Grants open for application
Readiness to Implementation grant
Schools that already get Readiness Funds can apply for a three-year Implementation Grant to expand their community schools work.
Who is eligible?
Only current Student Success Fund Readiness sites who meet the following requirements are eligible to apply:
- Hired a Community School Coordinator
- Completed a Hopes and Needs Assessment
- Developed a Community School Implementation Plan with community input
About the application
There will be two rounds of applications in School Year 2025-2026. Each school site can only apply once. Eligible sites are strongly encouraged to apply in the first round.
If sites choose to apply in the second round, award decisions will arrive after the deadline to make changes to SFUSD budgets.
Application deadline
Friday, November 21, 2025 by 5:00pm. Late applications will not be considered.
Rapid response funds
Eligible sites can apply for up to $25,000 in one-time funds for short term needs like:
- Emergencies
- Problem solving
- New strategies
Awards must be expensed by May 29, 2026. Contractors may continue to incur expenses until June 15, 2026. Additional information can be found in the application form.
Who is eligible?
SFUSD school sites who are not recipients of Student Success Fund Readiness or Implementation Grants are eligible to apply.
Application deadline
Apply by February 27, 2026
About the Student Success Fund
Community school model
The Student Success Fund aims to improve schools by implementing the community school model. The model supports increased family and community engagement to help meet the needs of young people.
Community schools add to existing resources with:
- Academic support
- Social and emotional interventions
- Strategies to address persistent poverty and trauma
- Support for families to secure stability
The Student Success Fund cannot be used to pay for core staffing.
For more information about the community school model, visit SFUSD.edu/community-schools.
Types of grants to schools
SSF provides Readiness, Implementation, and Rapid Response grants to schools.
Readiness grants
Helps schools hire Community School Coordinators, complete the Community School Plan, and fulfill other programmatic needs so they can apply for implementation grants.
- Maximum award: $350,000 per year
- Grant term: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026
Implementation grants
Supports sites' implementation of their Community School Plan, which indicates what programming and supports are needed to meet the goals of the district.
- Maximum award: $550,000 per year
- Grant term: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027 (with the option of 2 additional years)
Rapid Response grants
One-time funds that SFUSD school sites can apply for short term needs like emergencies and new strategies.
- Maximum award: $25,000
- Grant term: Awards must be expensed by May 29, 2026. Contractors may continue to incur expenses until June 15, 2026.
Other funding categories
SSF also provides funding for District Innovation and Technical Assistance.
District Innovation funds
Funds for innovative programming that supports academic achievement and social emotional learning at eligible school sites. SFUSD Central Office must apply for these funds on behalf of a group of eligible schools (2 or more) to implement an innovative program.
Technical Assistance funds
Funds for technical assistance providers to help schools implement the community school model and prepare for long-term funding.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a SSF grant, schools must:
- Have a School Site Council that supports the grant proposal
- Have a full-time Community School Coordinator or have plans to hire one
- Agree to coordinate with SFUSD and DCYF
Community based organizations
Schools submit grant applications with the approval of their School Site Council. To be included in the grant application, community based organizations should discuss with school leadership.
Advisory council
The council oversees decisions related to the SSF.
Members
- Lorraine Orlandi, Beacon director representative
- Christopher Gonzales, community partner representative
- Rex Ridgeway, family representative
- Vacant, family representative
- Ana Avilez, family representative
- Stephanie Falkenstein, family representative
- Eddie Kaufman, school site service provider representative
- Sally Jenkins-Stevens, subject matter expert representative
- Ashley Ornelas, community school coordinator representative (SEIU)
- Nick Chandler, educator representative (UESF)
- Sarah Ballard-Hanson, principal representative (UASF)
- Vacant, Youth Commission representative
- Nikolas Chen, Student Advisory Council representative
About
The Student Success Fund is managed by the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF) and the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). It was created by Proposition G in the November 2022 election and will grow to $60 million by 2029, depending on the City's economic forecast.