michael Moritz and his wife, artist Harriet Heyman.
According to the Lever for Change website, Crankstart has awarded $1.8 billion in grants since its founding, over half of which have gone to the Bay Area.
The competition invites organizations from around the world to pitch their best ideas for emboldening San Francisco’s future, funding up to three winning proposals with as much as $50 million each.
A global search for San Francisco’s next big idea
Boundless San Francisco invites proposals in any subject area, ranging from housing and climate resilience to arts, tech, and public health.
Submissions must provide a “clear, credible plan” for “an ambitious vision” that primarily benefits San Francisco. In addition to grants, organizations can request flexible, below-market capital such as low-interest loans.
Lever for Change will manage the open call, where submissions are reviewed and scored by both fellow competition participants and external experts. In 2027, Crankstart will award between $250,000 and $500,000 to up to seven finalists to strengthen their proposals. Later that year, three will be selected to receive up to $50 million to fully execute their vision.
Applicants must register to apply before September 11, 2026, and submit an application before October 9, 2026.
🌐 Learn more: boundless-sf.leverforchange.org