What is OurTownSF?                                                                                                                                                 OurTownSF consists of 4 resources created to assist groups serving the San Francisco LGBTQ community.  This includes promotion of their fundraising events and assistance in their recruitment of new clients, board members, volunteers and donors plus collaboration tools.                                                   

see details & history below                                                                                                                                                                                                 

1/ Nonprofit Window - see Nonprofit Window tab

Located at Walgreens on Castro at 18th Street.   Groups listed on this site are eligible

to reserve a 2-week spot for promotional purposes.                                                                                                                                                                                           

2/ OurTownSF.org

Resource guide to over330 San Francisco nonprofits serving the LGBTQ community including 

a calendar of fundraising  and major community events plus photos from over 150 of those events.  

Its purpose is to help recruit and connect them with clients, donors and/or volunteers.

A-Z and category search for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning individuals to match:

THOSE IN NEED OF VITAL SERVICES to service providers
DONORS to well-deserving SF LGBTQ charities
VOLUNTEERS to groups and their upcoming events

THOSE WISHING TO BE ENTERTAINED with arts venues and events

THOSE WITH ATHLETIC INTEREST with athletic organizations

PHOTOS -  at over 150 SF LGBTQ events annually
CALENDAR - of fundraisers, major artistic performances, fairs & annual observances*
FOR INDIVIDUALS - a guide to community fundraisers, events, fairs & observances
FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS - a reference when deciding on a date for their upcoming events
* Check individual organizations' calendars for non-fundraising events and smaller artistic performances. 

3/ OurTownSF Nonprofit Expo - see Nonprofit Expo tab

Annual resource fair since 2016 featuring over 150 groups serving the LGBTQ community and thousands of 

attendees at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center in the Castro.  In 2020 the Expo will be Virtual.  

Hosted by OurTownSF, TurnOut  & Eureka Valley Recreation Center  see Nonprofit Expo tab    for info & photos                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

See YouTube videos from previous years:

OurTownSF Nonprofit  Expo 2019      October 19, 2019

OurTownSF Nonprofit Expo 2018  October 20, 2018

OurTownSF Nonprofit Expo 2017       October 14, 2017

 OurTownSF Live! Nonprofit Expo 2016   November 19, 2016              November 19, 2016            

4/ Facebook group: OurTown Bay Area Queer Organizers 

This page serves to facilitate cross-publicity, schedule coordination, and sharing of ideas, resources, and info among leaders of Bay Area organizations & organizers in the LGBTQ+ community. This page created during the Covid-19 Pandemic, acts as a tool for our community's organizers to communicate their needs and plan for future service.

History:  

In 2001 Patrick Batt, a Castro merchant, recruited Walgreens on Castro at 18th St. to donate a window to SF LGBTQ nonprofits for the purpose of reserving it in order to promote their mission, recruit volunteers & advertise upcoming events.  In 2011 he turned over reservations to Paul Margolis.   Reservations for the Window are now handled by OurTownSF volunteer Gary Poe. 

Due to a long  waitlist for a reservation, in 2013 Paul created OurTownSF.org in order to provide a directory of groups serving our community.   Over a hundred events are included on the calendar located on the homepage of OurTownSF.org each month either submitted by groups or found on their website or Facebook page.   Paul attends and photographs over 150  events posted on this calendar annually,  uploads them on this site and shares them with the hosts and The San Francisco Bay Times. The photographs posted under the Photos tab document current events, promote future events, and provide a valuable promotional tool for our nonprofits.  

In 2016,  Paul created the annual OurTownSF Nonprofit Expo which brings groups serving us together for a day of fun & community building at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center in the Castro.   It has grown to become the largest LGBTQ resource fair ever in SF!the largest LGBTQ resource fair ever in SF!  

In 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic Paul created the Facebook group  OurTown Bay Area Queer  Organizers in order for our leaders to communicate with one another regarding their efforts to continue their service to our community.  This Facebook group will continue past the pandemic in order for our leaders to continue coordination.                                                    

Graphic Designer Ken Henderson is the Executive Director/CEO of The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation & he designs OurTownSF.org's advertising