2025 Special Project Grant

The San Francisco Arts Commission is currently accepting applications for its 2025 Special Project Grants aimed at nonprofit organizations in California. This grant program is designed to support various arts initiatives that engage youth and promote cultural equity within the San Francisco community. The total funding available for this grant is $500,000, which will be distributed across different categories of projects over a three-year period. The application deadline is set for October 9, 2024. The primary purpose of the grant is to foster youth arts programming, support arts service organizations, and enhance Asian and Pacific Islander arts and culture initiatives. The Citywide Youth Arts Program will provide up to $350,000 to arts nonprofits or fiscally sponsored entities to create socially responsive art experiences for youth aged 0 to 24. This includes managing annual showcases and events that are accessible to the public. The Citywide Arts Service Organizations category will allocate up to $50,000 to organizations that provide essential services to the San Francisco arts community, particularly those serving historically marginalized groups. Lastly, the Citywide Support for Asian and Pacific Islander Arts and Culture Programming will offer up to $230,000 to organizations with a long-standing commitment to culturally specific arts programming. Funding from the grant can be used for various purposes, including program staff salaries, production costs, community engagement activities, and administrative expenses. For the Citywide Youth Arts Program, at least 80 percent of the grant must be dedicated to youth arts programming, while the remaining 20 percent can cover overhead costs. The Citywide Arts Service Organizations funding is intended for services such as fiscal sponsorship, grant writing, and capacity building. The Asian and Pacific Islander arts funding is aimed at supporting culturally specific programming and professional development for artists. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations or fiscally sponsored entities based in San Francisco, with annual operating revenues under $2 million. Organizations must demonstrate a history of successfully managing youth arts programs or providing services to artists and organizations. Additionally, applicants must provide financial documentation, including a signed copy of their Federal Form 990 and proof of a physical San Francisco address. Organizations that do not meet these criteria, such as private foundations or for-profit entities, are not eligible to apply. The application process requires organizations to articulate their project proposals clearly, including their history of managing arts programs, community engagement strategies, and the anticipated impact of their projects. Evaluation criteria will focus on the organization’s demonstrated capacity to execute the proposed activities, the feasibility of the project timeline, and the potential for community impact. Important dates to note include the application deadline of October 9, 2024. Organizations interested in applying should prepare their materials in advance to ensure they meet all submission requirements. For further information, applicants can contact Anne Trickey at the San Francisco Arts Commission via email or phone. This grant opportunity represents a significant chance for nonprofit organizations in San Francisco to secure funding for impactful arts initiatives that benefit the community.