San Francisco, CA – Mayor London N. Breed and the City Administrator’s Office today announced over $14 million in continued and new funding for arts and cultural organizations in San Francisco. This year, over 260 organizations received critical general operating support funding through the City’s Grants for the Arts (GFTA) program.
Founded in 1961, GFTA is the City’s program to provide general operating support grants to local arts organizations. Since its inception, GFTA has distributed over $400 million to sustain and uplift San Francisco's nonprofit arts community. Funding for GFTA is approved by the Mayor's Office and the program is overseen by the City Administrator.
“Creating events across San Francisco that are centered around arts and culture is what makes our City so special – it's what brings people from across the Bay Area and around the world to enjoy," said Mayor London Breed. "We are making significant progress in San Francisco’s economic recovery, which is why it is so important that we continue to invest and ramp up community festivals and events that are loved by so many and good for our City. And by doing so, we’re also supporting those who contribute to San Francisco’s vibrant culture.”
This year, in response to grantee feedback, GFTA for the first time implemented a two-year grant cycle to support organizations’ ability to plan ahead and reduce the amount of time organizations spend working on applications, thus freeing up resources to focus on their mission. GFTA will distribute $14 million to organizations in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, with additional funding coming in FY 2026.
This year’s grantees enliven and enrich San Francisco’s communities through a diverse array of arts programming, arts services, or parades and festivals, and stimulate the local economy through jobs and tourism. A 2021 study conducted by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute found that the City’s nonprofit arts industry generates $1.7 billion in economic output and creates or supports 36,828 full-time equivalent jobs every year.
“San Francisco Pride is a proud recipient of the first two-year awards from Grants for the Arts, which will better allow us to move forward into our 55th year with confidence,” said Suzanne Ford, Executive Director of the San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade & Celebration Committee. “The two-year granting period allows us to better plan and manage our cash flow throughout the year. Since the pandemic, these grants have been vital to ensuring that San Francisco Pride remains free. We would not be able to continue the work of bringing the diverse LGBTQ+ communities together for the iconic celebration of joy and resilience San Francisco has come to be known for without the generous support of Grants for the Arts, and Mayor London Breed.”
“Grants for the Arts' two-year funding will provide CANA with the stability and resources needed to expand our programs, reach new audiences, and invest in long-term creative cultural projects,” said Rodrigo E. Durán, Program Director of Cultura Y Arte Nativa de las Américas (CANA). “This support will empower us to amplify the voices of BIPOC artists, foster greater community engagement through the arts, and strengthen our local economy by attracting vital foot traffic and increasing business for local merchants through vibrant multicultural events.”
“The San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival & Parade is the largest celebration of the Lunar New Year outside of Asian. Hundreds of volunteers put in thousands of hours in order to execute all the special events during this three-week celebration,” said Tony Lau, Chinese New Year Festival & Parade Director at the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco. “Grants for the Arts has been a continued supporter. This grant from the GFTA helps to facilitate and materialize this annual observance of the Chinese New Year. With the funding from GFTA, we can continue this treasured San Francisco tradition and bring everyone out to celebrate the Chinese culture and art.”
“As the Gardens of Golden Gate Park continue to grow and we approach the tenth anniversary for Flower Piano at San Francisco Botanical Garden in 2025, we are so grateful for this essential funding from Grants for the Arts to support these beloved institutions for all San Franciscans, the greater Bay Area, and for our visitors from around the world,” said Brendan Lange, Director of Advancement at Gardens of Golden Gate Park.
“The Grants for the Arts / Hotel Tax Fund has been a consistent and important source of support for SFJAZZ, allowing us to continue as a global leader in jazz presentation and education,” said Greg Stern, CEO of SFJAZZ.
“This multi-year support from Grants for the Arts will provide the hundreds of artists The Lab serves annually with the security to take artistic risks without risking their livelihoods,” said Andrew C. Smith, Executive Director of The Lab SF. “Furthermore, the many partnering organizations that rely on The Lab as a home base can now plan their own seasons of programming knowing that The Lab will be a stable and reliable partner. We are enormously grateful to GFTA for their vision in helping secure a future for experimental work in San Francisco.”
“The support we’ve received from Grants for the Arts, especially in the last few difficult years, has been crucial and has enabled us to truly reflect our communities through diverse leadership,” said Angel Adeyoha, Executive Director of Folsom Street. “This funding is essential for creating a queer-centered, sex-positive, lively, and inclusive event where local LGBTQ+ artists can shine brilliantly. Our fair is a powerful platform for expression and visibility, enriching every participant's experience while promoting a culture of acceptance, all thanks to Grants for the Arts.”
“The Jerry Day Committee is ecstatic to be awarded this amazing two-year grant from Grants for the Arts and the City and County of San Francisco,” said Tom F. Murphy, Director of Friends of JGA (Jerry Garcia Amphitheater), a non-profit created to help promote and activate the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park and its neighboring business districts. “This grant acknowledgement allows us to continue to exist and grow in celebrating the legacy of Native San Franciscan and founding member of the Grateful Dead - Jerry Garcia. We are extremely honored to have this grant and want to give extra special thanks to Grants for the Arts and the City for their ongoing support of this cultural asset!"
“As the new director of GFTA, I am honored to witness San Francisco support 266 remarkable arts and cultural organizations through these new two-year grant awards,” said Kristen Jacobson, Director of GFTA “By investing in core operations, we empower organizations to focus on their artistic missions, enriching lives and driving cultural innovation in meaningful ways today and into the future. These grants help ensure the arts reflect the full richness of our city, while sustaining San Francisco as a vibrant arts and cultural hub, honoring both our heritage and the diverse voices that shape our communities.”
The complete list of GFTA’s Fiscal Year 2025 grants can be found on the Grants for the Arts website here.
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