For more than two decades, San Francisco has shown what's possible when government is designed to support people's financial lives instead of making them harder. Working in close partnership with community organizations, advocates, researchers, and public agencies, we have tested new ideas, changed long-standing systems, and advanced first-in-the-nation programs and policy reforms that have helped families build stability, reduced unfair debt, and reshaped systems locally and nationally.

Helping Families Start Saving Early—Kindergarten to College

San Francisco launched the nation's first citywide children's college savings program, opening accounts for more than 54,000 public school students so every child starts kindergarten with a financial asset and an expectation that college is possible. Families have collectively saved about $17 million, with many students graduating high school with over $1,000 set aside for education. Research shows K2C helped close 30% of the college enrollment gap for underrepresented students and increased college enrollment for those students by 12%.
 

Eliminating Unfair Fines, Fees, and Debt | First in the Nation

By eliminating or reducing dozens of city-imposed fees, San Francisco has lifted the burden of $100 million in debt for tens of thousands of residents and removed barriers to stability. Key reforms include making all jail phone calls free so families can stay connected, eliminating fees charged to people in the criminal legal system, and ending poverty-based driver's license suspensions. The city has also eliminated library fines and cleared related debt.  We've created discounts, waivers, and fair payment plans for people with low incomes who face towing, booting, parking tickets, or citations. These changes reflect a simple principle: public systems should not trap people in debt or deepen hardship—they should help people move forward.
 

Free, Trusted Financial Counseling—Citywide Financial Counseling Program

More than 5,000 San Franciscans have received free, one-on-one financial counseling to navigate debt, credit, and financial goals. Participants have reduced over $4 million in debt, increased credit scores by an average of 70 points, and saved more than $3.6 million.
 

 Expanding Access to Civic Life—SF Museums for All & Be The Jury

Each year, 135,000 San Franciscans with low incomes use SF Museums for All to visit local museums for free. Through Be The Jury, more than 5,000 residents have been able to serve on juries with fair compensation — helping ensure juries reflect the communities they serve.
 

 Making Safe Banking the Norm—Bank On San Francisco

San Francisco launched the nation's first local Bank On initiative and helped reduce the number of unbanked residents by two-thirds. What began locally helped spark a national movement: today, 17 million Bank On accounts have been opened nationwide, with programs operating in dozens of cities across the country.
 

Turning Local Innovation into National Change—Statewide and National Policy Leadership

San Francisco co-founded the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund and Cities and Counties for Fine and Fee Justice, helping cities nationwide redesign systems that affect families' finances. In California, we helped advance landmark reforms — including the Families Over Fees Act and the Keep Families Connected Act — that eliminated dozens of fees, lifted $1.6 billion in debt statewide, and made prison phone calls free.