Tipping Point Community Marks 20 Years Raising Millions to Fight Poverty in the Bay Area.
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 2, 2025 – Tipping Point Community announced today that it raised more than $20 million at its annual Benefit, held last night at Skylight at The Armory in San Francisco’s Mission District. The event brought together more than 1,000 philanthropists, business leaders, nonprofit partners, elected officials, to celebrate two decades of impact and rally support for the work ahead.
For 20 years, Tipping Point has invested in the Bay Area’s most effective poverty-fighting solutions—helping over a million individuals and families across six counties access housing, higher education, early childhood development, and good paying jobs.
Thanks to Tipping Point’s Board of Directors, who cover 100% of the organization’s operating expenses, including event costs, every dollar raised at the Benefit will go directly to local community-based organizations and initiatives that provide life-changing services.
“Tipping Point was founded on the belief that poverty is not inevitable—and for 20 years, this community has proven that when we invest in people and solutions, change is possible,” said Sam Cobbs, CEO of Tipping Point Community. “Today, we’re galvanized by a renewed urgency and unprecedented opportunity to accelerate our impact across the Bay Area.”
The evening’s program featured stories from former clients and community leaders who have benefited from Tipping Point Community investments in core grantee partners, including Charvette Rojas, a former client of First Place for Youth; Fahim Reese, a former client of Rising Sun Center for Opportunity; and Omar Carrera, CEO of Canal Alliance. Together, their stories illustrate the importance of housing, employment, education, and early childhood—Tipping Point Community impact areas.
Rojas, who grew up in the foster care system and has a long history with First Place for Youth—one of Tipping Point Community’s first grantees—said, “I’m proof that housing is one of the first steps to stability. Having a place to call home meant I could focus on college, build a career, and break the cycle for my family.”
Reese, who was incarcerated for 30 years and gained his first job after graduating from Rising Sun’s construction skills certificate program, said, “We did math, safety, we took field trips, we did hands-on training. They will allow you to become and develop who you are as a human being.” Reese is also a mentor and teaches construction at juvenile hall.
Carrera, an immigrant from Ecuador who first engaged with Canal Alliance as a client and is now the CEO of the nonprofit, said, “We went from one step away from disappearing from the community to now being one of the strongest nonprofits in the county.” Canal Alliance, like all Tipping Point Community’s core grantee partners, receives general operating funds, leadership development, and other customized support.
The event was co-chaired by Sarah Guo and Pat Grady, Harriet Heyman and Michael Moritz, Eurie Kim and Jason Cheng, Alexandria and Kevin Marchetti, and Amanda and Chris Peiffer. The evening concluded with a celebratory performance and a renewed call to action to continue building a Bay Area where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
About Tipping Point Community
Tipping Point finds, funds, and strengthens the most promising poverty-fighting solutions so one day, everyone in the Bay Area can prosper. Since 2005, the organization has invested over $440 million in community interventions, policy change, and bold new ideas. In the past year alone, Tipping Point grantees provided life-changing services in housing, early childhood, education, and employment to 91,000 neighbors across the region. Learn more at www.tippingpoint.org.
