FAITHS Community Partners Grant Program

The FAITHS Community Partners Grant Program is designed to support faith-based organizations and congregations that are engaged in building interfaith relations, increasing civic engagement, and addressing issues of racial and economic equity. This program provides a critical opportunity for organizations that are deeply embedded within their communities to promote social justice through nonpartisan voter engagement, policy advocacy, and community organizing. Administered through the San Francisco Foundation's FAITHS Program, this initiative provides one-year grants of up to $25,000 to eligible organizations. These grants are intended to support capacity-building efforts, particularly in leadership development, civic participation, and economic security. Example initiatives include advocacy for affordable housing and leadership programs for formerly incarcerated individuals. The focus is on delivering community-based services that are tightly linked with policy and advocacy goals, rather than on direct aid or events. Eligible applicants include faith-based organizations and congregations that hold a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) status, or are fiscally sponsored. These organizations must serve low-income communities and communities of color within one or more of the following five Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo. Organizations headquartered outside the Bay Area are eligible if they serve at least one of the named counties. The program explicitly excludes funding for capital improvements, individual grants, or event sponsorships. Priority is given to organizations that serve underserved populations, such as systems-involved individuals, low-wage workers, immigrants, youth, unhoused individuals, and seniors. Applicants must demonstrate that their primary activities incorporate civic engagement, advocacy, and/or policy-focused work. Collaborative projects involving partnerships with other faith-based or nonprofit organizations are particularly encouraged. The application process for the 2025 cycle opens on August 15, 2025, and closes on September 29, 2025. Applications must be submitted through the SFF grantee portal. Successful applicants will be notified in February 2026, and the grant period will begin on January 2, 2026, running for twelve months. While no formal pre-application steps are required, applicants are encouraged to attend Zoom Office Hours offered throughout August and September to receive assistance and guidance from the grant administrators. This grant program is offered on a recurring basis and appears to operate annually. Based on the 2025 cycle timeline, the next expected application opening is anticipated in August 2026. Interested applicants should mark their calendars accordingly and plan to revisit the SFF portal or contact the foundation by the start of August 2026 to verify updates for the next cycle.

Drop-in Zoom Office Hours in August and September provide hands-on support.