Nonprofit Budget Cuts in San Francisco Spark Hunger Strike and Sector-Wide Questions

San Francisco is facing a critical moment in its nonprofit landscape. A proposed $4.2 million cut to legal aid funding is prompting not only concern but urgent action. Adrian Tirtanadi, executive director of Open Door Legal, has begun a hunger strike to draw attention to the human cost of these reductions. His protest is about more than a single budget decision. It represents a larger issue facing nonprofit leaders across the country.

Legal Aid Funding Cuts Could Harm Over 900 Clients

Open Door Legal estimates the cuts would lead to 15 staff layoffs and leave over 900 low-income individuals without legal support each year. These clients include seniors, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and families at risk of homelessness or domestic abuse. Legal aid is often the only resource keeping people safe and housed. Eliminating it means losing both protection and justice for those who need it most.

Nonprofit Advocacy as a Strategic Imperative

Tirtanadi’s hunger strike is a bold form of nonprofit advocacy. He is using his voice and his platform to make budget decisions visible. His goal is to reframe this as a people-first issue, not just a financial adjustment. By centering real outcomes, he is reminding funders and policymakers that nonprofit budgets are not abstract. They affect lives.

This strategy is something nonprofit leaders everywhere can learn from. Advocacy is not only for public policy groups. It belongs in every nonprofit’s toolkit. Whether it is speaking at council meetings, mobilizing donors, or educating the public, nonprofit executives must learn to drive their message.

A National Trend in Local Decisions

San Francisco is not the only city where nonprofits are facing cuts. Across the country, legal services, housing supports, and mental health programs are losing funding. This trend highlights the need for nonprofit organizations to invest in communication and policy engagement. Waiting until budgets are finalized is too late.

What You Can Do to Respond

• Review your funding sources and identify potential vulnerabilities.

• Develop case studies that illustrate impact with real human stories.

• Train staff and board members in advocacy and media engagement.

• Build partnerships with aligned organizations to share resources and amplify messages.

• Consider digital tools to mobilize supporters quickly.

  
  

Why This Matters Now

Legal aid nonprofits protect the rights of individuals who often have no other recourse. When those services are at risk, leaders must step into roles that go beyond day-to-day operations. They must defend not only their budgets but also the dignity of those they serve.

The hunger strike in San Francisco is more than a protest. It is a call to action for nonprofit leaders to speak clearly, act boldly, and lead with strategy.