Michael Moritz, the billionaire venture capitalist and philanthropist, has made a significant donation aimed at bolstering legal support for immigrants facing deportation in San Francisco.
The Crankstart Foundation, Moritz’s philanthropic organization, has gifted $3.4 million to the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office to fund the hiring of additional immigrant defense attorneys amid rising concerns following President Donald Trump’s administration crackdown on immigration.
This donation will specifically allow the public defender’s office to hire three additional attorneys and a paralegal for a four-year period, and it has formally applied for the funds, which are set for Board of Supervisors approval in the forthcoming weeks.
The public defender’s office has established an “immigrant defense unit” that provides free legal representation to immigrants in deportation proceedings, a rarity among public defender offices across the United States. Since its inception in 2017, the unit has responded to a surge in anti-immigrant sentiment during Trump’s first term.
Unlike individuals facing criminal charges, immigrants do not have the constitutional right to legal counsel, and studies indicate that those without an attorney are far more likely to be deported. Research shows that having legal representation in deportation cases significantly increases the chances of successfully preventing removal, with immigrants represented by attorneys five times more likely to win their cases.
Jennifer Friedman, the acting manager of the immigrant defense unit, highlighted the increasing need for legal assistance, stating, “There’s something new every day, whether it’s the travel ban, detaining people at their checks-ins, cancelling their asylum cases and detaining people outside of court…whatever new nightmare strategy they come up with this week.”
With the additional funding from Moritz’s foundation, the office anticipates being able to handle 80 more cases, a crucial development as the unit currently has a backlog and a waiting list of around 50 individuals seeking counsel. Friedman emphasized the growing necessity for legal services, remarking, “The need is enormous, and the need is growing.”
Despite the unit’s successes, the public defender’s office previously requested increased funding from Mayor Daniel Lurie for the immigrant defense unit in the current budget cycle but faced rejection. Angela Chan, assistant chief attorney at the public defender’s office, expressed gratitude for the significant gift from Crankstart, emphasizing the continued need for additional support from both the city and the state.
The Crankstart Foundation has not been a stranger to funding initiatives within San Francisco’s local government. Since 2021, its total contributions to city departments, including the recent grant to the public defender’s office, have exceeded $35.9 million, specifically for programs focused on immigrant defense, criminal justice reform, and after-school activities.
This contribution includes a $6 million restorative justice grant aimed at the district attorney’s office, which was ultimately halted midway following District Attorney Brooke Jenkins’s suspension of restorative justice efforts.
Moreover, Crankstart has pledged $10 million to support Mayor Lurie’s initiatives addressing homelessness. A review of tax records indicates that the foundation has donated at least $361 million in San Francisco since 2020, establishing itself as the city’s largest family foundation.
While the Crankstart Foundation chose not to publicly announce the grant, it did respond to inquiries, stating, “We are proud to support the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office in their vital mission to ensure every San Franciscan has access to quality legal representation. Due process is not a privilege — it’s a fundamental right.”
Beyond his philanthropic endeavors, Moritz has also taken an active role in local media—he is the chair of the San Francisco Standard and has provided substantial financial backing, including $10 million initially to launch the publication, which continues to receive undisclosed yearly contributions from him.
Moritz has previously supported the political group TogetherSF, contributing or pledging at least $17 million. However, the organization dissolved following disappointing outcomes in recent elections, including a failed ballot measure for government reform despite being backed by $9.5 million.
Afterward, Moritz contributed $600,000 and $2.6 million to various causes related to the mayoral race, representing a portion of his $3.8 million total contributions to San Francisco campaigns since 2020. Following the political upheaval, TogetherSF has been replaced by the “Blueprint for San Francisco,” with Moritz appearing to have distanced himself from the new group.
Moritz was last seen supporting Lurie during an announcement in the Mission District regarding a gift aimed at Lurie’s $3 million sidewalk-cleaning initiative, continuing his engagement in local civic initiatives.
image source from：missionlocal
