San Francisco Travel Association
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
TO ENHANCE THE LOCAL ECONOMY BY MARKETING SAN FRANCISCO AND THE BAY AREA AS THE PREMIER DESTINATION FOR CONVENTIONS, MEETINGS, EVENTS AND LEISURE TRAVEL.
- Income
- $23.2 million
- Spending
- $22.6 million
- Employees
- 64
- Volunteers
- 33
- Highest pay
- $1.2 million, president/ceo (thru 01/24)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- AS THE CITY'S OFFICIAL VISITOR PROMOTION ORGANIZATION, THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL ASSOCIATION IS TO ENHANCE SAN FRANCISCO'S ECONOMY BY PROMOTING THE CITY AS A SITE FOR CONVENTIONS AND TRADE SHOWS, AND AS A DESTINATION FOR LEISURE TRAVELERS. IN SUPPORT OF THIS PURPOSE, SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL PROVIDES SALES AND MARKETING, AS WELL AS INFORMATION SERVICES TO FACILITATE AN EXCELLENT VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND ENHANCE THE VISIBILITY OF ITS MEMBERS.DURING PERIOD JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2024, SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL'S CONVENTION DIVISION BOOKED FUTURE MEETINGS REPRESENTING 1M+ HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS. THE DIVISION CONTINUED TO REFINE SALES STRATEGIES FOCUSING ON RETAINMENT OF AT-RISK GROUPS, GROUP MARKETING AND INTERNATIONAL FOR BOTH CITYWIDE CONVENTIONS AND SELF-CONTAINED GROUPS. (CONT. ON SCH. O)SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL COMPLETED COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH ON VISITOR ATTITUDES, USAGE, AND VISITATION IN THE DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. SF TRAVEL CONTINUES TO USE THE CUSTOM ECONOMIC IMPACT CALCULATOR MODULE FOR CONVENTIONS, SPORT EVENTS AND SPECIAL EVENT. ADDITIONALLY, SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL ASSOCIATION CONTINUES TO UTILIZE DATABASE MODELING AND INTELLIGENCE FOR VISITOR VOLUME, PAID NIGHTS AND TOTAL VISITOR SPEND BY COUNTRY AND REGION TO BETTER TRACK ROI OF SALES AND MARKETING SPEND.IN 2024, SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL PUBLIC POLICY STAFF ALONG WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONTINUED TO EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE AROUND ISSUES WHICH AFFECT THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE, AND THEREFORE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE INDUSTRY. SF TRAVEL SUPPORTED INCREASED FUNDING FOR STREET CLEANING, HOMELESS SERVICES, AND SECURITY, AS WELL AS ADVOCATED FOR ACCOMMODATIONS AND IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO MEET CLIENT NEEDS.THE MARKETING ORGANIZATION DEVELOPED MARKETING CAMPAIGNS THAT GENERATED MILLIONS OF VISITORS TO OUR VARIOUS WEBSITES IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. THROUGH ONGOING OPTIMIZATION, CONTENT DEVELOPMENT AND SEO, THE WEBSITE GENERATED 3,232,572 ENGAGED SESSIONS IN 2024. THE MARKETING DIVISION ALSO LAUNCHED MULTIPLE INTEGRATED DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGNS THAT DROVE GREAT IMPRESSION AND ENGAGEMENT RESULTS. IN ADDITION, THE GLOBAL PUBLIC & MEDIA RELATIONS STAFF CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS EFFORT TO CONVEY POSITIVE STORIES ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO INCLUDING SECURED 2,051 MEDIA PLACEMENTS, ORGANIZED 143 MEDIA VISITS ACROSS ALL MARKETS, ISSUED 23 NEWS RELEASES AND PITCHED MEDIA AND INFLUENCERS AT VARIOUS EVENTS.SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL'S TOURISM STAFF EXECUTED SEVEN FULLY INTEGRATED PROMOTIONAL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS IN KEY INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, INCLUDING CANADA, UK, GERMANY, AND INDIA. ALL CAMPAIGNS FEATURED A ROOM NIGHT GENERATING COMPONENT. THE TEAM ALSO CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SFO) FOR JOINT MARKETING CAMPAIGN EFFORTS AND PROVIDING CRITICAL SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS. STAFF ALSO ATTENDED KEY MISSIONS, TRADE SHOWS, INCLUDING IPW, BRAND USA TRAVEL WEEK AND OTHERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(6) business league.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1947.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.