2025 Year in Review
financial overviewAs we entered into our season of “flourishing” as a church, we centered ourselves on the reason for all we do—all the practices, all the rhythms, all the traditions—to be in the presence of Jesus. To meet with Him, to truly know Him, and to love and behold Him through experience and encounter.
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy…And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
– Letter to the Church in Colossae, Colossians 1:15-18; 2:15-17
Hosting Jesus
From the beginnings of our church, all that we do is for the intention of being in the presence of Jesus. This year, we wanted to reestablish and reacquaint ourselves with this desire by making more space, both physically and spiritually, for our community to press into relationship with Jesus.
Sunday Teachings
On Sundays, we immersed ourselves in Jesus’ identity and essence, His words and teachings, His actions and choices, His motivations and desires, and His presence and power.
Sunday Changes
We also made more physical space for response through Sanctuary updates, including lighting and new seating, as well as the return of our beloved night service!
Learning to Behold Jesus
Throughout the year, as we made space for Jesus to move, we sought to return to a posture of beholding Him, not out of obligation or ritual, but from a genuine desire to encounter Him. As Scripture reminds us, all these things – the goals, rhythms, and practices in life – are simply shadows, not the end in and of themselves. The reality, however, is found in Christ.
Dwell
Dwell nights were a beautiful time for our community to “dwell” in the presence of Jesus. We gathered to worship through music, to listen for the Spirit’s prompting, and to pray corporately for our church, city, and world.
Leader Nights
To care for and strengthen our leaders, we hosted quarterly Leader Nights designed to create space not just for equipping, but for encounter. These nights offered a unique opportunity for rest and renewal—allowing our leaders, who continually pour out for our church, to be ministered to and poured into by Jesus.
Proclaiming Jesus
This year, we sought to become more like Jesus—marked by humility, love, sacrifice, and servanthood—and to reflect His heart through a posture of “Gospel hospitality.” As we made space for our neighbors, we aimed to hold both invitation and care together, creating room for curiosity, compassion, and tangible expressions of Christ’s love in our city.
Easter at the Opera House
This year marked our return to the Opera House for Easter Sunday! This has been one of our greatest opportunities for outreach and invitation, creating space for our church to welcome those who may not know Jesus to join us in proclaiming His resurrection in the heart of our city!
Food Pantry
Our weekly Food Pantry continued to serve as a vital point of connection with our neighborhood, providing practical support to around 320 households each week. Through the faithful presence of our volunteers, it has become an essential space of welcome, relationship, and care for families in our community.
Carols & Beer
Our third annual Carols & Beer welcomed our largest crowd yet as we gathered to sing carols, celebrate the season, and share in the joy of Christmas together. The evening created a unique opportunity for our congregation to invite friends, family, and co-workers into a space free from the usual religious barriers—opening the door for natural, everyday conversations about God.
Alpha
In both the spring and fall, we hosted Alpha as a welcoming space for those curious about Jesus to explore faith through honest, judgment-free conversation. Our Community Groups also journeyed through the course together as a formational practice, helping integrate invitation more deeply into our culture and shaping how we share faith, live out our Rule of Life, and grow more confident in inviting others to encounter Jesus.
Neighborhood Brunches
This year, we expanded our Neighborhood Brunches, creating more opportunities for older adults from our church and neighborhood to gather around a meal and build meaningful connections. These quarterly occasions became a welcoming space—especially for those who participate in our weekly food pantry—where volunteers extended kindness and hospitality, fostering friendships with our neighbors.
Drop-in Center
Due to much-needed improvements at Buena Vista Horace Mann, our Thursday morning Drop-in Center concluded after a year and a half of serving families in the Stay Over Program. We were blessed to host these families, providing a safe and hospitable environment for them to rest and enjoy a warm meal before work and school began.
The Year at a Glance
1,665 Attendees Worshiped with Us Every Sunday in Person & Online
Over 500 people from our Church & Neighborhood Attended our Harvest Festival
More than 862 Congregants Practiced in Community Groups
288 New Volunteers Stepped into Serving
46 Children were Dedicated to the Lord
43 Members of our Community were Baptized
460 People Joined Us to Spread Christmas Cheer
212 Newcomers Joined Welcome to Reality
90 Kids Learned & Played at Vacation Bible School
3,103 People Celebrated Easter with Us at the Opera House
24 Middle & High School Students Grew Closer to Jesus & Each Other During a Week at Camp
8 Members of Our Music Ministry Wrote & Performed on Our Latest EP “All Things New”
Our Food Pantry Distributed Over 16,000 Bags of Groceries to Our Food Insecure Neighbors
288 Kids & 100 Volunteers Celebrated Easter with Us at the SF Ballet
Our Outreach Team Served Over 900 Meals to Unhoused Families & Local Neighbors
Sharing Our Resources
2025 Financial Overview
Our church continues to be shaped by a shared commitment to live with open hands and free hearts before God. We are deeply grateful for the sacrificial generosity of this community, which allows us to invest meaningfully in our neighborhood and throughout the city.
Thank you for your faithful support of Reality’s mission and vision. Because of your generosity, we were able to direct nearly $1 million this year—approximately 11% of total giving— toward Benevolence, Justice & Outreach initiatives, missionaries, church plants, and trusted ministry partners. These investments extend care, compassion, and the presence of the Gospel beyond the walls of Reality, creating tangible impact across San Francisco and beyond.
Our committees, composed of dozens of incredibly gifted congregants who excel in their respective professions, and provide expert guidance, counsel, and recommendations to the Executive Leadership Team, Elders, and Board of Trustees. They advise on key projects ranging from Fiscal Planning, Stewardship, Architecture & Design, and Organizational Health, helping ensure wise stewardship, thoughtful decision-making, and long-term ministry impact.
Your generosity continues to empower us to live out our mission each day. Through God’s provision and your steadfast support, we are laying a strong foundation for future initiatives and expanding our reach in the city we love. We look ahead with gratitude and anticipation for how God will continue to use this community to bring His kingdom to San Francisco, on earth as it is in heaven.
2025 General Giving: $8,108,266
Additional Income: $84,199
Total Giving: $8,192,465
*Additional income includes revenue from courses, conferences, and venue rentals that help cover costs.
Total Ministry Expenses: $2,698,084 (33%)
Internal Ministry: $1,757,492 (22%)
*Ministry Expenses include, but are not limited to: Children, Youth, Care & Compassion, Alpha, Community & Formation, Classes, Creative & Music and more.
Compassion: $900,592 (11%)
*Compassion expenses include, Justice & Outreach, care for those in need through Benevolence, Church Planting, and revitalization efforts.
Personnel: $4,228,618 (54%)
*Personnel Expenses include, but are not limited to: Wages, salaries, and payroll taxes for all staff, benefits and contracted services.
Facilities & Operating Expenses: $1,064,737 (13%)
*Facilities & Operating Expenses include, but are not limited to: Mortgage, building and property maintenance, utilities, insurance, office equipment, supplies, etc.
Mortgage Balance: $10,368,782
We are deeply grateful for the progress God has allowed us to make in reducing our mortgage since 2021. Over the past year, through your generosity, we paid down $414,061 in principal as of December 31, 2025, and set aside an additional $100,000 for our debt paydown reserve, which now exceeds $600k. These totals reflect the remaining balance from the original purchase of our building. We look forward to the day when this loan is fully retired, allowing even more of our resources to be directed toward ministry and compassion efforts.
2026 Board Approved Budget: $7.4M
Reality SF is a certified member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). ECFA certification is based on Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship, including financial accountability, transparency, sound board governance and ethical fundraising. When an organization is certified by ECFA, it demonstrates its willingness to follow the model of biblical accountability. View our ECFA press release.
Reality SF has earned Candid’s Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition for nonprofit accountability and openness. This designation reflects our commitment to financial integrity, clear reporting, and responsible stewardship of the resources entrusted to us.
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To learn more about our ECFA certification, 2023 CPA-audited financial statements, and our approach to generosity and financial accountability, please visit our giving page.
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