Walk San Francisco

What Walk San Francisco does

Walk San Francisco is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pedestrian safety advocacy organization founded in 1998 and headquartered at 2601 Mission Street in San Francisco. The organization campaigns for street redesigns, slower vehicle speed limits, speed camera deployment, daylighting at intersections, and car-free public spaces, while also operating direct-service programs for traffic crash survivors and schoolchildren. Its flagship campaigns include Vision Zero (adopted in San Francisco in 2014), I Love Safe Intersections, Slow Our Streets, and Speed Cameras; its programs include Safe Routes to School (covering 181 schools with 15-mph speed limits), Families for Safe Streets, and signature walking events such as Peak2Peak and the SF Stair Challenge.

Walk SF employs 51–100 staff and convenes the Vision Zero Coalition of more than 35 community-based organizations, giving it both operational reach and coalition-based influence over city policy. Its technology footprint is non-proprietary: it uses DonorDrive for donation processing, MailChimp for email marketing, Google Analytics for web analytics, ActionNetwork for advocacy mobilization, and Zoom for virtual meetings — there is no proprietary AI/ML or product technology disclosed.

Revenue is generated through four streams: annual memberships ($52+ per year), individual donations, event ticket sales for signature walks, and limited public health grants from the San Francisco Department of Public Health. The organization has no parent company, no institutional investors, and no disclosed financial backers; it is governed by a board of directors and led by Executive Director Jodie Medeiros. In 2025, San Francisco recorded a 42% drop in traffic fatalities (43 to 25 deaths) — a result Walk SF attributes in part to its advocacy and uses as evidence to push for expansion of its speed camera and street safety programs.

Name

Walk San Francisco

Legal name

Walk San Francisco

Website

https://walksf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Walk San Francisco is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 that advocates for pedestrian safety through policy campaigns, coalition organizing, and direct-service programs serving San Francisco residents, traffic crash survivors, and schoolchildren.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pedestrian Safety Advocacy

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

akta.pro primary industry

Pedestrian Safety Infrastructure (Crosswalks, Refuge Islands, Ped Signals, Sidewalk Safety Treatments) (TLAJAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Traffic Enforcement & Road Safety (Highway Patrol, DUI, Collision Investigation) (BPAIAGAJ)

Keywords

• Pedestrian safety advocacy
• Traffic safety campaigns
• Urban walkability
• Safe streets
• Vision zero policy

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Program: Walk SF generates revenue through annual membership dues. Members receive perks including free self-guided walking routes, early bird access to events, and discounts on marquee events. Membership is positioned as powering the organization's advocacy work.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations support the organization's safe streets advocacy, including holding city leaders accountable, tackling dangerous driving, winning crosswalk safety changes, and supporting traffic crash victims.
3. Event Tickets: Major walking events like the SF Stair Challenge and Peak2Peak generate revenue through ticket sales, with proceeds supporting Walk SF's advocacy work. The 2026 SF Stair Challenge features sponsors with in-kind and top billing sponsorship opportunities.
4. Charitable Gifts to Families for Safe Streets: San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets accepts financial gifts as a program under Walk SF, supporting peer advocacy and emotional support services for traffic crash victims.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Walk San Francisco is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pedestrian safety advocacy organization that campaigns for safer street infrastructure, slower speeds, and traffic enforcement in San Francisco. The organization runs advocacy campaigns (Vision Zero, I Love Safe Intersections, Slow Our Streets, Speed Cameras), operates community programs (Safe Routes to Schools, Families for Safe Streets), and hosts signature walking events (Peak2Peak, SF Stair Challenge). Revenue is generated through annual memberships, individual donations, and event ticket sales.

Product overview

Walk San Francisco is a 501(c)(3) non-profit pedestrian safety advocacy organization that operates as a single integrated platform focused on making San Francisco the most pedestrian-friendly city in the United States. The organization runs multiple interconnected advocacy campaigns (Vision Zero, I Love Safe Intersections, Slow Our Streets, Speed Cameras) alongside community programs (Safe Routes to Schools, Families for Safe Streets) and public walking events (Peak2Peak, SF Stair Challenge). Membership and donation services fund the advocacy work, while newsletter subscriptions keep supporters engaged. The organization leverages third-party integrations for donations (DonorDrive), email marketing (MailChimp), analytics (Google Analytics), and virtual meetings (Zoom) to operate its advocacy and community programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program Annual membership program at $52+ that supports Walk SF's advocacy work. Members receive free self-guided walking routes (~4 per year), early bird access and discounts to events like SF Stair Challenge and Peak2Peak, and curated walking ideas in the newsletter. For individual supporters of safe streets advocacy.
• Donation Processing Online donation platform enabling individual contributions to Walk SF's safe streets advocacy. Walk San Francisco Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with all donations tax-deductible. Funds support holding city leaders accountable, tackling dangerous driving, winning crosswalk safety changes, and supporting traffic crash victims.
• Peak2Peak Walking Event Annual premier walking event featuring a top-secret route exploring hidden trails, stunning vistas, and off-the-beaten-path San Francisco treasures. WalkLab volunteers create unique routes each year, offered in self-guided and supported formats. Open to individual participants.
• SF Stair Challenge Annual scenic physical challenge connecting San Francisco's best stairways into one epic route of approximately 5 miles with about 2,000 stair steps. Proceeds support Walk SF's advocacy work. Features in-kind and top-billing sponsorship opportunities.
• Newsletter Subscription E-newsletter subscription keeping subscribers updated on Walk SF's safe streets work, advocacy involvement opportunities, walking events, and curated walking routes. Distributed via MailChimp.
• Families for Safe Streets Peer support and advocacy program for traffic crash survivors and loved ones of those killed or injured in crashes. Provides emotional support resources, hosts monthly meetings (in-person and via Zoom), and advocates for traffic safety policy changes. Open to traffic crash victims and their families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 42% drop in traffic fatalities (from 43 to 25 deaths) in 2025
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe StreetscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Walk SF hosts and provides support/guidance to this chapter of people affected by traffic crashes. Chapter provides emotional support and advocacy pathways for crash survivors and victims' loved ones. Walk SF receives program support funding from Department of Public Health.
• Vision Zero CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Walk SF leads the Vision Zero Coalition, which includes more than 35 community-based organizations, nonprofits, and civic groups representing communities across the city, especially those most impacted by traffic deaths including low-income communities, communities of color, seniors, and people with disabilities.
• KidSafe SFminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in JFK Promenade celebration events for car-free spaces in Golden Gate Park.
• Church of 8 WheelsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in JFK Promenade celebration events celebrating car-free spaces.
• San Francisco Recreation & Park DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partner in JFK Promenade celebration and ongoing advocacy for car-free spaces in Golden Gate Park. Co-hosted 5th anniversary celebration of JFK Promenade.
• San Francisco Bicycle CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Long-term strategic partner in winning pedestrian and cyclist-friendly policies. Co-founded Sunday Streets events in 2008 with Livable City and YMCA. Joint advocacy on Vision Zero and Market Street car-free initiatives. Ongoing collaboration on car-free spaces and safe streets campaigns.
• Livable CitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Co-founded Sunday Streets events in 2008 with San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and YMCA. Sunday Streets transforms car-congested streets into car-free spaces for community health.
• YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Co-founded Sunday Streets events in 2008 with San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and Livable City.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Active Transportation Alliance: Chicago-based nonprofit advocating for walking, biking, and transit, with similar member/donation funding, policy campaigns, and Vision Zero alignment. Functionally the Chicago peer of Walk SF.
• Transportation Alternatives: NYC's leading pedestrian and cyclist advocacy nonprofit, founded 1973. Closest functional analog to Walk SF at city scale: campaigns for safer streets, Vision Zero, member-supported advocacy, and signature events. Most relevant direct peer for benchmarking impact and growth.
• Vision Zero Network: National nonprofit advancing Vision Zero implementation across U.S. cities. Provides policy frameworks Walk SF uses locally and serves as the national umbrella whose network membership and grants can extend Walk SF's reach.
• San Francisco Bicycle Coalition: SF-based nonprofit advocacy organization co-founded with Walk SF the 2008 Sunday Streets program and partners on Vision Zero/Market Street. Operates an analogous member-and-donation-funded advocacy model on the cycling side of the same safe-streets mission.
• Walk Bike Nashville: Tennessee pedestrian and cyclist advocacy nonprofit running similar advocacy, education, and Vision Zero work for a single metro. Same nonprofit advocacy, community-organizing, and policy-change model as Walk SF.
• Livable City: SF-based urban-livability nonprofit that co-founded Sunday Streets with Walk SF and the SF Bicycle Coalition. Works on overlapping safe-streets, transit, and public-space issues in the same geographic market.
• Families for Safe Streets (NYC chapter): The NYC original of the crash-victim peer-support and advocacy chapter Walk SF hosts locally. Operates the same Families-for-Safe-Streets model in New York and provides the national template Walk SF's Bay Area chapter follows.

Emerging players

• America Walks: National nonprofit coalition advancing walkable communities through grants, training, and advocacy. Functions as a national-level peer operating in Walk SF's same mission space, with policy advocacy and member-based support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/walksf
• Facebookfacebook.com/walksf
• Instagraminstagram.com/walksf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Walk San Francisco