General Operating Support Grant - Arts Programming

Mission and Program

• The applicant organization must have presented a season or series of public performances, presentations of artworks, or other arts activities in San Francisco for at least three (3) consecutive years at the time of application.
• The applicant organization must have a mission that is clearly focused on the development, production, presentation and/or support of arts, youth arts, and/or cultural activities in San Francisco.
• The applicant organization must be prepared to present a season or series of public performances, presentations of artworks, or other arts activities in San Francisco between July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026, as demonstrated in their application’s Grant Plan.  
  • NEW: The applicant’s proposed activities in their Grant Plan must align with the parameters of the Grant Type definition for which they are applying. 

Finance & Grant History

• NEW: The applicant organization must have operating revenues and expenditures of at least $20,000, not including in-kind support, in its three (3) most recently completed fiscal years and projected for its current fiscal year and the proposed grant period.  
• The applicant organization must have received non-GFTA sources of funding during the last fiscal year (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024).  
• For non-fiscally sponsored applicant organizations only: The applicant organization must be in good standing with the California Franchise Tax Board. Visit the FTB website to check or update your status. 
• For non-fiscally sponsored applicant organizations only: The applicant organization must be in good standing with the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts. Visit the Office of Attorney General website to check or update your status. 
  • To receive a grant under this solicitation, any nonprofit applicant must be in good standing with the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts by the time of grant execution and must remain in good standing during the term of the agreement.   
  • Upon request, the applicant must provide documentation to the City demonstrating its good standing with applicable legal requirements.  
• For non-fiscally sponsored applicant organizations only: The applicant organization must be in good standing with the California Secretary of State. Visit the CA Secretary of State website to check or update your status.  
• For non-fiscally sponsored applicant organizations only: The organization must be willing and able to meet the requirements associated with receiving funds from the City and County of San Francisco. In order to receive a grant payment from Grants for the Arts, the organization must become a registered, compliant supplier and meet the City of San Francisco's insurance and business tax requirements. Visit the San Francisco City Partner website to learn more. 
  • Please note: you will only be required to register as a City Supplier if you are approved for funding.
• Applicants must not be in default on any grants or loans from: (1) Grants for the Arts; (2) other City departments (including but not limited to the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, San Francisco Arts Commission); (3) Northern California Grantmakers Arts Loan Fund; (4) Community Vision Capital and Consulting; (5) Community Arts Stabilization Trust; and/or (6) the Center for Cultural Innovation. This default clause was expanded due to the fact that GFTA has fiduciary relationships with these particular organizations. 

NEW: Eligibility Criteria for Fiscal Sponsors

Corporate & Governance

• The Fiscal Sponsor organization must be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and in good standing with the IRS under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Visit the IRS website to check or update your status. 
• Organizations may not act as a fiscal sponsor for employees or artists contracted by that organization; a third-party fiscal sponsor is required.
• If an applicant is approved for funding, the Fiscal Sponsor organization is the legal grantee and receives the funds on behalf of the applicant who is the subgrantee. 
• The Fiscal Sponsor organization must be San Francisco-based.
  • The Fiscal Sponsor organization must demonstrate a San Francisco corporate address.  
  • Documentation demonstrating verifiable proof of a San Francisco corporate address must be submitted with the application. This may be in the form of a utilities bill (water/sewage, power/gas/electricity or internet), telephone/cell phone bill, bank or credit card statement, signed lease agreement or mortgage statement. Documents should be no more than three (3) months old and must include the applicant organization’s name.  

Finance & Grant History

• The Fiscal Sponsor organization must be in good standing with the California Franchise Tax Board. Visit the FTB website to check or update your status.
• The Fiscal Sponsor organization must be in good standing with the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts. Visit the Office of Attorney General website to check or update your status. 

  • To receive a grant under this solicitation, any nonprofit applicant must be in good standing with the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts by the time of grant execution and must remain in good standing during the term of the agreement.   

  • Upon request, the applicant must provide documentation to the City demonstrating its good standing with applicable legal requirements. 

• The Fiscal Sponsor organization must be in good standing with the California Secretary of State. Visit the CA Secretary of State website to check or update your status.  

• The Fiscal Sponsor must be willing and able to meet the requirements associated with receiving funds from the City and County of San Francisco. In order to receive a grant payment from Grants for the Arts, the organization must become a registered, compliant supplier and meet the City of San Francisco's insurance and business tax requirements. Visit the San Francisco City Partner website to learn more. 

  • Please note: you will only be required to register as a City Supplier if you are approved for funding.

• The Fiscal Sponsor must not be in default on any grants or loans from: (1) Grants for the Arts; (2) other City departments (including but not limited to the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, San Francisco Arts Commission); (3) Northern California Grantmakers Arts Loan Fund; (4) Community Vision Capital and Consulting; (5) Community Arts Stabilization Trust; and/or (6) the Center for Cultural Innovation. This default clause was expanded due to the fact that GFTA has fiduciary relationships with these particular organizations. 

NEW: Applicant Restrictions

Only one application may be submitted to Grants for the Arts for FY25 and FY26 GOS funding. Please be sure to submit your application for the grant type that best fits your organization’s activities. 

• San Francisco Cultural Districts, San Francisco Neighborhood Cultural Centers, Community Benefit Districts, and other programs of another City agency or department may apply as fiscal sponsors for other organizations, but may not apply for their own general operating support funding. See the eligibility criteria for fiscal sponsors (above) for further details. 

• The applicant organization must not be a governmental entity.   

• Grant funding does not imply that Grants for the Arts or any other City agency will produce, exhibit, promote or present the art created. It is the responsibility of the applicant organization to secure venues, insurance and any permits for public presentations. 

Expense Restrictions

Grant funds cannot be used to pay for:  

1. Activities outside of San Francisco
2. Deficit reduction
3. Start-up money for new organizations
4. Development of space
5. Capital expenses
6. Meals
7. Catering
8. Transportation
9. Lodging
10. Fundraising and educational activities 

Insurance Requirements

Please note: Insurance is NOT required to submit an application; you will be required to provide insurance if your application is approved for funding. Below are the insurance requirements for all grantees.  

• General Liability or Special Event Insurance: Coverage with limits not less than $1,000,000 each occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate for Bodily Injury and Property Damage, including Contractual Liability, Personal Injury, Products and Completed Operations and if working with vulnerable populations (minors under 18 years old, elderly over 65 years old, disabled or dependent adults) policy must include Abuse and Molestation coverage. 

  • CERTIFICATE HOLDER must read “The City & County of San Francisco, 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102.” 

• Commercial Automobile Liability Insurance (if applicable): Coverage with limits not less than one million dollars $1,000,000 each occurrence for Combined Single Limit for Bodily Injury and Property Damage, including Owned, Non-Owned and Hired auto coverage. 

• Worker’s Compensation Insurance: Coverage is required for all organizations that have salaried employees; in statutory amounts, with Employers’ Liability limits not less than $1,000,000 each accident, injury, or illness. 

  • Worker’s Compensation Insurance is a California State law. 

• A Waiver of Subrogation must be added to the worker’s compensation insurance, if any work that the grant is funding happens on City-owned or managed property. 

Additional Requirements for General and Automobile Coverage 

Commercial General Liability and Commercial Automobile Liability insurance policies shall: 

• Name as additional insured City and County of San Francisco, its officers, agents and employees. 

• Provide that such policies are primary insurance to any other insurance available to the Additional Insureds, with respect to any claims arising out of this Agreement, and that insurance applies separately to each insured against whom claim is made or suit is brought, except with respect to limits of liability. 

 

Evaluation Overview

An application must score a minimum of 75 points in order to be eligible for a grant award.  

Scoring Criteria

Grant review committee members will use the below scoring criteria. Review the table below to ensure your application responses are relevant and necessary. The application instructions  provide complete guidance including an overview of the grant application questions and required uploads. 

SECTION: San Francisco Community Impact (35 points) 

SECTION: Economic Impact of San Francisco Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations (50 points)  

SECTION: Operational & Fiscal Accountability (15 points)