City and County of San Francisco
Ethics Commission

Table of Contents

• About the Public Financing Program
• Eligibility
• Candidate Disbursements
• Important Dates for Candidates Seeking Public Financing

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About the Public Financing Program

The San Francisco Ethics Commission administers San Francisco’s Public Campaign Financing Program. Under the program, eligible candidates for the Office of Mayor may receive up to $1,200,000 in public funds ($1,185,500 for incumbent candidates), and candidates for the Board of Supervisors may receive up to $255,000 in public funds ($252,000 for incumbent candidates). 

Established by San Francisco voters through passage of Proposition O in November 2000, the Public Financing Program serves several public policy goals. The program seeks to ensure that candidates with a demonstrated level of community support can secure sufficient resources to run a viable campaign, potentially leading to more competitive races. In conjunction with contribution limits, public financing reduces candidates’ dependence on large private contributions, thereby lessening the potential for, and appearance of, undue influence by contributors. The availability of public funds can encourage local voters to be more politically active by incentivizing and empowering small-dollar contributions. Public financing also seeks to enable candidates to spend less time fundraising and more time engaging with voters.

Eligibility

To participate in the Public Financing Program, Mayoral and Supervisorial candidates must be qualified to appear on the ballot by the Department of Elections and meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Minimum qualifying contributions: A “qualifying contribution” is a contribution of between $10 and $100, made by a San Francisco resident, and received by a candidate no earlier than 18 months and no later than 70 days before the election. Candidates must raise a minimum number and total dollar amount of qualifying contributions, as summarized in the table below:

Candidate Type	Incumbency	Minimum number of qualifying contributors	Minimum total amount of qualifying contributions
Supervisor	Non-incumbent	100	$10,000
	Incumbent	150	$15,000
Mayor	Non-incumbent	500	$50,000
	Incumbent	750	$75,000

• Opposing candidate(s): Supervisorial candidates must be opposed by a candidate who raises or spends at least $10,000, and Mayoral candidates must be opposed by a candidate who raises or spends at least $50,000.
• Campaign spending limits: Each publicly financed candidate must adhere to their respective spending limit, or Individual Expenditure Ceiling (“IEC”). Supervisorial candidates must agree to an initial IEC of $350,000 and Mayoral candidates must agree to an initial IEC of $1,475,00. Information about adjustments to these spending caps can be found on the Expenditure Ceilings and Third-Party Spending page.
• Other requirements: Candidates must abide by limits on the amount of funds they loan or donate to their own campaign, may not accept loans from others, and must agree to participate in at least three debates with their opponents.

Public Funds Disbursements

After being certified as eligible for the Public Financing Program, candidates receive an initial disbursement of public funds. Candidates may then submit additional contributions and receive matching funds at a 6-to-1 ratio for every dollar of contributions submitted, up to $150 per contributor. The tables below show the initial disbursement amounts and the maximum total public funds that may be received for Supervisorial and Mayoral candidates:

Maximum Allowable Funds: Candidates for Supervisor

	Non-Incumbent Candidate		Incumbent Candidate
	Private Contributions Raised	Matched Public Funds	Private Contributions Raised	Matched Public Funds
Initial Grant	$10,000	$60,000	$15,000	$60,000
1:6 Match	$32,500	$195,000	$32,000	$192,000
Total	$42,500	$255,000	$47,000	$252,000

Maximum Allowable Funds: Candidates for Mayor

	Non-Incumbent Candidate		Incumbent Candidate
	Private Contributions Raised	Matched Public Funds	Private Contributions Raised	Matched Public Funds
Initial Grant	$50,000	$300,000	$75,000	$300,000
1:6 Match	$150,000	$900,000	$147,500	$885,000
Total	$200,000	$1,200,000	$222,500	$1,185,000

Important Dates for Candidates Seeking Public Financing 

June 2, 2026 Election

The below dates are important for candidates seeking public financing in the June 2, 2026, election.

2024

2025

2026

November 3, 2026 Election

The below dates are important for candidates seeking public financing in the November 3, 2026, election.

2025

2026