What Senior and Disability Action does

Senior and Disability Action (SDA) is a San Francisco-based nonprofit grassroots advocacy organization founded in 1990 that mobilizes seniors, people with disabilities, and allies for individual rights and social justice. Its core constituents are older adults and disabled residents of San Francisco, many living in Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing, along with immigrant communities and allied supporters. SDA delivers value through six interconnected programs: Masks for Equity (pandemic health justice), Healthcare (Medi-Cal and In-Home Supportive Services advocacy), Housing (tenant rights and SRO accessibility), Transit Justice (accessible public transit campaigns), Community Resource Program (peer-led referrals to benefits and services), and Empowerment (Senior and Disability Universities, Survival Schools, and leadership development).

The organization operates with 1-10 staff from an office at 222 8th Street, San Francisco, and is governed by a Board of Directors with Pi Ra serving as Board President as of December 2025. SDA's revenue model relies on individual donations (suggested tiers of $10, $20, $50, $100 plus monthly/yearly sustainer options), approximately 100 dues-paying members, sliding-scale event fundraising ($60-$100 tickets), and grants and contracts from San Francisco municipal funding and institutional foundations including the San Francisco Foundation. The organization's most significant funding line is $144k per year of restored San Francisco city funding, secured as part of a $29 million budget add-back in June 2026.

SDA's distribution model combines direct community engagement through peer advocates, hybrid in-person and Zoom general meetings, bilingual English/Spanish newsletters distributed via the Powerbase civic CRM platform, and a website at sdaction.org. The organization does not build proprietary technology; its competitive position rests on coalition partnerships (People's Budget Coalition, LTSS4All, Bay Resistance, Dignity Fund Coalition, SF Transit Riders, CARA, Disability Cultural Center, ILRCSF) and a documented record of influencing city budget and transit accessibility outcomes.

Name

Senior and Disability Action

Legal name

Senior and Disability Action

Website

https://sdaction.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Senior and Disability Action is a San Francisco-based nonprofit grassroots advocacy organization founded in 1990 that mobilizes seniors, people with disabilities, and allies to defend healthcare, housing, transit accessibility, and community resources through peer-led organizing, coalition partnerships, and city and state budget advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Justice Advocacy Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Resources, Social Services & Transportation Coordination (HLADALAK), Civic Engagement, Volunteering & Leadership Education for Seniors (EDAAAMAK)

Keywords

• Disability rights advocacy
• Senior community organizing
• Grassroots social justice
• Peer advocate services
• Affordable transit advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Recurring and one-time donations from individual supporters, with suggested amounts of $10, $20, $50, $100 and sustainer options for monthly or yearly contributions.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership program with nearly 100 members in revamped membership model.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual celebration events with ticket sales (sliding scale $60-100) and sponsorship opportunities to raise funds.
4. Government Grants and Contracts: Funding from San Francisco city budget and potentially state programs. SDA's funding was restored in the 2026 SF budget as part of $29 million in budget add-backs. Faces $8.9 million in cuts to senior and disability programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Senior and Disability Action is a nonprofit grassroots advocacy organization that mobilizes seniors, people with disabilities, and allies in San Francisco through six interconnected programs: Healthcare (Medi-Cal/IHSS access), Housing (SRO conditions and anti-displacement), Transit Justice (accessibility at Hallidie Plaza and Muni funding), Community Resource Program (peer advocate referrals), Empowerment (Senior and Disability Universities and Survival Schools), and Masks for Equity (pandemic safety). The organization combines direct peer-led services with policy advocacy at the San Francisco city and California state levels.

Product overview

Senior and Disability Action (SDA) is a grassroots advocacy organization offering a portfolio of social justice programs focused on seniors and people with disabilities in San Francisco. The organization operates six interconnected programs: Masks for Equity (pandemic health justice), Healthcare Program (Medi-Cal/IHSS advocacy), Housing Program (tenant rights and accessibility), Transit Justice Program (accessible transit), Community Resource Program (peer advocacy and referrals), and Empowerment Program (leadership training). These programs work together to organize, educate, and advocate for individual rights and social justice for their membership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Masks for Equity A community health program focused on pandemic justice and COVID-19 safety, organizing masked gatherings, distributing protective equipment, hosting masked park hangouts and vaccine clinics for vulnerable populations including seniors, people with disabilities, and immigrant communities.
• Healthcare Program Advocacy and outreach program connecting San Francisco community members to Medi-Cal and IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) benefits, defending against proposed healthcare cuts, and supporting disability healthcare access through state-level coalition work.
• Housing Program Advocacy program focused on housing rights, SRO (Single Room Occupancy) habitability and accessibility improvements, tenant protections, and anti-displacement efforts for low-income seniors and people with disabilities in San Francisco.
• Transit Justice Program Advocacy program focused on accessible public transit in San Francisco, including campaigns for the Hallidie Plaza elevator replacement at Powell BART/Muni station, Muni Now/Muni Forever funding campaigns that saved 3 bus lines, and broader accessibility improvements.
• Community Resource Program Peer advocate-led program connecting seniors and people with disabilities in San Francisco to resources including Medi-Cal and IHSS benefits enrollment, home care, housing navigation, and legal assistance referrals. Has served 900+ people.
• Empowerment Program Training and education program including Senior and Disability Universities, Survival Schools, and empowerment trainings for leadership development of seniors, people with disabilities, and community members. Has trained 500+ people.

Quantifiable outcome

• 900+ people served through Community Resource Program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• People's Budget CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of organizations fighting for community funding over police/defense spending in San Francisco. SDA participates in budget action weeks, rallies, and advocacy campaigns together with this coalition.
• LTSS4All (Long-term Supports and Services for All Grassroots Coalition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coalition working to protect and improve IHSS and other long-term care services in California. SDA joined days of action in Sacramento to defend Medi-Cal.
• California Disability Leadership AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide disability leadership organization. Co-organized Day of Action in Sacramento with SDA to oppose Medi-Cal cuts.
• Bay ResistancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBay Area progressive coalition organizing against fascism and for workers' rights. SDA participated in May Day march focused on defending healthcare for seniors, immigrants, and disabled people.
• SF Transit RiderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransit advocacy organization. SDA partnered with SF Transit Riders on campaign to replace Hallidie Plaza elevator and improve accessibility at Powell BART/Muni station.
• Dignity Fund CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on protecting and improving the Dignity Fund for senior and disability services in San Francisco. Co-organizing empowerment training with SDA.
• Community Living CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Francisco organization supporting community living for seniors and disabled people. Co-organizing empowerment training with SDA for seniors and disabled community members.
• Disability Cultural CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization promoting disability culture and arts. Partnered with SDA for Medi-Cal storytelling workshops and other disability pride events.
• ILRCSF (Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent living resource center. SDA's wheelchair repair clinic outreach helped pave the way for ILRCSF's current wheelchair repair program.
• SF Office on Disability and Accessibility (ODA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity agency conducting Hallidie Plaza Accessibility Improvement Project. SDA advocates for elevator inclusion in the project design.
• Safer TogetherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBayview-based community health organization. SDA tables at Safer Together events and shares resources about COVID testing, air quality, and harm reduction.
• Tenderloin and SoMa Community memberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community members partnering with SDA on accessibility campaigns, particularly for Hallidie Plaza accessibility improvements.
• CARA (California Alliance for Retired Americans)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide alliance of retired Americans. Co-organizing Candidate Forum for Seniors and People with Disabilities with SDA.
• SF Anti-Displacement CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition fighting displacement in San Francisco. SDA is a member and participates in citywide tenant assemblies.
• Masks for EquitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDA program/partnership focused on COVID safety and mask distribution. Hosts masked park hangouts and vaccine clinics.
• MEDA (Mission Economic Development Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission-based economic development organization. SDA refers community members to MEDA's free walk-in housing clinic services.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Justice in Aging: California-based legal advocacy organization fighting senior poverty through policy and litigation. Directly comparable as a senior-focused advocacy nonprofit working the same California state and Medi-Cal/IHSS policy terrain as SDA.
• Senior Services Coalition of San Francisco: Coalition of SF senior service providers. Directly comparable as a San Francisco advocate for senior services funding and the Dignity Fund, working the same city budget terrain as SDA.
• Community Living Campaign: San Francisco nonprofit supporting community living for seniors and people with disabilities. Co-organizes empowerment training with SDA and serves the same beneficiary population in SF.
• San Francisco Dignity Fund Coalition: Coalition protecting the Dignity Fund for SF senior and disability services. Core strategic partner of SDA and operates on the same funding-advocacy model for the same population.
• Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF): Berkeley-based national disability rights advocacy and legal organization. Comparable to SDA as a California-headquartered disability advocacy group pursuing civil rights and access through policy and coalition campaigns.
• Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco (ILRCSF): San Francisco independent living center serving people with disabilities. Directly comparable in mission, geography, and programmatic overlap (SDA's outreach helped pave the way for ILRCSF's wheelchair repair program).

Broad incumbents

• National Council on Aging (NCOA): National nonprofit service and advocacy organization for older adults. Comparable in mission (older adult empowerment and benefits access) but operates at national scale versus SDA's hyper-local SF focus.
• AARP California: Mega-incumbent senior advocacy organization operating broadly on aging issues nationally and in California. Comparable as an elder rights advocacy entity, though vastly larger and broader in scope than SDA.

Emerging players

• SF Anti-Displacement Coalition: San Francisco coalition fighting housing displacement, of which SDA is a member. Comparable as a local progressive coalition partner working on overlapping housing and tenant rights issues in SF.

Regional players

• California Disability Leadership Alliance: Statewide California disability leadership organization that co-organized Sacramento Day of Action with SDA. Comparable as a California-state disability advocacy counterpart.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Senior and Disability Action