What is OurTownSF?                                                                                                                                                 OurTownSF consists of 3 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 over 330 San Francisco nonprofits serving the LGBTQ community including:

A-Z & CATEGORY SEARCH 

PHOTOS -  at over 150 SF LGBTQ events annually
CALENDAR - of fundraisers, major artistic performances, fairs & annual observances*

* Check individual organizations' calendars for non-fundraising events and smaller artistic performances. 

The purpose of this site is to match LGBTQ+ individuals including:

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

FOR INDIVIDUALS - a guide to community fundraisers, events, fairs & observances
FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS - a reference when deciding on a date for their upcoming events

3/ 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.

Past:   OurTownSF Nonprofit Expo 2016-2020

World's largest LGBTQ resource fair featuring over 150 groups serving the Bay Area LGBTQ community with thousands of attendees.  It took place at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center for the first four years and its 5th year was virtual on August 15, 2020.   

                                                                         

See YouTube videos :

OurTownSF LGBTQ Nonprofit Expo 2020  August 15 2020

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                       

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 brought groups serving us together for a day of fun & community building.   It grew to become the world's largest LGBTQ resource fair! 

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