Dear Chamber of Commerce Members and Friends,
San Francisco is undeniably on the rise, but our work is not yet complete. With celebrations of optimism and a commitment to convening together, our path ahead grows brighter.
As we mark the 175th anniversary of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce this year, we extend our deepest thanks to our Members and Board of Directors for their continued commitment. This milestone, reached by only a handful of institutions, reminds us why we exist in the first place, not born from a commission or committee, but from leaders who believed in San Francisco and all that we can do.
2025 delivered meaningful wins and exciting change. We celebrated the one-year anniversary of Yes SF, our collaborative downtown third space. In just twelve months, Yes SF hosted nearly 200 events while still serving its founding mission as a hub for sustainable innovator cohorts and a community for emerging green technology.
Growth was shared across all seven of the Chamber of Commerce’s other initiatives (the Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy, Leadership San Francisco, BuildSF, UniteSF, the Center for Economic Development, Toastmasters, and the Job Forum), together executing over 500 events serving more than 6,000 members and guests. This year’s efforts matched a citywide optimism. Civic engagement, matched with improved safety, street conditions, and a broader sense of hope, has shown us all signs of real progress.
Citywide, we know challenges remain. Office vacancy rates still hover near 30% at year’s end, with too many ground-floor storefronts empty. Too many mom and pop shops are struggling and shutting their doors still. Simply put: our work is far from finished. Yet, if we imagine a San Francisco that not only recovers to pre-pandemic levels but exceeds them, a City that meets its housing demand, operates reliable transit, and creates the next generation of jobs, we believe San Francisco can reach unimaginable heights in the years ahead.
To take our next steps forward, we must continue to champion common-sense governance that promotes San Francisco’s recovery and the related reforms that will build the foundation for our city’s future. We must continue to think boldly and push for moonshot initiatives like building academia downtown and other transformational projects that will serve our city’s future generations.
Heading into 2026, we are more optimistic than ever. In the pivotal year ahead, our only ask, as the city’s great conveners, is that you join us. The San Francisco spirit, built by entrepreneurs, inventors, creatives, and risk-takers, will continue to innovate and impact the future far across the globe.
With tremendous faith in San Francisco,
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