The Nonrecurring Events Fund (formerly known as the Promotion Fund) was developed to provide funding for San Francisco arts organizations not currently on the GFTA docket, to promote one-time only extraordinary programming opportunities such as first-time festivals and celebrations, major anniversaries, promotion of a new venue, or a significant program that may provide an unusual boost to the organization.

Funds are earmarked for partial subsidy of exceptional promotional costs related to publicity plans, consultants, materials and paid advertisements. Preference is given to those nonprofit organizations not currently receiving GFTA support through the regular funding cycle and to collaborative projects that benefit a number of groups. Examples include the Sesquicentennial of the California Gold Rush, the first Afro-Solo Festival and the launching of the half-price ticket booth at Union Square.

GFTA does not fund events designed as benefits or fund-raisers, national day celebrations nor organizations/projects that are the sole responsibility of a government agency. For organizations not currently receiving general operating support, funding is limited to once in any two consecutive fiscal years. Thus, organizations that are not current GFTA grantees must wait one year before applying for general operating support if an NREF grant is awarded. Any consideration of funding requests is subject to the availability of funds.

Proposals are accepted three times a year subject to the following deadlines:

Sept 15 for events scheduled for the following January or later
Jan 15 for events scheduled for the following May or later
May 15 for events scheduled for the following September or later

Grants range up to a maximum of $10,000. Grant awards will not exceed 25% of the project budget.

All proposals are subject to the following criteria:

• Applicant is not a current GFTA grantee;
• If a current GFTA grantee, requests are only considered for (1) a collaboration of agencies that offers a significant departure from regular programming benefiting all participants or (2) the celebration of a significant anniversary*;
• Request must be for one-time only (nonrecurring) events;
• Organization must be a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) or use a valid fiscal sponsor;
• Organization must be based in San Francisco;
• Project will have substantial audience impact;
• Organization must demonstrate capacity to undertake planned project.
  

To download these guidelines and the application coversheet, click here. (On a PC, right click and "save as" to save to your hard drive. On a Mac, ctrl + mouse click to save to your desktop.)

*Significant anniversaries are defined as any multiple of 10 or 25.