India Basin Waterfront Park: A Beautiful Space to Unite the Community

The public-private partnership for India Basin Waterfront Park is the largest fundraising effort the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department has ever undertaken. CCS Fundraising has provided invaluable support for the department and all of our non-profit partners on this journey. CCS has helped develop innovative tools that align fundraising with our Equitable Development Plan while driving landmark campaign progress that has expanded the horizons of what’s possible for our department and our city to accomplish.  

phil ginsburg, general manager, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department

THE CHALLENGE

Before CCS Fundraising began our engagement, the India Basin Waterfront Park Initiative received a cornerstone $25 million pledge to support park design and community engagement in creating an Equitable Development Plan—a roadmap to ensure the economic benefits of the new park would accrue to the local community. As the Equitable Development Plan and design neared completion, CCS Fundraising was retained to help launch the campaign to fulfill the $75 million private philanthropy goal agreed upon by the Initiative’s Partners: the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, Trust for Public Land, San Francisco Parks Alliance, and A. Philip Randolph Institute. The remaining $125 million budget will be fulfilled through government funding.

CCS was charged with supporting the collaborative fundraising efforts of a city department and three distinct nonprofit organizations, fostering community-centered and inclusive fundraising practices, and delivering economic and capacity-building benefits to the local Bayview-Hunters Point Community. In addition to campaign activation and management, CCS Fundraising delivered a series of pro-bono fundraising education sessions (one-on-one and classes) to BVHP community-based nonprofits and retained a fellow from BVHP who would support campaign work. 

THE SOLUTION

CCS first conducted a planning study encompassing interviews with potential donors and community leaders to glean fundraising potential and test the case for support’s strength. A college student from BVHP and a long-time community volunteer was retained as a Fellow to support the community outreach during the study, gathering feedback on how a campaign could be conducted with a community-centered and inclusive lens. 

In transitioning to an active campaign, CCS helped mobilize and coordinate project partners to carry out campaign activity and realize tangible fundraising progress. CCS also assisted project partners in creating an unconventional Campaign Cabinet consisting of philanthropists, park experts, and community leaders—transforming how the case for support was shared within donor cultivation. 

THE impact

For the first time in generations, the community will have access to an incredible waterfront park that seeks to improve their environmental health, economic opportunities, and well-being.

As a result of our engagement, over $67 million has been raised towards the $75 million goal, including an additional $20 million commitment and numerous seven-figure gifts.

The initiative and campaign have become models for inclusive practices—centering the community in decision-making, representation, and delivery. A testament to this is the campaign’s donor recognition program, which will be dedicated to the Heroes of India Basin—local and national activists, icons, and trailblazers who have advanced justice and equity and broken down racial and/or gender barriers within their respective fields. Plaques throughout the park will prominently honor these Heroes, with donors noted for their generosity. 

Featured Team Members

The India Basin Waterfront Park Initiative represents the true power of inclusive philanthropy—everyone involved is committed to centering and uplifting the voices of community in decision-making. It has been a privilege to work with project partners to reimagine fundraising practices that both honor the unique diversity and history of the community and inspire philanthropists to make transformational investments.  The lessons we take from this effort will undoubtedly become an example for many future placemaking campaigns to follow.    

aN nguyen, senior vice president, ccs fundraising

This project has been an incredible experience. It has given me the opportunity to learn from the leaders and organizations of the Bayview Hunters-Point community and work daily with professionals that truly care about creating lasting and meaningful change. Knowing that this park will positively impact residents who have fought for so long to see this come to life makes this work truly fulfilling.

daryl watkins, CCS Fundraising Fellow, Bayview-Hunters Point Resident, and Campaign Cabinet Member

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