The San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) is a large organization dedicated to supporting health, wellness, and social justice for communities most impacted by HIV. In 2019, SFAF recognized that the landscape for HIV and other related health issues was changing in San Francisco, requiring strategic re-examination of their priorities and investments. SFAF released a competitive RFA for a consultant to lead a year-long strategic planning process that would incorporate the input of more than 200 staff and over 800 donors, volunteers, clients, and external stakeholders, ultimately selecting Facente Consulting for the role.
While leading the strategic planning process, Facente Consulting used multiple methods to gather community input, including interviews, group meetings, multi-day retreats, online and paper surveys in English and Spanish, town halls, and a series of strategy meetings with a core strategic planning committee. We subcontracted with other consultants who offered expertise in branding and development to ensure the highest-quality guidance for SFAF’s strategic future. Finally, we guided SFAF’s board and staff through a process to reimagine the organization’s objectives, building on their history of impactful HIV prevention, care, and advocacy to move toward a focus on fighting for health justice for the communities most impacted by HIV. The resulting strategic plan was built on (i) a commitment to racial justice, sexual health and substance use services, and strengthening community partnerships, as well as (ii) an expansion of scope beyond HIV to address sexually transmitted infections, hepatitis C, and San Francisco’s high overdose rate.