Grants for the Arts Funding Guidelines

Funding Guidelines Funding Allocations Nonrecurring Events Fund Voluntary Arts Contribution Fund

Funding Guidelines

Here you will find our eligibility guidelines, funding criteria and limitations, and grant amounts. In addition, click to access the following information:Funding Process and Timeline and Other Funding Opportunities

Eligibility Guidelines

Applicant must:

Have a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status or use a valid nonprofit fiscal sponsor.
Not be the primary responsibility of a government agency.
Be governed by a legally constituted, fiscally responsible board of directors.
Have at least a two-year history of continuous stable programming in San Francisco.
Demonstrate commitment to affirmative action in its employment practices.
Reside and produce activities in the City and County of San Francisco.

Funding Criteria

Grants are awarded in three categories: Performing, Visual, Media and Literary Arts; Annual Celebrations/Parades; and Tourist-Support Services.

Applicants should:

Have as a primary purpose either: the public performance or display of art works; or the preservation of the cultural identity of the City's various populations; or the production of consistent, year-round arts and cultural promotional activities.
Produce a dependable event/season of activities, planned and publicized in advance to the general public, including visitors.
Consistently produce high-quality work.
Reach a broad and definable audience, and produce accurate records of patronage/clientele.
Utilize San Francisco artists and staff whenever possible.
Serve a local constituency and demonstrate community support.
Demonstrate outside sources of funding - e.g., corporations, foundations, donors, NEA, CAC.
Maintain a percentage of earned revenue appropriate to the activity and its budget.
Demonstrate sound administrative and fiscal management.
Be accessible to the public and attract visitors to San Francisco.

In addition, Annual Celebrations/Parades must comply with all applicable municipal ordinances, demonstrate adequate security and liability coverage, and not have as a primary purpose fundraising or the advocacy of specific political causes or candidates.

Grant Amount

In general, Grants for the Arts/San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund has a goal of providing general operating funding based on a flexible and proportional percent of annual expense budgets, ranging from at least 15% of the expense budgets of small organizations to approximately 2.5% of the expense budgets of the largest groups. Funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis after submission of appropriate documentation.

Funding Limitations

In general, GFTA does not fund:

Education and training activities, or performing activities for/by students.
Organizations whose primary purpose is to provide space, technical assistance or support services to the arts.
Start-up money for a program not yet established.
Individual artists.
Activities not available to the general public.
Activities taking place outside of San Francisco.
Benefits or fundraisers.
Film/Video production.

Flyaway Productions

San Francisco
Contemporary Music Players

Melody of China

Reimbursement Guidelines

Forms

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