General Operating Support Grant

The General Operating Support grant, offered by the City of Berkeley’s Civic Arts Program, provides two-year funding to support nonprofit arts and cultural organizations operating within Berkeley. This grant is a critical element of the city’s commitment to fostering a culturally vibrant and diverse arts ecosystem. Designed specifically for organizations whose central mission is rooted in providing arts, creative, or cultural programming and services, the funding helps to enhance the operational capacity and financial stability of groups that have been historically underrepresented or marginalized in the arts sector. Administered on a biennial cycle, the grant awards up to $10,000 per fiscal year, totaling a maximum of $20,000 over the two-year grant activity period. This structure aims to reduce the administrative burden on applicants while ensuring consistent operational support over multiple years. The funds may be used for a broad range of eligible operational expenses including artist and contractor stipends, rent, utilities, program supplies, staff salaries, professional development, and equipment rentals. However, the grant cannot be used for activities such as in-school programs during regular school hours, capital improvement projects, debt reduction, or fundraising. Award distribution is contingent on the City Council’s final budget adoption for each year of the grant period. Eligible applicants must be arts-focused nonprofit organizations or fiscally-sponsored nonprofit entities based in Berkeley. All applicants must have a verifiable Berkeley address and meet either 501(c)(3) nonprofit status or fiscal sponsorship standards. Fiscal sponsors must also be registered nonprofits and submit appropriate documentation including a sponsorship agreement and nonprofit registration. Organizations that are not arts-focused, individuals, for-profit businesses, schools, or governmental departments are not eligible. Special consideration and encouragement are extended to organizations representing systemically marginalized identities and communities, such as BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, disabled, and immigrant populations. Applications must be submitted online via the Submittable grants management platform. Required materials include proof of nonprofit status or fiscal sponsorship, work samples, biographies of key staff and board members, a two-year budget, and a narrative section. Applicants using a fiscal sponsor must submit a letter of agreement and evidence of their nonprofit registration with the California Secretary of State. Civic Arts staff offer technical support throughout the application process via email, phone, and virtual appointments, and accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities or language needs. Applications are reviewed by a panel of qualified individuals from the broader Bay Area cultural sector. Review criteria include the quality and goals of arts programming (25%), organizational leadership and governance (25%), community engagement and accessibility (25%), and commitment to cultural equity (25%). Scores are used to inform funding recommendations by the Civic Arts Commission, with final awards approved during a public commission meeting. Applicants are notified after approval and can request panel comments post-decision. An appeal process is available for those with evidence of misconduct or technical error in the review process. Grantees are required to submit a demographic survey to initiate funding and must file a progress report by July 30, 2026, and a final report by July 30, 2027. All activities and expenditures must occur within the July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027 grant period. Unused funds or failure to submit required reports will result in forfeiture of the award. The next grant cycle is anticipated to reopen in January 2027, continuing the city’s support for Berkeley’s dynamic arts community.