Our Bay Area Shortlist

Overview

ReCARES redistributes donated mobility aids and home-health supplies through San Francisco, Oakland and Marin.

Cost-effectiveness

$75K per better life (10 QALYs), modeled.

Reported organization expenses; modeled equipment-related health.

Why investigate

Current distribution sites and original annual filings support a real, low-cost service. The health estimate remains highly uncertain: receiving equipment is not the same as using it safely and benefiting from it.

Before recommending a grant

Establish whether money is the limiting factor. Reconcile available reserves and restrictions with a specific plan for additional safe, useful equipment transfers.

Organization and research

Overview

Project Homeless Connect helps people experiencing homelessness access glasses, hearing care, dental care and other practical support.

Cost-effectiveness

$774K per better life (10 QALYs), modeled.

An ordinary gift to the sponsored project; modeled optical, hearing and dental benefits.

Why investigate

Current services and fiscal sponsorship by Community Initiatives provide a clearer operating foundation. Clinical studies inform the model, but additional local treatment and lasting benefit are not directly measured.

Before recommending a grant

Confirm current project funding and sponsor restrictions, then identify additional appointments a grant would enable. Account for shared patients and partner contributions.

Organization and research

Overview

Compass’s C-Rent program combines rental assistance with case management for families at risk of losing their homes.

Cost-effectiveness

$1.3M per better life (10 QALYs), modeled.

C-Rent program only—not an unrestricted gift to Compass.

Why investigate

Audited program expenses offer a stronger cost anchor than an assumed budget. Outside research supports homelessness prevention, but the local causal effect and health gains remain estimates.

Before recommending a grant

Confirm that a gift can fund additional C-Rent support and establish its current cost and capacity. The model does not value the organization’s other services.

Organization and research

Overview

San Francisco AIDS Foundation provides sexual-health services, HIV prevention, harm reduction and support for people affected by HIV.

Cost-effectiveness

$1.9M per better life (10 QALYs), modeled.

An ordinary gift; modeled overdose-prevention and PrEP benefits.

Why investigate

Current audited financial statements and established clinical services support further diligence. The estimated allocation of new donations across services is a judgment, not an offered funding package.

Before recommending a grant

Obtain a current marginal budget: which additional people could be served, what other funding already covers, and which constraints a donation would resolve.

Organization and research