Urban Alchemy

Mission

Urban Alchemy has ONE mission: to create quality jobs for people who have been incarcerated, improving their reentry while reducing recidivism. We solve TWO problems: people falling through the social safety net, and the resulting turmoil this creates in public places. And we offer THREE groundbreaking initiatives: Safe Communities, Housed Communities, and Clean Communities. These initiatives foster health, safety, and peace through relationship-building rather than traditional enforcement and outdated social service programs.

Proceed with Caution — Reported Other Material Lawsuit

On July 6, 2024, The San Francisco Standard reported on the operations of Urban Alchemy in an article titled, "Lawsuit: Urban Alchemy workers at homeless camp dealt drugs, had sex with residents." For more information, please see The San Francisco Standard article.

  • On May 14, 2025, San Francisco Chronicle published an article titled "Dozens of S.F. street ambassadors laid off as Urban Alchemy loses BART contract." For more information, please see San Francisco Chronicle article
  • On January 26, 2026, The San Francisco Chronicle published an article titled "Urban Alchemy will walk away from major S.F. homeless shelter. Here’s why." For more information, please see The San Francisco Chronicle article

On September 16, 2025, CBS Austin reported on the operations of Urban Alchemy in an article titled, "City of Austin ends nonprofit contract over alleged record tampering at homeless shelters." For more information, please see CBS Austin article.

For more information about our alerts methodology, see here.

San Francisco CA | EIN: 82-5408579
Profile managed by nonprofit | Is this your nonprofit?
501(c)(3) organization

Urban Alchemy

Mission

Urban Alchemy has ONE mission: to create quality jobs for people who have been incarcerated, improving their reentry while reducing recidivism. We solve TWO problems: people falling through the social safety net, and the resulting turmoil this creates in public places. And we offer THREE groundbreaking initiatives: Safe Communities, Housed Communities, and Clean Communities. These initiatives foster health, safety, and peace through relationship-building rather than traditional enforcement and outdated social service programs.

Proceed with Caution — Reported Other Material Lawsuit

On July 6, 2024, The San Francisco Standard reported on the operations of Urban Alchemy in an article titled, "Lawsuit: Urban Alchemy workers at homeless camp dealt drugs, had sex with residents." For more information, please see The San Francisco Standard article.

  • On May 14, 2025, San Francisco Chronicle published an article titled "Dozens of S.F. street ambassadors laid off as Urban Alchemy loses BART contract." For more information, please see San Francisco Chronicle article
  • On January 26, 2026, The San Francisco Chronicle published an article titled "Urban Alchemy will walk away from major S.F. homeless shelter. Here’s why." For more information, please see The San Francisco Chronicle article

On September 16, 2025, CBS Austin reported on the operations of Urban Alchemy in an article titled, "City of Austin ends nonprofit contract over alleged record tampering at homeless shelters." For more information, please see CBS Austin article.

For more information about our alerts methodology, see here.

San Francisco CA | EIN: 82-5408579
Profile managed by nonprofit | Is this your nonprofit?
501(c)(3) organization

Beacon Report

  • Great
  • Good
  • Needs Improvement
  • Poor
  • Incomplete
  • Additional Information
Accountability Panel
ScoreMetric
100%
Website Reported on Tax Form:Yes
100%
No Material Diversion of Assets:Yes
100%
Financial Statements:Yes
100%
Records Retention Policy:Yes
0%
Tax Form Disclosed on Website:No
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