Marc and Lynne Benioff Donate $30 Million to Launch UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative

The University of California, San Francisco today announced the launch of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, funded by a $30 million gift from Salesforce Chairman and co-CEO Marc Benioff and his wife Lynne. The unprecedented initiative will provide research, data and evidence-based solutions to help cities invest in the most effective programs to prevent and end homelessness.

“The world needs a North Star for truth on homelessness,” said Marc Benioff. “The UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative will be that North Star, providing the latest research, data and evidence-based solutions to ensure we’re investing in programs that will help solve the homelessness crisis.”

Kevin Fagan of the San Francisco Chronicle covered the news in a story available here.

The Benioffs’ $30 million gift is the largest-ever private donation to fund homelessness research.

With this latest gift to UCSF, Marc and Lynne Benioff have now pledged $66 million to combat and prevent homelessness in San Francisco. Recently, they pledged $6.1 million to renovate San Francisco’s Bristol Hotel to add 58 units of housing for the homeless. The Benioffs also gave $11.5 million to Hamilton Families’ Heading Home Campaign, and have supported organizations including Raphael House, Larkin Street Youth Services and Catholic Charities. They also contributed $2 million to the “Yes on C” campaign to pass Proposition C in San Francisco, which will dedicate up to $300 million in new tax revenues to address homelessness.

In addition to their support for ending homelessness, the Benioffs have a long history of supporting children’s healthcare in San Francisco, including committing a $200 million gift to support the Benioff Children’s Hospitals in San Francisco and Oakland.

Read UCSF’s announcement here.