Filipino Non-Profit Organizations in Oakland, CA

NAFCON is a national alliance of Filipino organizations, institutions, and individuals that responds to the concerns of Filipinos in the US and in the Philippines by creating an action-oriented platform that brings people together through culture & heritage, education, health & wellness, and advocacy.

Founded on June 2, 1971, the San Francisco Fil-Am Lions Club holds a historic place as the first Lions Club of Filipino ancestry established in the United States. This pioneering organization has spent decades serving the San Francisco community with dedication and cultural pride, establishing a legacy of service that extends across generations. The club's members have been instrumental in founding and revitalizing numerous Filipino American Lions Clubs throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, demonstrating their commitment to expanding the Lions Club movement within their community. Despite these efforts to grow the broader network, the San Francisco Fil-Am Lions Club remains steadfastly rooted in its original mission and values. The organization serves dual communities—both the Filipino American population in San Francisco and communities in the Philippines—reflecting its deep cultural connections and international perspective. What distinguishes this club is its unique blend of service organization principles with Filipino American cultural identity, creating a space where members can contribute meaningfully while honoring their heritage. The San Francisco Fil-Am Lions Club continues to persevere as a vital community institution, maintaining its commitment to service while celebrating the contributions of Filipino Americans in San Francisco.

The Filipino Community Center represents two decades of dedicated commitment to serving San Francisco's Filipino community with dignity, respect, and authentic partnership. Established in 2004 by Excelsior parents, schoolteachers, and community leaders, the organization emerged from a concrete need—supporting hundreds of Filipino immigrant airport workers who faced unjust layoffs in the post-9/11 era. What began as a response to this crisis evolved into a comprehensive community institution dedicated to ensuring equal access to education, health services, and economic opportunity for all Filipino families in San Francisco, CA. The Center's foundation rests on the Filipino value of bayanihan, where neighbors know each other and work collectively to build strong communities. Rather than imposing solutions from above, the Filipino Community Center in San Francisco works alongside community members to identify priorities, develop local leadership, and create lasting change. The organization believes that real transformation happens when people are connected, informed, and empowered to shape their own futures. From its earliest days serving as a gathering place in District 11, the Filipino Community Center has remained grounded in the lives and struggles of everyday Filipinos, honoring their resilience while working toward a vision of thriving, self-determined communities both locally and in the Philippines.

Founded in 2001 in San Francisco, California, the Foundation for Filipina Women's Network emerged from a powerful vision: to transform how Filipina women are perceived and represented in the world. Originating when founder Marily Mondejar recognized the absence of Filipina women role models in corporate leadership and the harmful stereotypes dominating online narratives, FFWN launched the Shape the Filipina Image Campaign to celebrate Filipina women's actual leadership roles and economic contributions. Today, FFWN serves as a global community for women of Philippine ancestry, with members spanning multiple continents united by shared commitment to the FWN Credo: Disrupt the status quo, Amplify Women's Voices, Be Invincible for the FWN Sisterhood, and Say Yes to Opportunity. The organization champions priority issues including eliminating discrimination against women and girls, appointing and electing women to leadership positions, ensuring economic independence and pay equity, expanding access to essential public services, protecting reproductive freedom, and ending violence against women. FFWN's mission centers on positioning women as economic and social contributors to the global economy, envisioning a woman leader in every sector. Through mentorship, collaborative networks, advocacy campaigns, and the publication of inspiring leadership narratives, FFWN creates spaces where Filipina women connect, support one another, and collectively reshape narratives about their capabilities and contributions. As a non-profit committed to the social welfare of Filipina women worldwide, FFWN remains dedicated to building an inclusive community that celebrates achievement, amplifies voices, and inspires the next generation of transformative leaders.