Ask not what San Francisco can do for you — ask what you can do for San Francisco.

This twist on the famous JFK quote neatly describes a push to spark ingenuity for public gain in one of California’s great cities. 

Through an initiative called Boundless San Francisco, a billionaire-backed foundation will pay up to three innovators up to $50 million apiece to improve life by the Bay.

Nice idea.

It’s great to see a call for civic-minded change directed not at City Hall and beleaguered taxpayers, but at private-sector groups and academics in a position to develop viable plans for innovation.

Too often, people think government is the only “answer” — or that it’s a savior.

Not true.

And sometimes, quite the opposite. (As Ronald Reagan famously quipped, ”The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”)

In the case of San Francisco, competition organizers want ambitious plans with strong prospects for enduring success.

Good. San Francisco is a hub of high-tech wonder. Plans for civic betterment should likewise be grand, dynamic and cutting-edge.

It’s also on the upswing. Mayor Daniel Lurie, elected in 2024, has helped steer the city toward more moderate, pro-business, common-sense policies that have begun to make San Francisco a beacon once again.

Boundless San Francisco can complement, and build on, that success.

The competition is open to eligible organizations, such as nonprofits, businesses and universities, worldwide. Entries might focus on ways to enhance the city in areas such as housing, transportation, crime prevention or homelessness.

The general approach seems auspicious. Ditto the premise of competitive merit. And we love the call to civic-minded purpose. 

Times have changed since President Kennedy called for public service over personal gain in his 1961 inaugural address. 

Let San Francisco, and the rest of us, restore that spirit now.