Small Arts Grants

The Fleishhacker Foundation’s Small Arts Grants program is a private funding initiative aimed at supporting small and mid-sized arts and culture organizations, as well as filmmakers, based in San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties. With a focus on general operating support and post-production film funding, the program reflects the Foundation's commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive arts ecosystem in the Bay Area. The program is designed to sustain innovative work and promote access, diversity, and representation in the arts by prioritizing support for organizations that represent and engage historically marginalized groups and under-resourced communities. The Small Arts Grants program offers flexible, unrestricted support to arts nonprofits and fiscally sponsored groups whose budgets fall within defined limits. Eligible organizations must have an annual expense budget between $100,000 and $499,999, while fiscally sponsored groups may have budgets under $500,000, provided their sponsor’s budget exceeds $100,000. The Foundation also funds film projects in the post-production phase with total budgets under $750,000, led by filmmakers residing in the three eligible counties. Funding is intended for organizations that create and present new work in disciplines such as dance, music, theater, visual arts, interdisciplinary arts, and film. This grant does not support project-specific proposals outside of film post-production and prioritizes flexible use of funds. General support may be allocated to operations, artist compensation, facilities, and programming. Applicants must demonstrate a minimum three-year presence in the Bay Area arts scene, a commitment to compensating artists, and strong board and community backing. The program does not consider applications from individual artists, film students, organizations primarily focused on youth education, historical works, or those not producing original work. The Foundation accepts applications twice annually, with deadlines typically falling on January 15 and July 15 for the spring and fall cycles, respectively. The next open application period for the spring 2026 cycle will begin in November 2025, with proposals due by January 15, 2026. Applications must be submitted through the Foundation's online portal, which includes a streamlined Common Application for the Arts - Bay Area for general support grants and a separate application path for filmmakers. Required components include narrative sections, financial documentation, work samples, and evidence of board support. Review decisions are announced in May for the spring cycle and November for the fall cycle. Evaluations are based on artistic merit, impact on the local arts landscape, organizational viability, and alignment with the Foundation's mission. For fiscally sponsored applicants, a written agreement with the sponsor is required. For filmmakers, submission of a rough cut, budget, and fiscal sponsor documentation is mandatory. Applicants may not apply more than once annually unless applying through a fiscal sponsor representing different projects. With a typical award size closer to $5,000, the grant offers crucial funding to support the vitality of the region's artistic community. The recurring nature of the grant provides sustained opportunities for organizations to plan strategically, and the program’s flexible format ensures that recipients can use funds where they are most needed.

Prioritize plans that demonstrate artist compensation, alignment with underserved communities, and clear artistic impact. Repeat applicants must wait a full cycle.