July 21, 2025

Dear Community,

As you may have heard, the San Mateo County Pride Center’s parent agency and fiscal sponsor, StarVista, will sadly be closing its doors effective August 1. Due to ongoing financial challenges, StarVista pursued a merger with another nonprofit organization; however, we’re disheartened by the news that these efforts were not successful.

We want to make it clear: the Pride Center will still continue to operate, despite StarVista’s closure. Thanks to the constant support of our primary funders at San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS), our local officials, community leaders, and all of you who have rallied behind us, there is no doubt the Pride Center’s programs and services will endure.

We are very fortunate that there are prospective organizations who are able to fiscally sponsor us following StarVista’s closure – this is incredible news for the long-term sustainability of the Pride Center!

However, we still need support and are calling for your help as we transition into the next chapter of the Pride Center’s evolution.

We need to move out of our 1021 S. El Camino Real location by August 1st and find a new physical space for the Pride Center.

Here's how you can best support:

Join our PACKING PARTY (This Sat. 7/26 and Sun. 7/27, 12:00-6:00pm)
- You’re invited to the Pride Center this Saturday and Sunday, July 26 & 27, from 12 pm – 6 pm, to help us pack up our beloved Center belongings. Come visit with members of the team and fellow Pride Center advocates. Light refreshments and good tunes will be provided.
- Donations of packing materials are also welcome! If you have boxes, packing tape, or packing material of any kind that you can donate, please drop them off either Wednesday or Thursday between 1 pm – 6:30 pm, or bring any supplies with you this weekend.
- We will also host a “Gratitude Activity” to acknowledge our physical space that has housed LGBTQ+ affirming services and represented a beacon of safety and inclusiveness for over 8 years.
- Address: 1021 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94402
Help find us a NEW HOME for the Center.
- Do you have an alternative location for the Pride Center to use? At discounted rate? Free? The Pride Center needs a new home after August 1. If you have an office space, or may know someone who does, please connect with us! Our needs are small. Ideally, we need a main drop-in space with 1-2 administrative offices. However, we can be flexible and creative. We ARE LGBTQ+ after all – it’s in our nature.
Donate. Yes, donate.
- We are the only county-wide LGBTQ+ serving organization and we reached over 12,000 individuals last year alone. Now, we’ve lost 45% of our staff and we anticipate more funding cuts. Currently, we just don't have the capacity to continue operating our full breadth of programs and services as before.
- One-time and monthly donations are needed to prevent further cuts to our programs and services, supplement our general operating expenses, and help us regrow our team. In times like these, we cannot afford to lose essential LGBTQ+ services for San Mateo County. YOU can make a difference by supporting LGBTQ+ wellness today.
- Donations are welcome anytime on our website, and we can also accept checks directly dropped off to the Pride Center through July 31. Our address is 1021 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 944402. Thank you!

Have another way to help?
Please reach out to us at info@sanmateopride.org.

The community’s outpouring of love and support for the Pride Center during these challenging times has been so meaningful. Please know we are incredibly grateful and appreciative. The Pride Center would not be here today without you – and because of your continued support, we are here to stay!

In Community and with Pride,

The San Mateo County Pride Center