San Francisco Seeks to Debar Collective Impact Over Grant Misuse Claims

San Francisco officials released documents indicating that former Human Rights Commission Executive Director Sheryl Davis maintained extensive financial and managerial ties to Collective Impact while directing millions of dollars in city grants to the Western Addition youth nonprofit. The filings show Davis lived with Collective Impact Executive Director James Spingola, remained a signatory on the group’s bank account and credit card, and signed state nonprofit forms after joining city government. City Attorney David Chiu, citing the new evidence, is pressing to permanently debar Collective Impact from receiving municipal funds. Investigators say the nonprofit paid thousands of dollars in UCLA tuition for Davis’s son, upgraded her airline tickets to first class, and reimbursed personal software and other expenses, violating state law, the San Francisco Municipal Code and grant terms. Collective Impact, which received six grants through Mayor London Breed’s Dream Keeper Initiative, denies the allegations and argues the city’s suspension has strained its finances. According to its filing, the organization has used about $2 million in private money to keep programs for low-income children and families operating, but it may be forced to close as soon as October if public funding is not reinstated. An administrative hearing scheduled for Monday will determine whether the nonprofit can again become eligible for city contracts. A decision date has not been set.