Billionaire venture capitalist Michael Moritz and his wife, artist philanthropist Harriet Heyman, are funding a large-scale initiative to support new solutions for San Francisco’s housing and economic challenges. Through their family foundation, Crankstart, they are offering up to $150 million for organizations and teams that propose innovative ways to “make San Francisco a better place to live,” according to the outlets covering the effort.
The program is structured as a global competition open to applicants with ideas aimed at addressing urgent needs in the city, including housing-related problems and broader economic concerns. Applicants are expected to submit proposals for consideration, and the initiative includes an evaluation process that leads to a decision timeline extending into the autumn of 2027.
Both reports describe the effort as a philanthropic approach to tackling public issues, reflecting growing reliance on private giving to supplement or drive solutions for major urban challenges.
