Bringing sparkle to the streets
We’re revitalizing San Francisco by organizing and investing in projects that bring joy to the streets.
The Civic Joy Fund started in 2023 as a program of the Civic Space Foundation, with the goal of revitalizing a post-pandemic San Francisco.
The organization was co-founded by Manny Yekutiel and Daniel Lurie. When Lurie entered the mayoral race, he stepped away, and in fall 2025, Manny followed as the Civic Joy Fund entered a new chapter under Executive Director Luke Spray.
What began with a little idea to light up commercial corridors around the city has grown into initiatives to paint hundreds of utility boxes, host weekly trash pick ups, and organize large scale events like Downtown First Thursdays and neighborhood night markets.
The Civic Joy Fund continues to help re-energize public spaces across San Francisco by bringing art, music, culture, and above all, joy, to our city’s streets. We believe that cities become more resilient, inclusive, and lively when people connect with their environment and with each other. So we give neighbors the tools to bring their communities together.
By treating our streets as a stage for civic life, we aim to draw people back to public spaces, stimulate local economies, and contribute to San Francisco’s broader cultural revival.
Join us! We’d love to hear your ideas for how to activate your neighborhood.
Civic Joy Fund Projects
