Tourism & Arts Fund

The Grants for the Arts Arts Programming grant supports arts and culture organizations in San Francisco. This program is designed to foster economic investment in the city through robust and diverse programming, demonstrating a commitment to artistic quality and community engagement. The overarching goal is to deliberately improve San Francisco by integrating arts and culture with communities to understand needs and cultivate lasting, equitable change. This aligns with a strategic priority to leverage arts for social good and community development, serving as a catalyst for positive transformation within the city. Target beneficiaries for this grant are arts and culture organizations, specifically those that are nonprofit 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) entities, or those using a fiscal sponsor. The impact goals are broad, focusing on economic investment, professional employment within the arts, high artistic quality, and deep community engagement. Expected outcomes include well-attended events, a demonstrated commitment to improving San Francisco through arts, and evidence of responsible operational and fiscal management from grantee organizations. These outcomes contribute to a theory of change where a vibrant arts sector directly enhances community well-being and economic stability. The program prioritizes organizations that demonstrate economic investment through diverse programming and well-attended events, employ professionals for high artistic quality, and utilize arts and culture to deliberately improve San Francisco through deep community engagement. There is also a focus on organizations with a strong track record of responsible operational and fiscal management. This ensures that the grants support sustainable and impactful initiatives that can effectively deliver on their promises to the community. Funding amounts vary based on the organization's budget size, ranging from $10,000 for first-time grantees or those with previous low-scoring applications, up to $265,000 for "Mega" organizations with budgets exceeding $15 million. The grant duration is two years, from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026. Eligibility also requires the applicant organization to be San Francisco-based, with non-fiscally sponsored organizations needing to demonstrate a San Francisco corporate address through verifiable documentation. This local focus underscores the foundation's strategic priority to directly benefit its immediate community and strengthen the local arts ecosystem.