Ginny Fang Guides Spark SF Schools Amid Financial Challenges

Ginny Fang is navigating significant challenges as she leads Spark SF Schools, the nonprofit arm of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). Her tenure, which is nearing its end in the second year, has coincided with unprecedented district and citywide budget deficits. Since her appointment, Fang has faced a landscape marked by cuts in federal education funding and fiscal uncertainty.

Fang draws inspiration from her late grandmother, Tse-Hsia Lei Wang, who fled China during the communist revolution. Wang became a community leader in Taiwan, embodying resilience and determination. “I think about her stories of escaping the Japanese bombing,” Fang reflected. “I think about the refugee camp she lived in in Hong Kong. I think about what it means to rebuild a country, like she helped do in Taiwan.”

Under Fang’s guidance, Spark SF Schools has celebrated a milestone: the tenth anniversary of its founding in 2015. The organization has raised over $140 million in private donations for San Francisco public schools, focusing on critical student programs. Fang has launched initiatives to address challenges in literacy, math, chronic absenteeism, and mental health services within the district.

San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Maria Su praised Fang’s contributions, stating, “Under her tenure, Spark has strengthened community investment and elevated visibility for the district’s high priority initiatives, fueling lasting improvements across San Francisco’s public education system.”

While Fang acknowledges the accomplishments of the past decade, she emphasizes the potential for future growth, particularly as the district faces ongoing financial pressures. “I honestly think it’s not so much what was achieved in the first 10 years — which was a lot,” she stated. “But it’s more about what that showed us we can do in the next 10.”

Fang cites Salesforce as Spark’s largest donor, contributing approximately $5 million annually. She aims to cultivate similar partnerships to bolster the organization’s financial support in the coming years. Those who work alongside her describe Fang as a beacon of positivity even in challenging circumstances.

Her commitment to education is rooted in her family’s history. Wang, who grew up in the early 20th century amid political upheaval in China, was part of an underground network of educators promoting ideas that challenged the regime. Following her marriage, Wang moved to Taiwan, where she became the headmistress of a middle school, one of the first women to hold such a position in the region.

Fang’s upbringing was significantly influenced by her grandmother’s experiences. “It was a pretty tough time based on the stories from my mother and aunts,” she said. “They were both active leaders in their community, in a country that had survived a painful war and searching for a path forward.”

After graduating from Dartmouth College, Fang initially pursued a medical career before shifting focus to education. “Being an immigrant to the country and watching my parents and listening to stories of my grandmother, you have to pursue what is uniquely yours to pursue in life,” she explained.

Her professional journey began in the late 2000s with the founding of ChinaSF and Golden Gate Global, organizations aimed at fostering economic ties between San Francisco and foreign entities. Fang’s entry into the education sector came as head of philanthropy at the San Francisco Ed Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the school district.

Rebecca Kroll, Chief Operating Officer at SF Ed Fund, noted that Fang’s experience there prepared her for the role at Spark. “It really whetted her appetite and inspired her to dig deeper into how to support education,” Kroll said.

Fang stepped into the presidency of Spark SF Schools at the beginning of 2024, a time that proved tumultuous for the district, culminating in the resignation of Superintendent Matt Wayne in September. Following this leadership change, the reelection of President Donald Trump led to cuts in federal education initiatives, further straining resources.

The San Francisco Unified School District was forced to implement significant budget reductions, impacting the nonprofit sector and limiting educational resources. Kroll expressed concern over these challenges, stating, “It’s such a hard time. There’s only so much we can do, but it takes time and it’s hard in the meantime to watch students, teachers, and families struggle.”

Despite these difficulties, Kroll highlighted Fang’s resilience, remarking, “What’s amazing about Ginny is she doesn’t get dissuaded easily. If something is hard in front of her, she thinks creatively about how to tackle it.”

Fang attributes her tenacity to her grandmother, who remained active in her community until her passing in 2023 at the age of 100. “She gave me a sense that you have to take what is in front of you and the opportunities that are in front of you, to be able to make the difference,” Fang said.

As she reflects on the ongoing challenges in education, Fang remains committed to her mission. “The fight for personal freedoms, equity, and justice is ongoing. When things are peaceful, when things are more challenging, it’s something that we all have to engage in.”