San Francisco CASA

What San Francisco CASA does

San Francisco CASA (SFCASA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1991 and headquartered at 1663 Mission St., Suite 700, San Francisco. The organization recruits, trains, and deploys Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) — community volunteers who complete 40 hours of hybrid training and provide one-on-one advocacy for children and youth (ages 0-21) in San Francisco's foster care and juvenile justice systems. In the past year 351 CASA volunteers served 361 young people out of 822 children in San Francisco foster care, with 60 children still waiting for a match. Beyond court advocacy, SFCASA delivers Educational Advocacy and Educational Rights Holder services, the CASA Connections / Natural Support post-case program, the VITA Foster Youth Tax Project (138 youth served in 2025), and Transitional Age Youth (TAY) programming including the YOUth Empowerment Board with real decision-making authority over a six-figure grantmaking budget ($125,000 most recent year).

The organization operates with approximately 25 full-time staff including an Executive Director, COO, Directors, Program Managers, Case Supervisors, and Support Specialists, supported by a Board of Directors chaired by Thoma Bravo Managing Director Erwin Mock and including senior executives from Citi Private Bank, Edelman Financial Engines, Atlassian, Chevron, California Health Care Foundation, and TechSoup. Service delivery is coordinated through the internal Advocate Link platform (Salesforce-based CRM) for case management, with website and donor relations on Squarespace, virtual programming on Zoom, wish fulfillment via One Simple Wish, and tax preparation via the GetYourRefund platform. SFCASA is a member of the National CASA/Gal Association.

Revenue is diversified across individual donations (tiered from $50 to $5,000), monthly recurring giving (Champion for Children), employer matching, securities and property donations, planned/legacy giving (Fostering Futures Circle), foundation grants (including Philanthropic Ventures Foundation for CASA Resource Grants), and government funding (San Francisco Human Services Agency for the San Francisco Foster Youth Fund). The annual Fostering Change Gala is the flagship fundraiser, raising a record $1.3 million in 2025. All youth services and volunteer training are free; donor contributions sustain operations. Primary customers/beneficiaries are foster youth (ages 0-21), Transitional Age Youth (18-24), justice-involved youth, and former foster youth; secondary segments include CASA volunteers and individual/institutional donors.

Name

San Francisco CASA

Legal name

San Francisco Court Appointed Special Advocates

Website

https://sfcasa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

San Francisco CASA (SFCASA), founded 1991, recruits and trains community volunteers to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates providing one-on-one advocacy and mentorship for children and youth in San Francisco's foster care and juvenile justice systems, complemented by educational rights advocacy, VITA tax services, and a youth-led Transitional Age Youth program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foster Youth Advocacy Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Juvenile Justice System (Courts & Detention) (BPAIAFAF), Parent & Family Relations (EDALAOAK)

Keywords

• Foster youth advocacy
• Volunteer court advocacy
• Nonprofit social services
• Child welfare services
• CASA volunteer program

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, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals via website, mail, and planned giving. Donation tiers fund specific programs: $50 care packages, $100 school/housing essentials, $250 advocate resources, $500 family connections, $1,000 health needs, $5,000 annual volunteer support.
2. Monthly Giving Program (Champion for Children): Recurring monthly donations providing steady operational support. Benefits include VIP event access, quarterly newsletters, and annual report recognition.
3. Employer Matching: Corporate matching programs where employers match employee donations or volunteer hours, doubling individual impact.
4. Legacy Giving / Planned Gifts: Bequests through wills/trusts, retirement account beneficiary designations, real estate donations, and charitable trusts. Fostering Futures Circle recognizes legacy donors with special benefits.
5. Securities and Property Donations: Appreciated stocks, bonds, and real estate donations offering tax benefits including charitable income tax deductions and capital gains elimination.
6. Gala Fundraising Events: Annual Fostering Change Gala with ticket sales, sponsorships, and auction items. Raised record $1.3 million in 2025.
7. Foundation and Government Grants: Grants from Philanthropic Ventures Foundation (PVF) for youth resource grants, San Francisco Human Services Agency funding for Foster Youth Fund, and other institutional funders supporting specific programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

San Francisco CASA (SFCASA) trains and deploys Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) who serve as one-on-one advocates and mentors for foster youth in San Francisco. The organization recruits community volunteers, provides 40 hours of hybrid training, and matches sworn-in advocates with children in the foster care and juvenile justice systems to provide sustained advocacy in court, school, and community settings.

Product overview

San Francisco CASA operates as a nonprofit organization providing Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer services for foster youth. The core offering is the CASA Volunteer Program, which trains community members to become one-on-one advocates for children in the foster care system. Supporting services include the YOUth Empowerment Board (a youth-led leadership program), VITA Free Tax Services, Educational Advocacy, Volunteer Training, CASA Connections/Natural Supports, and various Financial Support Programs. The organization also offers the Foster Youth Tax Project and Juvenile Justice Program. All services are coordinated through internal systems like Advocate Link. The portfolio is unified under the CASA mission of transforming lives of children in foster care through consistent, caring advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CASA Volunteer Program
• YOUth Empowerment Board (YEB)
• VITA Free Tax Services
• Educational Advocacy Services
• CASA Volunteer Training
• CASA Connections / Natural Supports Program
• Financial Support Programs
• Juvenile Justice Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 351 CASAs supported 361 young people in the past year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National CASA/Gal AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFCASA is a member of the National CASA/Gal Association, which provides standards, training resources, and network support for Court Appointed Special Advocate programs across the country.
• San Francisco Human Services AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSF HSA provides funding for San Francisco Foster Youth Fund (SFFYF), including General Fund ($400-$500), Technology Fund ($300), and Scholarship Fund for NMDs. Also provides HSA Transportation for court-mandated family visits.
• AtlassianminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic Operations and Chief of Staff Christine P. Dela Rosa serves on Board. Former SFCASA Volunteer bringing operational expertise.
• TechSoupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHead of Operational Excellence Elizabeth Orbison serves on Board. TechSoup provides technology solutions for nonprofits.
• One Simple WishcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWish-granting platform partnering with SFCASA to grant wishes for youth. SFCASA youth have received laptops, scooters, tablets, gaming systems, mattresses, and amusement park tickets (up to $500 per wish).
• San Francisco Family Treatment Court (FTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFCASA collaborates with SF Family Treatment Court to help families affected by substance use reunify and avoid long-term foster care. In the last year, 35 families received support with remarkable reunification success rates.
• Learn to BeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree online tutoring program (K-12) providing math, reading, writing, and English support with background-checked volunteer tutors. SFCASA-customized enrollment link available.
• Jewish Coalition for Literacy (JCL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes students grades K-5 by matching struggling readers with adult tutors. JCL tutors undergo training and background checks.
• Andromeda Math PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree virtual math tutoring for 8th-12th graders from low-income families in SF Bay Area. Bilingual enrollment available.
• Brady Therapeutic RidingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership provides free therapeutic horse-riding lessons ('Hanging with the Horses') and summer camp for SFCASA youth. SFCASA covers session costs.
• Lincoln Child Center (Program Quality Committee)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector Erika Dirkse serves on Program Quality and Compliance Committee, representing collaborative quality assurance.
• California Marine Affairs & Navigation ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector of Finance Thomas Zickgraf serves on Board of Directors as volunteer, representing cross-sector engagement.
• San Francisco Education FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOO Paul Knudsen previously worked at SF Education Fund; relationship represents community education sector connection.
• Beyond Emancipation (Alameda County)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Director Kate Durham previously served as ED; relationship represents regional foster care services network.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Larkin Street Youth Services: San Francisco nonprofit providing housing, education, and employment services for transition-age youth experiencing homelessness, many of whom have foster care histories. Comparable in serving SF TAY populations but via direct services rather than volunteer advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• National CASA/Gal Association: Umbrella 501(c)(3) for 950+ state and local CASA programs across the United States. SFCASA is a member; National CASA sets training standards, advocacy, and brand—comparable as the industry/membership body but not a programmatic peer.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco: Long-standing San Francisco youth development nonprofit serving school-age youth with programs, mentoring, and advocacy. Larger incumbent in the SF youth services space; complement (not direct substitute) to CASA one-on-one advocacy.

Direct peers

• First Place for Youth: Oakland-based nonprofit serving current and former foster youth ages 16-25 with housing, education, and employment supports. Comparable mission focus on transition-age foster youth in the Bay Area; overlaps with SFCASA's Natural Supports and YEB programming.
• CASA of Alameda County: Bay Area CASA affiliate providing volunteer advocates for foster youth in Alameda County. Closest geographic peer with overlapping Bay Area funder, volunteer, and court ecosystems.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area: Bay Area youth mentoring nonprofit matching volunteer adults with youth for sustained one-on-one relationships. Comparable community-led volunteer mentoring and recruitment model, although not court-appointed.
• Voices for Children (San Diego CASA): Court Appointed Special Advocate program serving San Diego and Imperial Counties foster youth. Direct functional peer running the same CASA volunteer advocacy, training, and court-appointed model as SFCASA.
• Family Builders | CAFES: Bay Area nonprofit providing Court Appointed Family Engagement Specialists (CAFES) and permanency services in dependency court. Direct counterpart to CASA in the SF child welfare court ecosystem, with overlapping board representation (current SFCASA board Secretary Tanya Miller is on staff at Family Builders).
• Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers / CASA of Los Angeles (LA CASA): Local CASA affiliate for Los Angeles County providing trained volunteer advocates for foster youth through court appointments. Operates the same National CASA/Gal model as SFCASA but at much larger scale in LA County.
• CASA of Sacramento County: Northern California CASA affiliate providing court-appointed volunteer advocates for foster youth in Sacramento County. Comparable program model, training pipeline, and youth-justice crossover.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sanfranciscocasa
• Facebookfacebook.com/sfcasa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sfcasa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about San Francisco CASA