In the Community
For fifteen years, Ryan has worked at the intersection of children, families, education, and community in San Francisco as a nonprofit leader, a civic appointee, a board member, and an advocate.
Civic Leadership
Chair, SF Childcare Planning & Advisory Council (CPAC), a SFUSD Appointment · 2023 to Present
CPAC is the city's primary advisory body on childcare policy for children ages 0-12, established under both state and local law. Ryan serves as Chair and co-chairs the Legislation and Policy Committee.
In this role he has led advocacy for preschool funding making many more middle class families in SF eligible for childcare subsidies. He fights to support family childcare providers facing displacement from TK expansion, and represents San Francisco families at the intersection of childcare access and public school readiness.
Ryan brought CPAC's voice to the SF Chamber of Commerce to build bridges between the business sector and childcare, while also having a consistent presence in City Hall budget fights on behalf of our city's child serving workforce, our youngest children and their families.
Vice Chair, DCYF Oversight and Advisory Committee, Mayoral Appointment · 2025 to 2026
Appointed by Mayor Lurie to the oversight body responsible for evaluating the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families which oversees over $300 million annually in investments in San Francisco children and families. As Vice Chair, Ryan participated in oversight of DCYF's budget, program evaluation, and director accountability. He stepped down after becoming a candidate for the SFUSD Board of Education as required by city law.
Ryan has advocated to protect our city’s funding baselines for children & youth services to ensure there is always secured funding to support children, youth, and families, and a living wage for those who serve them.
Member, SF Children and Youth Fund Service Providers Working Group 2023 to 2025
Ryan served on the working group advising on the Children and Youth Fund's service provider ecosystem, the network of community organizations delivering programs to San Francisco's children and families.
Professional Experience
Executive Director, Mariposa Kids in San Francisco · 2021 to Present
Ryan leads Mariposa Kids, a play-based after-school and summer program serving over 200 children and families each year across two San Francisco clubhouses — the Mission District and Bernal Heights. Under his leadership, Mariposa Kids expanded from one to two sites, increasing community impact by 50%, serving students from SFUSD schools that include Flynn & Huerta Elementary Schools.
He built a coalition of 12 organizations and philanthropic partners to raise $6.5 million over three years for summer programming, ensuring that low and middle income families have access to quality summer enrichment regardless of income. Mariposa Kids operates on a sliding-scale fee model to increase access. In 2025, Mariposa Kids launched a free morning toddler program to provide safe indoor spaces for children ages 1-5 to play.
San Francisco Nonprofits Announce $1.5M Grant for Summer Collaborative Serving 2,500+ Youth
Senior Philanthropy Officer, Safe & Sound in San Francisco · 2016 to 2020
Led individual and major giving programs raising over $1.5M annually, and managed the organization's flagship annual luncheon.
Launched Safe & Sound's annual participation in SF Pride to expand the organization's reach to LGBTQ+ identifying children and families.
Served on the steering committee for the organization's employee engagement group and partook in implementation of the San Francisco Department of Health's trauma-informed systems initiative.
Annual Fund Manager, Holy Family Day Home in San Francisco · 2011 to 2016
Managed the annual fund and grant program, raising over $300,000 annually and led event planning for the annual gala .
Worked with program and clinical teams to develop and fund the school's new Mental Health Program, building budgets, identifying funding, and reporting on outcomes.
Expanded parent involvement through the Parent Action Committee and built a Young Professionals Leadership Board to strengthen the org’s community presence.
BOARD SERVICE & COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
18 Reasons · Board Member · 2024 to Present
18 Reasons is a San Francisco nonprofit that uses food as a vehicle for community building and education.
Ryan sat on the Governance Committee Member and chaired the Audit Committee leading projects to update bylaws and policies to ensure sound governance for the organization’s present and future.
Tandem, Partners in Early Learning · Emeritus Board Member (honorary)
Tandem strengthens the quality of early learning and early literacy for children from birth through age five in the Bay Area.
Ryan served on the Board from 2017 to 2022 and became an Emeritus member after serving as Chair and Vice Chair of the Board. Ryan also chaired the Development Committee from 2017 to 2021, supporting annual fundraising strategy and event planning and sat on the Governance and the Strategic Planning Committees where he updated bylaws and policies to guide the future of the organization’s governance.
Safe & Sound - Board Member · 2025
Ryan served on the Board as a member of the Finance Committee and Development Committee. He had to resign this role to join the DCYF Oversight and Advisory Committee due to conflict of interests.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & NEWS COVERAGE
Leadership Development
Bridging the Bay: Igniting Leaders of Change Class of 2026 · Coro California & Generation Thrive (Kaiser & Golden State Foundation)
Leadership San Francisco Class of 2023 · SF Chamber of Commerce Foundation
New Leaders Council Class of 2019 · National political leadership program
In the News
SF Chronicle: Mayor Lurie rolls out new affordability push. Here's his first move.
Ryan comments on San Francisco's expanded childcare eligibility under Mayor Lurie's affordability initiative.
SF Examiner: 'There's no excuse': Child-care advocates urge SF to release $500M
Ryan speaks on behalf of childcare advocates pushing the City to release voter-approved Prop C funding for families.
Hoodline: Mayor Lurie Bolsters San Francisco Commissions with Diverse Experts and Community Leaders
Ryan's mayoral appointment to the DCYF Oversight and Advisory Committee.
Mission Local: SF budget cuts put kids' summer programs on the chopping block
Mariposa Kids and the fight to protect summer programming during San Francisco's budget crisis.
EdSource: Transitional kindergarten expansion needs wraparound programs to ensure access, quality
Ryan on why TK expansion requires investment in afterschool and early childhood wraparound services to work for families.