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Newsletter

Monthly storytelling tips for nonprofits.

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Competitive Intelligence

San Francisco For Impact
YouTube Benchmark

Live rankings and performance data for 186+ for-impact YouTube channels across San Francisco Metro.Updated weekly

Khan Academy Inc
1
Schmidt Ocean Institute
2
Kqed Inc
3
California Academy Of Sciences
Computer History Museum
Seti Institute
Burning Man Project
Asian Art Museum Foundation Of San Francisco
The Exploratorium
San Francisco Ballet Association
Fine Arts Museums Foundation
San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art
San Francisco Symphony
Ck12 Foundation
Room To Read

Top channels by subscribers

0+
Channels Tracked
0
Combined Subscribers
0
Combined Views
0
Uploads Last 90 Days
Trending Now
Past 2 weeks
Top uploads by views
Life Interrupted, Dreams Continued: A Psychology Student's Journey | CIIS
1.6K views
1
Life Interrupted, Dreams Continued: A Psychology Student's Journey | CIIS
California Institute Of Integral Studies · 13d ago
Feathers of the Forests (Online Event)
1.3K views
2
Feathers of the Forests (Online Event)
Peninsula Open Space Trust · 13d ago
Do not read this.
919 views
3
Do not read this.
Room To Read · 5d ago
Philanthropy Confidential: On Failure
470 views
4
Philanthropy Confidential: On Failure
Stupski Foundation · 9d ago
Mathis v. County of Siskiyou Settlement
226 views
5
Mathis v. County of Siskiyou Settlement
Asian Law Caucus · 12d ago
All-Time Leaders

Top Channels

Most Subscribers

1Khan Academy Inc
Khan Academy Inc
@khanacademy
9.4M
2Schmidt Ocean Institute
Schmidt Ocean Institute
@schmidtocean
567.0K
3Kqed Inc
Kqed Inc
@kqed
378.0K
4California Academy Of Sciences
California Academy Of Sciences
@calacademy
247.0K
5Computer History Museum
Computer History Museum
@computerhistory
177.0K

Most Total Views

1Khan Academy Inc
Khan Academy Inc
@khanacademy
2233.2M
2Ck12 Foundation
Ck12 Foundation
@ck12
193.4M
3Kqed Inc
Kqed Inc
@kqed
111.3M
4Schmidt Ocean Institute
Schmidt Ocean Institute
@schmidtocean
36.6M
5California Academy Of Sciences
California Academy Of Sciences
@calacademy
34.9M

Most Videos Overall

1Khan Academy Inc
Khan Academy Inc
@khanacademy
9.3K
2Ck12 Foundation
Ck12 Foundation
@ck12
5.1K
3Positive Coaching Alliance
Positive Coaching Alliance
@positivecoachus
2.6K
4Muttville
Muttville
@muttvillesf
2.2K
5Computer History Museum
Computer History Museum
@computerhistory
2.1K
San Francisco vs. National

Benchmark Intelligence

How San Francisco nonprofit YouTube channels compare to national nonprofit and industry benchmarks — and where the biggest opportunities for growth are hiding.

Subscribers
Needs Work
320
San Francisco Median
25th–75th: 73–2.0K
National: 1.0K(NP Median)

The typical San Francisco nonprofit has 320 subscribers vs. 1.0K nationally. Most local channels are in early growth — even reaching 1.0K puts you ahead of the national median.

Views / Video
On Par
353
San Francisco Median
25th–75th: 191–1.3K
National: 400(NP Median)

The typical San Francisco channel gets 353 views per video vs. 400 nationally. Better thumbnails, SEO titles, and consistent posting can close this gap.

Engagement Rate
Below National
1.36%
San Francisco Median
25th–75th: 0.8%–1.9%
National: 2.5%(NP Median)

San Francisco's typical 1.36% engagement trails the 2.5% national median. Adding CTAs, responding to comments, and posting Shorts can boost this significantly.

Uploads / 90 Days
Needs Work
1
San Francisco Median
98 of 186 active
National: 4(Active NP Median)

The typical San Francisco nonprofit uploads 1 video per 90 days vs. 4 nationally. Only 98 of 186 channels are active. Consistency is the #1 growth lever.

What the Data Tells Us

🔍

The Gap Is Real

With a median of just 320 subscribers, most San Francisco nonprofits have small audiences — but that's typical for local organizations. The average (62.2K) is higher because a few large channels pull it up. Even reaching 1K subscribers puts a channel in the top quartile locally.

📊

Why Medians Matter

We use medians because a few large channels (avg: 62.2K subs) skew the average 195× higher than the median (320). The median represents what the typical San Francisco nonprofit actually looks like — and what you should benchmark against.

🚀

Biggest Growth Lever

88 of 186 channels haven't uploaded in 90 days. Consistency is the #1 predictor of growth. Channels posting weekly see 3-5× more views than monthly posters. This is San Francisco's biggest opportunity.

National benchmarks sourced from M+R Benchmarks 2025, Rival IQ, Dash Social, and Social Blade nonprofit category data (2024–2025).

Subscriber Distribution

Where most channels fall — the majority have under 5K subscribers

San Francisco Nonprofit Growth Playbook

Data-backed priorities ranked by potential impact — where San Francisco nonprofits should focus to close the gap with national benchmarks

📅

Upload Consistency Is #1

High Impact
88 inactive channels

88 of 186 channels haven't uploaded in 90 days. YouTube's algorithm rewards consistency — channels posting at least 2×/month see 3-5× more views than those posting sporadically. This is the single biggest lever for San Francisco nonprofits.

💬

Close the Engagement Gap

High Impact
1.36% vs. 5.4% national

San Francisco's 1.36% median engagement is below the 5.4% national average for small channels. Quick wins: add a CTA in the first 30 seconds, pin a comment with a question, and respond to every comment within 1 hour to boost algorithmic ranking.

🔎

Fix Discoverability

High Impact
353 vs. 2K national

The median San Francisco channel gets 353 views/video vs. 2,000 nationally for similar-sized channels. Optimize titles for search (use keywords your audience Googles), create custom thumbnails with faces and text, and use 8-12 relevant tags per video.

🎯

Break the 1K Subscriber Barrier

Medium Impact
Median: 320 subscribers

Half of all San Francisco nonprofit channels have fewer than 320 subscribers. Reaching 1K unlocks YouTube monetization features and puts you in the top quartile locally. End screens, cross-promotion on email newsletters, and consistent thumbnails accelerate subscriber growth.

See how your channel compares to these benchmarks

Get a free YouTube audit with personalized recommendations in 30 seconds

AI Spotlight

Editor's Picks

Channels selected by AI for exceptional content quality and impact

We're Suing to Block Trump's Illegal Offshore Drilling Order #shorts
7/10

We're Suing to Block Trump's Illegal Offshore Drilling Order #shorts

Earthjustice

Earthjustice

8.5K subscribers

Earthjustice demonstrates how to translate complex legal advocacy into compelling YouTube content. While their massive 49k average view count is heavily skewed by a 1.4M-view viral Short, their recent long-form uploads still achieve a healthy 12-15% view-to-subscriber ratio. Their video titles are highly specific and action-oriented, though their 64% caption coverage and generic channel description leave room for optimization.

highEnvironmental law organizati…
Resonance | AP Physics | Khan Academy
9/10

Resonance | AP Physics | Khan Academy

Khan Academy Inc

Khan Academy Inc

9.4M subscribers

Khan Academy operates as a massive, search-driven educational library rather than a traditional subscription channel, which explains the low 0.1% view-to-subscriber ratio against their 9.38M subscribers. They maintain exceptional consistency with 43 uploads in the last 90 days and set a gold standard for accessibility with 96% caption coverage across over 9,000 videos.

exceptionalA masterclass in building a …
Curiosity Stories S2E3: Redwood Soundscapes
7/10

Curiosity Stories S2E3: Redwood Soundscapes

Sempervirens Fund

Sempervirens Fund

1.8K subscribers

Sempervirens Fund demonstrates excellent audience resonance with a 96.5% view-to-subscriber ratio and a solid 1.6% engagement rate. Their consistent upload cadence of 6 videos per month and series-based content drive breakout viewership, though the 8% caption coverage is a notable accessibility gap.

highEnvironmental conservation c…

🏆 Curious where your nonprofit ranks?

Get an instant benchmark ranking + free YouTube audit in 30 seconds

Content Strategy

Content Format Breakdown

How San Francisco nonprofits structure their YouTube content — from long-form storytelling to quick Shorts

Format Distribution

186 channels analyzed
97%
Shorts-Heavy 5
Short-Form (<5m) 181
Mid-Form (5–15m) 0
Long-Form (15m+) 0

Upload Efficiency

Best avg views per video

1
Room To Read

Room To Read

133 videos · 22.6M total views

429.9K/vid
2
Lucas Museum Of Narrative Art

Lucas Museum Of Narrative Art

56 videos · 4.7M total views

92.9K/vid
3
Kqed Inc

Kqed Inc

2058 videos · 111.3M total views

69.5K/vid
4
Save The Redwoods League

Save The Redwoods League

191 videos · 3.3M total views

57.9K/vid
5
Washington Township Medical Foundation

Washington Township Medical Foundation

113 videos · 3.0M total views

58.8K/vid

Shorts Champions

Most YouTube Shorts produced

1
Bay Area Senior Services Inc

Bay Area Senior Services Inc

46 Shorts · 81% of content

46
2
Muttville

Muttville

45 Shorts · 2% of content

45
3
Ck12 Foundation

Ck12 Foundation

42 Shorts · 1% of content

42
4
Second Harvest Of Silicon Valley

Second Harvest Of Silicon Valley

38 Shorts · 12% of content

38
5
United Way Of The Bay Area

United Way Of The Bay Area

38 Shorts · 5% of content

38
Performance

Engagement & Format

Best Engagement

1Muttville
Muttville
@muttvillesf
18.81%
2Roots Community Health Center
Roots Community Health Center
@rootscommunityhealth
8.11%
3Project Open Hand
Project Open Hand
@openhandfarm
7.55%
4Middle East Childrens Alliance
Middle East Childrens Alliance
@mecaforpeace
5.29%
5Schmidt Ocean Institute
Schmidt Ocean Institute
@schmidtocean
5.26%

Most Shorts

1Bay Area Senior Services Inc
Bay Area Senior Services Inc
@bayareadrivingschool
46 shorts
2Muttville
Muttville
@muttvillesf
45 shorts
3Ck12 Foundation
Ck12 Foundation
@ck12
42 shorts
4Second Harvest Of Silicon Valley
Second Harvest Of Silicon Valley
@shfborg
38 shorts
5United Way Of The Bay Area
United Way Of The Bay Area
@unitedwaybayarea
38 shorts
Trending NowPast month

Viral Hits

The most-viewed recent uploads across all tracked channels

Total Solar Eclipse on August 12, 2026 | LIVE Telescope View from Spain | Exploratorium
#1 This Month
21d ago

Total Solar Eclipse on August 12, 2026 | LIVE Telescope View from Spain | Exploratorium

The Exploratorium71.9K views
A Perfect Day At The Beach In San Francisco
2
29d ago

A Perfect Day At The Beach In San Francisco

Kqed Inc10.7K
Resonance | AP Physics | Khan Academy
3
21d ago

Resonance | AP Physics | Khan Academy

Khan Academy Inc7.9K
The Great Eclipse Celebration:  Science Meets Music During Totality | #SETILive
4
21d ago

The Great Eclipse Celebration: Science Meets Music During Totality | #SETILive

Seti Institute5.4K
Behind the Scenes: The Man Will Burn: Marian Goodell & Jehane Noujaim - Ep 137
5
26d ago

Behind the Scenes: The Man Will Burn: Marian Goodell & Jehane Noujaim - Ep 137

Burning Man Project2.2K
Things I Have and Haven't Done at Minerva University
6
21d ago

Things I Have and Haven't Done at Minerva University

Minerva University1.9K
Add Impact to Your Studies with Social Justice Education
7
26d ago

Add Impact to Your Studies with Social Justice Education

Dominican Universi…511
Community Builders

Comment Magnets

Channels sparking the most conversation — ranked by average comments per video

#
Channel
Avg Comments
Comment Activity
Engagement
1
Kqed Inc
Kqed Inc
378.0K subs · 69.5K avg views
79
2.6276
2
Fine Arts Museums Foundation
Fine Arts Museums Foundation
45.1K subs · 37.2K avg views
38
3.5443
3
Project Open Hand
Project Open Hand
6.1K subs · 1.6K avg views
28
7.5531
4
Muttville
Muttville
8.7K subs · 774 avg views
10
18.8106
5
Schmidt Ocean Institute
Schmidt Ocean Institute
567.0K subs · 6.2K avg views
9
5.2643
6
Throckmorton
Throckmorton
3.4K subs · 14.3K avg views
9
0.8310
7
San Francisco Ballet Association
San Francisco Ballet Association
47.9K subs · 9.3K avg views
7
5.1776
8
Seti Institute
Seti Institute
85.7K subs · 1.4K avg views
7
3.8260
9
Burning Man Project
Burning Man Project
64.9K subs · 3.6K avg views
7
2.4542
10
Earthjustice
Earthjustice
8.5K subs · 49.6K avg views
6
0.9971

Contenido en Español

Spanish-Language Content

Original Spanish-language videos from nonprofits — a critical gap in markets with large Hispanic populations

Looking Ahead to PolicyLink’s 2026 Summit: We Are The Founders
42 en español
Bilingual
Policylink

Looking Ahead to PolicyLink’s 2026 Summit: We Are The Founders

Policylink · 42 Spanish videos

"Don't Stop (Thinking about tomorrow)" by The Constructivists
24 en español
Bilingual
Synapse School

"Don't Stop (Thinking about tomorrow)" by The Constructivists

Synapse School · 24 Spanish videos

Aviso para la comunidad MAM sobre COVID-19
21 en español
Bilingual
Centro Legal De La Raza Inc

Aviso para la comunidad MAM sobre COVID-19

Centro Legal De La Raza Inc · 21 Spanish videos

6%

of tracked channels have any Spanish content

11

channels with Spanish videos out of 186 tracked

0

channels with Spanish as primary language

1

Policylink

🌐 Bilingual · 42 Spanish videos · 1.5K subs

42 videos

en español

2

Synapse School

🌐 Bilingual · 24 Spanish videos · 266 subs

24 videos

en español

3

Centro Legal De La Raza Inc

🌐 Bilingual · 21 Spanish videos · 48 subs

21 videos

en español

4

Compass Family Services

🌐 Bilingual · 6 Spanish videos · 125 subs

6 videos

en español

5

The Exploratorium

🌐 Bilingual · 4 Spanish videos · 62.1K subs

4 videos

en español

6

Low Income Investment Fund

🌐 Bilingual · 4 Spanish videos · 247 subs

4 videos

en español

7

Childrens Hospital & Research Center At Oakland

🌐 Bilingual · 2 Spanish videos · 5.1K subs

2 videos

en español

8

San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art

🌐 Bilingual · 1 Spanish video · 44.3K subs

1 video

en español

By Mission

Category Spotlights

Explore channels by mission area — click a category to see top performers

Mission Categories

Select a category

Click a mission category on the left to explore
top channels and videos in that area

Discover

Hidden Gems

AI-curated smaller channels making an outsized impact — one from each category

Compass Families Share Their Stories - Spring Benefit 2022
★ 3/10
Housing & Community Development
Compass Family Services
Compass Family Services
125 subs
8x viral ratio
Kiva US: Preparing Your Winning Application
★ 4/10
International Development
Kiva Microfunds
Kiva Microfunds
6.4K subs
9x viral ratio
The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy: An Unprecedented Research Collaboration
Science & Research
Parker Institute For Cancer Immunotherapy
Parker Institute For Cancer Immunotherapy
304 subs
14x viral ratio
#HomelessnessIsNotAChoice - Larkin Street Youth Services
Social Services
Larkin Street Youth Services
Larkin Street Youth Services
212 subs
9x viral ratio
How to Make a No-Contact Donation
★ 4/10
Workforce & Economic Development
Goodwill Of The San Francisco Bay
Goodwill Of The San Francisco Bay
110 subs
61x viral ratio

💎 Could your channel be a Hidden Gem?

Small channels making outsized impact get featured. See how your content scores.

Analytics

Distribution and trends across all tracked channels

Subscriber Distribution — Top 20

Engagement Rate — Top 20

Upload Frequency — Videos in Last 90 Days

Engagement Rate vs. Subscriber Count

Bubble size = total views · Log scale on subscribers · Outliers top-left = high engagement, small audience

About RiseWorks: We produce monthly video, photo, and series content for nonprofits on a flat subscription. The Benchmark is how we give back to the sector.

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included?

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Data sourced from the YouTube Data API. Last updated 8/29/2026. Rankings reflect publicly available channel statistics.