REPORT

General Operating Support Grant - Parades & Festivals

Chinese new year parade dancers

Parades & Festivals grant

If you plan to fund art and cultural experiences in the form of parades and/or festivals in San Francisco public spaces that have free admission and are open the public, this may be the grant for you. Application Deadline: Monday, June 10th at 5 PM PSTApply

Grant Type Definition: Parades and Festivals

The information on this page is for Parades and Festivals only. Visit these pages if you wish to learn about Arts Programming and Arts Services.

Grants for the Arts defines Parades and Festivals as art and cultural experiences in the form of parades and/or festivals in San Francisco public spaces that have free admission and are open to the public. Focus areas can include celebrating:

  • cultural heritage
  • a community, a neighborhood, or a shared cultural interest.

FY25 & FY26 GOS Timeline

Review Grants for the Arts' FY25 & FY26 GOS Timeline. Please note that dates are subject to change. Visit GFTA website for latest information.

How to Apply

Application Deadline: Friday, June 7, 2024 at 12 NOON PST

Please review these Application Instructions for detailed information about how to apply.

If you need special accommodations, contact the GFTA Program Team at gfta-program@sfgov.org at least 2 weeks before the application deadline in order for us to appropriately accommodate your needs.

Grant Amounts

Visit GFTA's GOS Overview page under the section "Grant Amounts" to learn about different grant ranges and funding details.

Median FY24 Grant Amounts: Parades & Festivals
Organization's Budget ClassificationMedian FY24 Grant Amount

First-time GFTA grantees and previous grantees whose application did not score high enough to receive an award for the last application, regardless of budget classification.

$10,000

Mini ($500,000 and below)

$44,000

Small ($500,000 - $999,000)

$70,000

Mid ($1M - $4.9M)

$295,000

Large ($5M - $15M)

$300,000

Mega ($15M+)

n/a - no orgs in this classification

Who Can Apply

Eligibility Criteria for Organizations

Corporate & Governance

  • The applicant organization must be a nonprofit 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) organization and in good standing with the IRS under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Visit the IRS website to check or update your status.
  • If the applicant organization is not a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6), they may use a fiscal sponsor, but the fiscal sponsor must apply on the applicant organization’s behalf.
    • NEW: See the section below titled Eligibility Criteria for Fiscal Sponsors.
  • The applicant organization must be San Francisco-based.
    • For non-fiscally sponsored applicant organizations only: The organization must demonstrate a San Francisco corporate address.
    • For non-fiscally sponsored applicant organizations only: Documentation demonstrating verifiable proof of a San Francisco corporate address must be submitted with the application. This may be in the form of a utilities bill (water/sewage, power/gas/electricity or internet), telephone/cell phone bill, bank or credit card statement, signed lease agreement or mortgage statement. Documents should be no more than three (3) months old and must include the applicant organization’s name.

Mission and Program

  • NEW: The applicants must have presented art and cultural experiences in the form of parades and/or festivals in San Francisco public spaces that had free admission and were open to the public in San Francisco for at least three (3) consecutive years at the time of application.
  • The applicant organization must be prepared to present at least one annual art and/or cultural experience in the form of a parade or festival in a San Francisco public space between July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026, as demonstrated in their application’s Grant Plan.
    • NEW: The applicant’s proposed activities in their Grant Plan must align with the parameters of the Grant Type definition for which they are applying.

Finance & Grant History

  • The applicant organization must have received non-GFTA sources of funding during the last fiscal year (July 1 2023 – June 30, 2024).
  • For non-fiscally sponsored applicant organizations only: The applicant organization must be in good standing with the California Franchise Tax Board. Visit the FTB website to check or update your status.
  • For non-fiscally sponsored applicant organizations only: The applicant organization must be in good standing with the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts. Visit the Office of Attorney General website to check or update your status.
    • To receive a grant under this solicitation, any nonprofit applicant must be in good standing with the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts by the time of grant execution and must remain in good standing during the term of the agreement.
    • Upon request, the applicant must provide documentation to the City demonstrating its good standing with applicable legal requirements.
  • For non-fiscally sponsored applicant organizations only: The applicant organization must be in good standing with the California Secretary of State. Visit the CA Secretary of State website to check or update your status.
  • For non-fiscally sponsored applicant organizations only: The organization must be willing and able to meet the requirements associated with receiving funds from the City and County of San Francisco. In order to receive a grant payment from Grants for the Arts, the organization must become a registered, compliant supplier and meet the City of San Francisco's insurance and business tax requirements. Visit the San Francisco City Partner website to learn more.
    • Please note: you will only be required to register as a City Supplier if you are approved for funding.
  • Applicants must not be in default on any grants or loans from: (1) Grants for the Arts; (2) other City departments (including but not limited to the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, San Francisco Arts Commission); (3) Northern California Grantmakers Arts Loan Fund; (4) Community Vision Capital and Consulting; (5) Community Arts Stabilization Trust; and/or (6) the Center for Cultural Innovation. This default clause was expanded due to the fact that GFTA has fiduciary relationships with these particular organizations.

NEW: Eligibility Criteria for Fiscal Sponsors

Corporate & Governance

  • The Fiscal Sponsor organization must be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and in good standing with the IRS under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Visit the IRS website to check or update your status.
  • Organizations may not act as a fiscal sponsor for employees or artists contracted by that organization; a third-party fiscal sponsor is required.
  • If an applicant is approved for funding, the Fiscal Sponsor organization is the legal grantee and receives the funds on behalf of the applicant who is the subgrantee.
  • The Fiscal Sponsor organization must be San Francisco-based.
    • The Fiscal Sponsor organization must demonstrate a San Francisco corporate address.
    • Documentation demonstrating verifiable proof of a San Francisco corporate address must be submitted with the application. This may be in the form of a utilities bill (water/sewage, power/gas/electricity or internet), telephone/cell phone bill, bank or credit card statement, signed lease agreement or mortgage statement. Documents should be no more than three (3) months old and must include the applicant organization’s name.

Finance & Grant History

  • The Fiscal Sponsor organization must be in good standing with the California Franchise Tax Board. Visit the FTB website to check or update your status.
  • The Fiscal Sponsor organization must be in good standing with the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts. Visit the Office of Attorney General website to check or update your status.
    • To receive a grant under this solicitation, any nonprofit applicant must be in good standing with the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts by the time of grant execution and must remain in good standing during the term of the agreement.
    • Upon request, the applicant must provide documentation to the City demonstrating its good standing with applicable legal requirements.
  • The Fiscal Sponsor organization must be in good standing with the California Secretary of State. Visit the CA Secretary of State website to check or update your status.
  • The Fiscal Sponsor must be willing and able to meet the requirements associated with receiving funds from the City and County of San Francisco. In order to receive a grant payment from Grants for the Arts, the organization must become a registered, compliant supplier and meet the City of San Francisco's insurance and business tax requirements. Visit the San Francisco City Partner website to learn more.
    • Please note: you will only be required to register as a City Supplier if you are approved for funding.
  • The Fiscal Sponsor must not be in default on any grants or loans from: (1) Grants for the Arts; (2) other City departments (including but not limited to the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, San Francisco Arts Commission); (3) Northern California Grantmakers Arts Loan Fund; (4) Community Vision Capital and Consulting; (5) Community Arts Stabilization Trust; and/or (6) the Center for Cultural Innovation. This default clause was expanded due to the fact that GFTA has fiduciary relationships with these particular organizations.

NEW: Applicant Restrictions

Only one application may be submitted to Grants for the Arts for FY25 and FY26 GOS funding. Please be sure to submit your application for the grant type that best fits your organization’s activities.
  • The applicant organization must not be a governmental entity.
  • Grant funding does not imply that Grants for the Arts or any other City agency will produce, exhibit, promote or present the art created. It is the responsibility of the applicant organization to secure venues, insurance and any permits for public presentations.

Expense Restrictions

Grant funds cannot be used to pay for:

  1. Activities outside of San Francisco
  2. Deficit reduction
  3. Start-up money for new organizations
  4. Development of space
  5. Capital expenses
  6. Meals
  7. Catering
  8. Transportation
  9. Lodging
  10. Fundraising and educational activities

Insurance Requirements

SF City Hall with blue sky and flags

Please note: Insurance is NOT required to submit an application; you will be required to provide insurance if your application is approved for funding. Below are the insurance requirements for all grantees.

  • General Liability or Special Event Insurance: Coverage with limits not less than $1,000,000 each occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate for Bodily Injury and Property Damage, including Contractual Liability, Personal Injury, Products and Completed Operations and if working with vulnerable populations (minors under 18 years old, elderly over 65 years old, disabled or dependent adults) policy must include Abuse and Molestation coverage.
    • CERTIFICATE HOLDER must read “The City & County of San Francisco, 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102.”
  • Commercial Automobile Liability Insurance (if applicable): Coverage with limits not less than one million dollars $1,000,000 each occurrence for Combined Single Limit for Bodily Injury and Property Damage, including Owned, Non-Owned and Hired auto coverage.
  • Worker’s Compensation Insurance: Coverage is required for all organizations that have salaried employees; in statutory amounts, with Employers’ Liability limits not less than $1,000,000 each accident, injury, or illness.
    • Worker’s Compensation Insurance is a California State law.
  • A Waiver of Subrogation must be added to the worker’s compensation insurance, if any work that the grant is funding happens on City-owned or managed property.

Additional Requirements for General and Automobile Coverage

Commercial General Liability and Commercial Automobile Liability insurance policies shall:

  • Name as additional insured City and County of San Francisco, its officers, agents and employees.
  • Provide that such policies are primary insurance to any other insurance available to the Additional Insureds, with respect to any claims arising out of this Agreement, and that insurance applies separately to each insured against whom claim is made or suit is brought, except with respect to limits of liability.

San Francisco Pride Parade

Evaluation Overview

An application must score a minimum of 75 points in order to be eligible for a grant award.

Scoring Criteria

Grant review committee members will use the below scoring criteria. Review the table below to ensure your application responses are relevant and necessary. The application instructions provide complete guidance including an overview of the grant application questions and required uploads.

SECTION: San Francisco Community Impact (35 points)
POINTSAPPLICATION QUESTION TOPICSSCORING CRITERIA

25

1. Mission Alignment

The applicant’s programs/services demonstrate:
1. Alignment with their mission;
2. Measurable impact and value to people and neighborhoods of San Francisco;
3. A significant effort to serve historically underserved people and neighborhoods in San Francisco. Panelists may also refer to Mission Statement, Core Programs and Services and Intended Communities/Audience.

10

2. Creative Partnerships

The applicant:
1. Has an array of San Francisco creative partnerships, including (but not limited to): artists, creators, artistic or cultural institutions, organizations, businesses, neighborhood or merchant associations, or SFUSD school(s) and;
2. the depth and duration of these partnerships reflects a commitment to collaboration in San Francisco.

SECTION: Economic Impact of San Francisco Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations (50 points) 
POINTSAPPLICATION QUESTION TOPICSSCORING CRITERIA

25

3A. & 3B.
FY24 &FY25 Programming and Attendance

4. Creating Jobs

The applicant demonstrates economic investment in San Francisco through robust, diverse programming, evidence of well-attended events, and regular efforts to create and retain jobs given the organization’s number of FTEs, budget size, and grant type.

25

5. Neighborhood Activation

The applicant demonstrates strong partnerships, collaborations, strategies, and/or marketing and promotional efforts to economically activate the neighborhood(s) and/or SF commercial corridors where the organization’s in-person programs/services occur.

SECTION: Operational & Fiscal Accountability (15 points) 
POINTSAPPLICATION QUESTION TOPICSSCORING CRITERIA

5

6. Fiduciary Oversight

The applicant demonstrates that it has dedicated staff, board, and appropriate third-party entities (e.g. bookkeeper, auditor, etc.) that oversee and manage its financial health, given the organization’s budget size.

10

7A. Budget Snapshot
7B. Budget Narrative (optional)

The applicant’s financial information demonstrates a strong commitment to multiple, diverse income streams and no significant financial changes from organization’s previous fiscal year; any significant financial changes are supported with programmatic cause in alignment with the organization’s mission and vision.

GFTA Reserves the Right to

  • Reissue this GOS Grant Overview and the Application Instructions;
  • Reject or cancel this GOS Grant Overview and the Application Instructions in whole or in part at any time before a Grant Agreement is entered into;
  • Prior to the application deadline, modify all or any portion of the selection procedures, including deadlines for accepting responses, the specifications or requirements for any services to be provided under these grant guidelines, or the requirements for content or format of the applications;
  • Request additional information or documentation from any applicant or applicants after an application submission.

Resources

Partner agencies

Grants for the Arts