Eligibility:
- The applicant organization or fiscal sponsor must be tax-exempt and in good standing under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).
- NEW: All applicant organizations must be in good standing with the California Franchise Tax Board. To check or update your status visit:
https://webapp.ftb.ca.gov/eletter/?Submit=Check+Status
- The applicant organization must be San Francisco-based.
- The organization (and its fiscal sponsor, if applicable) must demonstrate a San Francisco corporate address. Documentation demonstrating a San Francisco corporate address must be submitted with the application. For a complete list of acceptable forms of proof of corporate address, please see the CEI application instructions.
- NEW: The applicant organization must articulate a consistent programmatic history and public benefit to the City of San Francisco, its neighborhoods and communities over the last two years (since November 2020). Please see the instructions document for further information on the San Francisco Art Activities requirement.
- The applicant organization’s mission statement must be clearly focused on the development, production, presentation and/or support of arts activities and/or youth arts activities in San Francisco.
- The applicant cannot be part of another City agency or department.
- The organization’s annual operating revenue must not exceed $1,500,000.
- Applicants must not be in default on any grants or loans from: (1) SFAC; (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, Grants for the Arts); (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 SFAC has fiduciary relationships with these particular organizations.
- The proposed project must take place in San Francisco between July 2023 – June 2025.
- 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 the San Francisco Arts Commission, the organization must become a registered, compliant supplier and meet the City of San Francisco's insurance and business tax requirements. For more information about supplier requirements, visit:
https://sfcitypartner.sfgov.org/pages/become-a-supplier.aspx. Please note: you will only be required to register as a City Supplier if you are approved for funding.
- An organization awarded a grant pursuant to this application must agree to comply with the requirements of the 38th Supplement to Mayoral Proclamation Declaring the Existence of a Local Emergency (“Emergency Declaration”), dated February 25, 2020, and the Contractor Vaccination Policy for City Contractors issued by the City Administrator (“Contractor Vaccination Policy”), as those documents may be amended from time to time.
Fiscal sponsors and arts service organizations: Organizations that exceed the $1,500,000 budget cap due to re-granting and/or non-arts related emergency COVID response funds must verify their operational budget without pass-through funds at the time of application. Applicants must upload audited financials from the most recently completed fiscal year demonstrating the dollar amount of pass-through funds.
Grant funds may not pay for:
1. Activities outside of San Francisco;
2. Deficit reduction;
3. Start-up money for new organizations;
4. Planning and development of space (see Creative Space grants for funding opportunities).
For information about fiscal sponsors, see the guidelines:
https://www.sfartscommission.org/sites/default/files/FY23%20CEI%20Guidelines%20Final_0.pdf#page=7.
Restrictions:
https://www.sfartscommission.org/sites/default/files/FY23%20CEI%20Guidelines%20Final_0.pdf#page=8.
