Arts Services grant
If you plan to fund programs or services providing capacity building for other San Francisco-based arts and culture organizations and/or artists, this may be the grant for you.
This is formerly known as Capacity Building & Regranting.
Application Deadline: Monday, June 10th at 5 PM PST
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Grant Type Definition: Arts Services
The information on this page is for Arts Services only. Visit these pages if you wish to learn about Arts Programming and Parades and Festivals.
Grants for the Arts defines Arts Services as programs or services providing capacity building for other San Francisco-based arts and culture organizations and/or artists. Areas of support include but are not limited to:
Audience development
Cultural competency and racial equity action plans
Fiscal sponsorship
Financial management and literacy
Fundraising and development
Grant writing
Laws and regulations as they apply to the arts and culture sector
Marketing and publicity
Mentorship
Nonprofit governance
Professional development
Regranting Programs (Creating, managing, and financing small grants to San Francisco-based artists and/or nonprofit arts and culture organizations, for an administrative fee not to exceed 10 percent of the grant amount).
Space/capital planning and evaluations
Strategic and business planning
Technical assistance
Please note: If primary programming takes place at San Francisco K-12 schools, GFTA recommends seeking youth development funding through the SF Department of Children, Youth and their Families and/or Community Investments funding through the SF Arts Commission.
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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.
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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.
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Grant Amounts
Visit GFTA's GOS Overview page under the section "Grant Amounts" to learn about different grant ranges and funding details.
Arts Services FY24 grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $140,000. These amounts do not reflect FY25 and FY26 grant amounts for Art Services.
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Who Can Apply
Back to topEligibility 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 applicant organization must have provided capacity building support for other San Francisco-based arts and culture organizations and/or artists for at least three (3) consecutive years at the time of application.
- The applicant organization must have a mission that is clearly focused on the development, production, presentation and/or support of arts, youth arts, and/or cultural activities in San Francisco.
- The applicant organization must be prepared to provide capacity building support for other San Francisco-based arts and culture organizations and/or artists 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
- NEW: The applicant organization must have operating revenues and expenditures of at least $150,000, not including in-kind support, in its three most recently completed fiscal years and projected for its current fiscal year and the proposed grant period.
- 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.
San Francisco Cultural Districts, San Francisco Neighborhood Cultural Centers, Community Benefit Districts, and other programs of another City agency or department may apply as fiscal sponsors for other organizations, but may not apply for their own general operating support funding. See the eligibility criteria for fiscal sponsors (above) for further details.
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:
- Activities outside of San Francisco
- Deficit reduction
- Start-up money for new organizations
- Development of space
- Capital expenses
- Meals
- Catering
- Transportation
- Lodging
- Fundraising and educational activities
Insurance Requirements
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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.
NEW: Requirements for Regranting
Regranting funds must be based on a selection process and must result in capacity building activities or resources supporting the production of a public presentation or performance in San Francisco within the grant term.
Recipients of grant funds must be San Francisco-based individual artists, nonprofit arts organizations, or fiscally-sponsored arts organizations.
For reimbursement Grantees must submit a report outlining the beneficiaries of the program and an overview of the public presentations or performances resulting from the grant.
All regranting contracts must include without limitation:
a clear description of the solicitation process and selection criteria that the organization will use to select recipients of grant funds (mini-grants);
a description of the organization’s role in monitoring the mini-grantees’ performance, including review of invoices or other documentation for deliverables;
a provision clarifying that the City is not a party to the mini-grants and is not responsible for payment to the mini-grantees.
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Evaluation Overview
Back to topAn 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)
POINTS | APPLICATION QUESTION TOPICS | SCORING CRITERIA |
15 |
| The applicant’s programs/services demonstrate: 1) Alignment with their mission; 2) Measurable impact and value to people and neighborhoods to San Francisco-based nonprofits and/or artists; 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. |
10 | 3A. & 3B. Work Samples (Optional) & Programs/Services Impact | The applicant provides meaningful capacity building support for other San Francisco-based arts and culture organizations and/or artists through the values, content, and/or mechanics of its programs/services. Panelists may also refer to Mission Statement, Core Programs and Services and Intended Communities/Audience. |
SECTION: Economic Impact of San Francisco Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations (50 points)
POINTS | APPLICATION QUESTION TOPICS | SCORING CRITERIA |
50 | 4A & 4B. FY24 &FY25 Programming and Attendance 5. 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. |
SECTION: Operational & Fiscal Accountability (15 points)
POINTS | APPLICATION QUESTION TOPICS | SCORING 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. |
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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.
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Resources
- View recording and presentation deck from Arts Services Application Workshop on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 1 PM PST.
- Join Weekly Technical Assistance Sessions to receive 1:1 support and consultation from GFTA staff.
- Review Arts Services Overview and Application Instructions. For your convenience, GFTA is providing a Word version of the Application Instructions.
- Learn more about the appeals process.
- Review a sample grant agreement. This is solely provided as a sample and is subject to change by the City.
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