Our History | San Francisco Interfaith Council

A Brief History of the San Francisco Interfaith Council

The history of the San Francisco Interfaith Council (SFIC) begins in December 1988 when a group of clergy and lay leaders was asked by then Mayor Art Agnos to provide additional shelter and meals for the homeless during a very wet and cold December. A committee was formed and shelters opened at Calvary Presbyterian Church, Grace Cathedral, Old First Presbyterian Church and Old St. Mary's Cathedral. Other congregations were recruited to provide meals. The temporary shelters closed in February 1989. In October 1989 the Loma Prieta earthquake rocked San Francisco and the Bay Area. The same group of clergy and lay leaders was asked to help provide aid for those displaced by the quake. After those two experiences, with many of the same people serving on both committees, it was agreed that it was time for an organization to be formed to work together on issues of common concern. The San Francisco Interfaith Council was born. Official 501(c)(3) status was obtained in 1991. The offices of the SFIC have been located at the Presidio Chapel since 2003.

Milestones in Our History

1988 First emergency homeless shelter organized *
1989 Committee formed to respond to Loma Prieta earthquake effects
1991 San Francisco Interfaith Council obtains official 501(c)(3) status
1992 Following Loma Prieta earthquake, interfaith committee formed to monitor City's regulations with respect to unreinforced masonry buildings
1992 Helped organize and served as fiscal agent for CARD (Community Agencies Responding to Disaster)
1993 SFIC led effort to establish interfaith presence at new national park in the Presidio
1994 First participated in CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger Walk
1995 Interfaith Center at the Presidio spun off from SFIC and incorporated as separate non-profit
1997 SFIC starts and funds Interfaith Chaplain Program at Juvenile Hall
1998 First official office for SFIC opens at Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center at 401 Baker Street
1998 SFIC forms interfaith Child Task Force providing supplies, backpacks, and free books to underserved children throughout the City
1998 First Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast *
1999 First interfaith concert *
2001 Became local advisory board for First Book, a national literacy effort for underserved children
2001 Shortly after 9/11, organized interfaith service of remembrance which filled Bill Graham Auditorium
2002 First Monthly Breakfast meeting for faith leaders and laypersons *
2003 SFIC office moves to the Presidio Chapel at 130 Fisher Loop *
2005 Organized interfaith home building project with Habitat for Humanity *
2005 First Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Day Service *
2006 Organized first Disaster Preparedness Workshop for Congregations *
2007 SFIC Board of Directors approves hiring Michael G. Pappas as its first full-time Executive Director *
2010 First convening of CEOs of major faith-based social service agencies *
2011 SFIC assumes sponsorship of MLK Day march and interfaith service at Yerba Buena Gardens *
2011 10th anniversary of 9/11 interfaith remembrance event in Golden Gate Park with the SF Opera
2011 Rita R. Semel Endowment Fund for Interfaith Work Established *
2013 First training of congregations - "Responding to the Homeless on Our Doorstep" *
2013 First WinterFaith Shelter Walk to benefit the San Francisco Interfaith Winter Shelter *
2014 SFIC convenes group of faith and non-profit leaders to work on income inequality issues with emphasis on essential housing; the SF Interfaith Essential Housing Task Force is formed *
2014 SFIC Celebrates 25th Anniversary
2014 Rita R. Semel Endowment Fund for Interfaith Work receives $100,000 donation from The George and Judy Marcus Family Foundation at the 17th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast
2015 $3 million donation received to fund first "Navigation Center" for the homeless *
2017 SFIC collaborates with Bay Area interfaith councils in North Bay fire response efforts
2017 SFIC receives $100,000 donation from The Janet and Clint Reilly Family Foundation
2018 SFIC played a leadership role in the creation of SF's first 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance *
2018 30th Anniversary of Interfaith Winter Shelter
2019 Invited by Governor Gavin Newsom to host an interfaith prayer service on the morning of his inauguration at St. John's Lutheran Church in Sacramento
2019 SFIC receives critical funding to take leadership role in 2020 SF decennial census *
2019 First convening of Aging/Adult Services and Faith Communities Round Table *
2019 First "Security in Houses of Worship" Workshop *
2019 SFIC Celebrates 30th Anniversary
2020 SFIC designated primary liaison faith sector in the San Francisco COVID-19 response
2020 First online briefings commenced *
2021 SFIC Founder and Past Chair Rita R. Semel Celebrates 100th Birthday
2021 Rita R. Semel Endowment Fund for Interfaith work receives $50,000 donation from The Celebrate Foundation
2023 Invited by Governor Gavin Newsom to host an interfaith prayer service on the morning of his inauguration at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Sacramento
2023 SFIC collaborates with Department of Disability & Aging Services and Institute on Aging to offer "Empowering Older Adults" online trainings for clergy and lay leaders
2023 Bay Area interfaith councils collaborate to produce anti hate public service announcements and launch at the Presidio Chapel
2023 35th Anniversary of Interfaith Winter Shelter
2024 SFIC collaborates with DCG Strategies "Ministry of Housing" in-person and online series workshops
2024 SFIC Celebrates 35th Anniversary

* ongoing