My Cause

The Mission: The mission of the Architectural Foundation of San Francisco is to enhance the awareness and appreciation of architecture and the design process in the local community.

About the Organization: The Architectural Foundation of San Francisco, founded in 1990, is a nonprofit educational organization that involves San Francisco elementary and secondary students in a mentored appreciation of architecture, engineering, construction and the design process.

San Francisco reigns as one of the most architecturally significant and beautiful cities in the world. The environment of architectural diversity is extremely important to the vitality of this great city. Everywhere, the vibrant and complex layering of landscape, color, cultures and light produces experiences that unexpectedly reveal themselves.

Our mission is to educate emerging generations of San Franciscans towards an increased awareness of the impact architecture and design have on their built environment. We seek to share with children the passion and pride that those who shape the physical environment have for San Francisco.

AFSF programs with the SFUSD began as a summer career-development, then became an after-school program, then a half-day program during the school day for academic credit. Our programs include participants with disabilities and special needs, new immigrants and other English learners, and participants transitioning from the foster care, juvenile justice, or special education systems.

A unique aspect is that each participant receives individualized mentoring by a local design professional. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, all AFSF programs are conducted on-line and are open to youth around the world.