[3] The SFAF was established in April 1982[4] as the Kaposi's Sarcoma Research and Education Foundation, by Cleve Jones,[5] Marcus Conant, Frank Jacobson, and Richard Keller.

Due to the heavily heterosexual advertising and a lack of scientific support, many gay men did not view condoms as useful for their sexual health.

In 1987, one of the advertising designers for SFAF, Les Pappas, urged condom companies and public health officials to include gay men in their target audience.

In particular the Foundation emphasized the use of condoms during anal intercourse for gay men, and cautioned against activities that shared bodily fluid.

The SFAF also runs services designed to help with substance abuse such as the Stonewall Project and social support programs aimed at the homeless and people over fifty.

[16] Congressperson Nancy Pelosi gave tribute to SFAF in October 2004, praising then-executive director Pat Christen.

[19] The 50-Plus Network, developed by Jeff Leiphart, PhD, and Noah Briones, MFT, and currently managed by Vince Crisostomo, offers a growing number of opportunities for older gay men in the San Francisco area to improve health and well-being, connect with peers, and give back to their community.