The San Francisco Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families (DCYF) is currently accepting applications for its 2024-2025 Community Grants Request for Proposals (RFP). The program funds services that support children, youth, transitional age youth (TAY), and families throughout San Francisco, with specific allocations to address gaps in the 2024-2029 funding cycle. This RFP emphasizes strategic, high-quality, and equitable services, encouraging community-driven proposals that advance educational readiness, career preparedness, youth empowerment, and family support.
The program is structured around DCYF’s Result Areas, targeting specific Service Areas within those categories, such as Educational Supports, Enrichment & Skill Building, and Youth Workforce Development. Funding is allocated to specific service strategies, including Literacy Supports, STEM and Environmental Sustainability, and Identity Formation and Inclusion. Each strategy aligns with DCYF’s goals, such as enhancing literacy for K-5 youth in underserved communities, providing STEM opportunities citywide, and supporting youth in identity development. DCYF expects awarded projects to serve San Francisco residents exclusively and encourages applications from both established nonprofits and smaller, community-based organizations.
Eligible applicants must meet specific requirements, including having a minimum of five years of service in the targeted area, serving only San Francisco residents, and completing mandatory reporting and evaluation processes. The application process includes a detailed Agency Profile and Program Information form to confirm eligibility, along with program design, staffing, and budget plans. Each proposal will be reviewed and scored based on criteria including Target Population, Strategy Alignment, Budget, and Program Impact, with a maximum possible score of 100 points.
DCYF has allocated approximately $2.55 million per fiscal year, with grant terms spanning 1.5 years, from January 2025 to June 2026. This RFP specifies maximum and minimum funding levels per strategy, with individual awards ranging based on program requirements. Proposals are due by December 4, 2024, at 5:00 PM. The process is competitive, and DCYF encourages realistic budgets that reflect both direct and indirect costs essential for quality service delivery.
For support, applicants may submit written questions to DCYF by November 8, 2024, and DCYF will publish responses by November 15. While no pre-proposal conference will be held, the DCYF team is available to clarify application details, and applicants are encouraged to thoroughly review eligibility and compliance guidelines. The full RFP and submission instructions are available on DCYF’s online portal. Notifications of award decisions are expected by January 13, 2025, with an appeals process open through January 20 for agencies not selected.
