Former San Francisco Human Rights Chief Charged with Misusing $120M in Taxpayer Funds

Sheryl Davis pleaded not guilty to 19 counts of self-dealing and funneling city money to her partner's nonprofit

Apr. 4, 2026 at 4:05am by Ben Kaplan

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An extreme close-up photograph of a stack of $100 bills, capturing the texture and details of the currency in a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.The alleged misuse of $120 million in taxpayer funds from the Dream Keeper Initiative has eroded public trust in San Francisco's government.San Francisco Today

Sheryl Davis, the former head of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to 19 counts of self-dealing and misusing $120 million in taxpayer funds from the Dream Keeper Initiative program. Prosecutors allege Davis funneled city money to a nonprofit run by her partner, James Spingola, and used the funds for personal expenses like an ice rink rental, DJ, and catering in Philadelphia, as well as paying her own son $140,000 for 'research assistance'.

Why it matters

The collapse of the Dream Keeper Initiative, a $120 million program meant to serve San Francisco's Black community, has eroded public trust and highlighted the need for stronger oversight and accountability when it comes to the distribution of large sums of taxpayer money, especially when directed towards vulnerable populations.

The details

Prosecutors say Davis ran a pervasive pattern of self-dealing during her time leading the Dream Keeper Initiative, which launched in 2021. They allege she funneled city money to a nonprofit called Collective Impact, run by her partner James Spingola, and steered how that nonprofit spent its funds, both for official use and for her personal benefit. The spending detailed in the charges includes $2.1 million on an ice rink rental, DJ, floral arrangements, and catering in Philadelphia, $267,000 on gala tickets and sponsorships, $60,000 for a venue rental at the Golden State Warriors' Chase Center, and $10,000 paid to Sonya Curry, mother of Warriors star Steph Curry, as a speaking fee. Prosecutors also say tens of thousands were paid to artists to perform at city-sponsored events and the launch party for Davis's children's book, and that $140,000 was paid by the Homeless Children's Network to Davis's own son for 'research assistance'.

  • On Thursday, April 4, 2026, Sheryl Davis pleaded not guilty to the charges in San Francisco Superior Court.
  • The Dream Keeper Initiative launched in 2021 as a $120 million program to serve San Francisco's Black community.

The players

Sheryl Davis

The former head of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission who is accused of misusing $120 million in taxpayer funds from the Dream Keeper Initiative program.

James Spingola

Davis's partner who ran the nonprofit Collective Impact, which prosecutors allege Davis funneled city money to.

Sonya Curry

The mother of NBA star Steph Curry, who was allegedly paid a $10,000 speaking fee from the Dream Keeper Initiative funds.

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What they’re saying

“She's not a crook, she's not hiding anything.”

— Tony Brass, Davis's attorney

“The mission of the agency was to get money to the hands of the people who needed it very quickly, immediately — and Collective Impact … was the route through which the money was going to go.”

— Tony Brass, Davis's attorney

“If she was profiting from the system, why would she have ever done that?”

— Tony Brass, Davis's attorney

What’s next

Davis is due back in court on May 6 to face the 19 charges against her. Prosecutors say the paper trail they have compiled is extensive, and the case will likely have a major impact on public trust in San Francisco's government.

The takeaway

The collapse of the Dream Keeper Initiative, a $120 million program meant to help San Francisco's Black community, has exposed the dangers of prioritizing speed and sentiment over proper oversight and accountability when distributing large sums of taxpayer money. This case serves as a cautionary tale about the need for robust financial controls and transparency to ensure public funds are used as intended.