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San Francisco Standard
By Jonah Owen Lamb
Senior Reporter
Updated Apr 2, 2026

A once-renowned figure in San Francisco’s Black community, Davis oversaw the distribution of tens of millions of tax dollars and was arrested on a slew of govt corruption charges including 17 felonies.

Her co-defendant, James Spingola of the nonprofit “Collective Impact,” has been charged with four counts of felony aiding and abetting a conflict of interest in a government contract.

The charges against Davis stem from her involvement in the black-based Dream Keeper Initiative — a signature program of former black Mayor London Breed that was managed by the Human Rights Commission that investigates “discrimination” complaints, advises the city leadership on civil rights issues, and works to ensure equal access to city services and contracting. It was merged, along with another scandal-ridden agency, the Department on the Status of Women, into the “Agency on Human Rights.”

Prosecutors allege Davis sent nearly $8.5 million in Dream Keeper tax dollars grants — and other city funds — to Collective Impact despite clear conflicts of interest,
<><>she and Spingola lived together.
<><>Davis’ son reaped benefits from entities that received Dream Keeper tax funds.
<><>Davis signed contracts for millions of tax dollars to the nonprofit Homeless Children’s Network,
<><>she paid her son more than $140,000 as a “contractor” between 2021 and 2024.
<><>payments were for questionable work
<><>tax funds were deposited into a bank account held jointly by Davis and her son.
<><>Collective Impact also paid $45,000 on payroll, rent, and graduate school tuition for Davis’ son.
<><>Davis used a combination of city and Collective Impact tax funds to pay for personal expenses,
<><>including a PR firm promoting her personal brand, marketing her children’s book,
<><>flight upgrades
<><>100’s of 1000’s of tax dollars on VIP admissions
<><>she attended elite Beverly Hills, Martha’s Vineyard, and NYC events.
<><>She also directed spending through an entity called Megablack,
<><>Megablack has no formal nonprofit status, no leadership structure, and no state registration.
<><>Funds raised for Megablack flowed into her Collective Impact’s bank accounts,
<><>Davis used tax dollars to fund activities a city agency is not permitted to make,
<><>including paying for musicians, banquets, and a wine-tasting.

Davis’ tenure at the Human Rights Commission, 2016-2024 reportedly signed off on city contracts worth at least $1.5 million to Spingola while the two were living together. The revelations created a scandal for Black Mayor Breed, who was in the middle of a reelection bid and said she was aware of the “very close” relationship between Davis and Spingola.

The investigation involved more than 50 search warrants and a large volume of emails between Davis and third parties. Jenkins said her office received tips through its Public Integrity Unit.

Davis’ arrest followed charges levied against other key figures in the San Francisco nonprofit world. Gwendolyn Westbrook, the former black head of a “homeless services nonprofit,” was accused in February of misappropriating more than $1.2 million in public funds.

In 2024, another former black nonprofit executive, Kyra Worthy, was charged with 34 felonies for the alleged misuse of $700,000 in public funds.