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CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
San Francisco's Crane Cove Park playgrounds back on track after nonprofit scandal
After weeks of uncertainty and disappointment, there's finally good news for families in the Dogpatch neighborhood. The long-promised playgrounds and a dog park at Crane Cove Park are finally moving forward, despite a financial scandal that nearly derailed the project. Located at 18th and Illinois Streets near the Chase Center, Crane Cove Park opened in 2020 with plans for two children's play areas and a dedicated dog park. But last month, residents were stunned to learn that most of the private donations meant to fund those amenities had been mismanaged by the San Francisco Parks Alliance, a prominent nonprofit that works closely with the city on public space initiatives. The revelation left many neighbors frustrated and skeptical, including RJ Andrews, a nearby resident and father of two young children. "Initially, it was a reaction of suspicion because it's taken so long to develop," Andrews said. "We were concerned that the fences would go up and nothing would happen." The Parks Alliance had received a $3 million donation from the Baker Street Foundation, a philanthropic group led by board member Nicola Miner and her family, specifically earmarked for the Crane Cove improvements. While nearly $1 million of that was transferred to the Port of San Francisco, the nonprofit admitted that it spent the remainder on its own operating expenses. The disclosure and other concerning financial revelations triggered investigations by both the San Francisco City Attorney and District Attorney. The Parks Alliance has since ceased operations. Despite the setback, the Port of San Francisco has confirmed that construction on the promised amenities is now officially underway. Two playgrounds — one for toddlers, the other for older children — are in progress, along with a fenced dog park. According to Port Communications Director Eric Young, the project is now expected to cost $2.51 million, less than originally projected. With $975,000 already received from the Parks Alliance, the Port plans to fund the remaining $1.54 million internally. "The project is underway," Young said in a written statement. "The Port is reviewing capital budgets to identify where we can reprogram funds to complete the kids and dogs play areas at the park. We are working closely with the City Attorney's Office and city partners to assess our legal and financial options. Staff will return in July to the Port Commission to discuss tradeoffs and next steps as we ensure the park improvements are delivered." Port staff are expected to present the funding source to the commissioners at their July 8 meeting. Miner expressed relief at the update. "I think it's fantastic. I can't believe it. It's amazing that the Port still held strong to its mission," she said. "I am really happy in how San Francisco responded. It was actually better than I expected." For Andrews and his family, including a newborn daughter, the timing couldn't be better. "She'll be maybe one of the first and youngest patrons of the new playgrounds," he said. "Sometimes, dreams do come true." Other residents shared in the optimism. "The fact that there's some more things that are geared toward little ones like Mason is just extremely exciting to us," said local resident Gerry Mudjer, referring to his eight-month-old son. "I think we'll be here a lot more often because of it." "I don't think there's a lot of dog parks in this area generally. There's a beach. They have public access, but [the dogs] don't really have their own specific place to play. So it'll be nice to have a contained area where you know you can let them off leash," added Savannah Schulze, a dog owner. Construction fencing and groundwork are already visible at the site, a promising sign for neighbors who feared the project might be abandoned. The Port hopes to complete the playgrounds and dog park by February 2026, with a possibility of opening as soon as the end of this year.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
San Francisco families outraged to learn $3.8M in donations meant to build playgrounds were allegedly misused
The San Francisco Parks Alliance (SFPA) — a nonprofit foundation established to 'create, sustain and advocate for parks' — has abruptly shuttered amid a media and legal firestorm over alleged mismanagement involving at least $3.8 million in donations. That leaves donors like Nicola Miner — whose Baker Street Foundation donated $3 million to the SFPA several years ago — 'speechless.' She gave the SFPA that money to support construction of two neighborhood playgrounds. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) 'I wanted a park here, that was what our money was for,' Miner told CBS News. But the parks never materialized. Instead, she learned that the SFPA — an arm's-length fundraising partner of San Francisco's Recreation and Parks Department — funneled nearly $2 million of her foundation's donation to cover general operating expenses. 'The money was not for general operating expenses. And so I just feel a real sense of betrayal,' Minser said. 'The fact that they took money away from families, I'm speechless.' The San Francisco Standard reports that top employees at the SFPA got bonuses despite a 'massive deficit', and the nonprofit spent more on 'swanky galas' and fundraising events than it made. 'You would never, in a million years, give a bonus under these circumstances,' Joan Harrington, a nonprofit ethics expert at Santa Clara University, said. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it In the wake of the allegations, San Francisco's mayor froze the organization's funding in May, and City Attorney David Chiu launched an integrity review into the nonprofit. Subsequently, The San Francisco Standard reported that the SFPA was abruptly 'winding down,' leaving donors and partners empty-handed. Just days afterward, the San Francisco Government Audit and Oversight Committee subpoenaed the organization's former CEOs and its board treasurer after they failed to show up at a committee hearing. Some donors may be left wondering how they could be let down by such a prominent and politically connected organization. It's a reminder that a prominent name is no guarantee of continued success or appropriate management — and the prudent approach to committing funds is to perform thorough due diligence. To help with this process, the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (Stanford PACS) has published 'The Stanford PACS Guide to Effective Philanthropy,' with questions that donors should try to answer before making a commitment. For example: Does the nonprofit comply with tax regulations? Are its donations earmarked for a specific purpose (like a playground)? Are the donations restricted or unrestricted? How does the organization track and report restricted donations? Restricted donations have conditions on how those funds are to be used, while unrestricted donations can be used for anything related to the nonprofit's mission. Stanford PACS also publishes the Philanthropist Resource Directory, which can be a helpful resource early in the due diligence journey. Several third-party websites are also available to help with this process. For example, GuideStar aggregates information about U.S. nonprofits registered as 501(c)(3) organizations and categorizes them based on the amount of information they self-report. It also publishes IRS Form 990 tax returns, which are filed by 'tax-exempt organizations, nonexempt charitable trusts and section 527 political organizations.' GiveWell researches and recommends charities working in global health and poverty alleviation 'that save or improve lives the most per dollar,' while Charity Navigator rates more than 225,000 nonprofits based on their 'cost-effectiveness and overall health of a charity's programs, including measures of stability, efficiency and sustainability.' The Stanford PACS guide also suggests looking at which organizations have received grants from respected foundations such as the [Gates Foundation] ) or Ford Foundation — both of which have searchable grants databases — and talking to people who've contributed to the organization or worked with it. Donors can also consider a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), an account that allows donors to give to charity, receive an immediate tax deduction and recommend grants from the fund over time. Donating a large amount of money to a charity is a big commitment — and even supposedly reputable organizations can run into trouble. So time spent on due diligence is time well spent. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
CBS News
19-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
San Francisco donors, families outraged as money meant for playgrounds allegedly misused
A prominent nonprofit tasked with improving the city's parks and open spaces is under fire after being accused of mismanaging millions of dollars intended for playground construction, including at Crane Cove Park in the Dogpatch neighborhood, where local families have waited years for promised play areas. The San Francisco Parks Alliance (SFPA), a nonprofit that works with city agencies and donors to fund public space projects, is accused of diverting donations meant for specific projects to cover general operating expenses. One of the largest donors, the Baker Street Foundation, contributed $3 million to the organization to build two playgrounds at Crane Cove Park — one for toddlers and another for older children. But years later, neither playground has materialized. "The money that we donated was supposed to go to a [playground] here and a [playground] over there for the children in the neighborhood," said Baker Street Foundation board member Nicola Miner, standing on the empty lot where the playgrounds were meant to be built. Miner said she learned only recently that $1.9 million of the donated funds had reportedly been spent on general expenditures. "I wanted a park here, that was what our money was for. The money was not for general operating expenses. And so, I just feel a real sense of betrayal," she said. For Miner, the greatest loss is felt by local families who had counted on the playgrounds for their children. "The fact that they took money away from families, I'm speechless. I actually can't even believe somebody would do that," she added. Nearby residents share her frustration. RJ Andrews, who lives just two blocks from Crane Cove Park, said his family has been waiting since plans were first announced over six years ago. "When [Crane Cove Park] broke ground, we were so excited. Even more excited to learn that there's going to be a playground coming. And that was a long time ago. That was six, seven years ago when the first plans came out. And that pad has been sitting empty since the park opened in 2020. And since 2020, we've grown a family," Andrews said. His son, Atlas, just celebrated his fourth birthday at the park on Sunday. Andrews and his wife are now expecting their second child in a few weeks. "We have a lot of great, new parks [in this area]," he said. "None of them have playgrounds. So to go to a playground, we actually have to take a bit of a trek." The Parks Alliance had previously announced that the two playgrounds, along with a new dog park, would open in June. However, with much of the funding gone, construction has not begun. "Disappointment," Andrews said simply. The San Francisco Chronicle recently reported that SFPA used at least $3.8 million that had been earmarked for specific public projects to instead cover its own operating costs. The organization's former CEO and CFO have since departed. In a public statement, the new CEO, Robert Ogilvie, acknowledged the missteps. "SFPA is working hard to correct the errors of the past and begin a new era of transparency and fiscal accountability with our Community Partners and with the City and County of San Francisco," Ogilvie stated. "We are looking broadly at options to stabilize the San Francisco Parks Alliance." But that response isn't enough for Miner. "I haven't heard them apologize at all," she said. Miner is now calling for a criminal investigation and said the public deserves a clear accounting of where the money went. "I don't think there's going to be [a playground] here for a while," she added. She has already filed a complaint with the California Attorney General and said she plans to file one with the San Francisco City Attorney as well. Whether a criminal investigation will be launched remains unclear.
