For any questions about CEI, contact Program Officer Jennifer Chu at jennifer.chu@sfgov.org or 415-535-7305.

Translation

A translation of this grant application is available upon request; however, only applications in English will be accepted. For more information, please contact 311.

Para obtener información en español, comuníquese al 311.

本資助申請表的翻譯版本將應請求而提供；但僅受理英文版本的申請表。 查詢詳情，請聯絡311。

Ang pagsasalin sa Tagalog ng aplikasyon para sa pagkalooban na ito ay makukuha kung hihingilin. Ngunit ang aplikasyon sa Ingles lamang ang aming tatanggapin. Para sa tulong, maaring i-contact si Sandra Panopio, 415-252-2255 o sandra.panopio@sfgov.org.

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CEI GUIDELINES (PDF)

CEI APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS (PDF)


Jump to:
Important Dates
Information about Cultural Equity Initiatives
Who Can Apply
Panel Evaluation & Scoring Criteria

 

Information About Cultural Equity Initiatives (CEI)

Important Dates*

Artistic Legacy Grant and Cultural Equity Initiatives Grantseeker Information Session	(Virtual) October 13, 2023 at 12 p.m.
One-on-One Consultations	(Virtual) September  25 – November 1, 2023
Application Deadline	Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 12 p.m.
Grant Panel Review	(Virtual) February – March 2024
Funding Recommendations	(Hybrid) April 2024
Commission Approval	(Hybrid) May 2024
Notification of Funding	May 2024
Grant Period	July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026

*Dates are subject to change.

ABOUT CULTURAL EQUITY INITIATIVES (CEI)

Cultural Equity Initiatives (CEI) is a cornerstone of the Arts Commission’s grants program. CEI honors and amplifies the legacy of the Cultural Equity Endowment by supporting San Francisco-based arts organizations that are deeply embedded in their communities through multi-year, core support grants. Core support grants provide organizations with the funds they need to sustain day-to-day operations and provide maximum flexibility.

Purpose and Funding Categories

The CEI grant program supports small and mid-sized arts organizations deeply rooted in San Francisco communities with core support grants up to $100,000 over two years.

• Funds may be used for general operating expenses including but not limited to administrative/staff salaries, utilities, rent, office supplies, technology maintenance, space planning as well as for project costs, professional development, artistic planning and programming and sabbaticals.
   
• Prioritizes organizations deeply rooted and connected to BIPOC, LGBTQ, People with Disabilities, women and other communities that are identified in the Cultural Equity Endowment legislation
   
• Fosters artistic expression and arts leadership reflective of San Francisco’s rich cultural heritage and legacy.
   
• Provides flexibility and addresses bandwidth challenges in critical sustainability areas including operations and staff development.

Land Acknowledgement

The San Francisco Arts Commission acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone. We affirm the sovereign rights of their community as First Peoples and are committed to supporting the traditional and contemporary evolution of the American Indian community and uplifting contemporary indigenous voices and culture. https://www.sfartscommission.org/content/land-acknowledgement

racial equity statement

The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) is committed to creating a city where all artists and cultural workers have the freedom, resources and platform to share their stories, art and culture, and where race does not predetermine one’s success in life. We also acknowledge that we occupy traditional and unceded Ohlone land. Fueled by these beliefs, we commit to addressing the systemic inequities within our agency, the City and County of San Francisco and the broader arts and culture sector. This work requires that we focus on race as we confront inequities of the past, reveal inequities of the present and develop effective strategies to move all of us towards an equitable future.

Priority funding goes to artists that are deeply rooted in and reflective of communities listed in the Arts Commission’s 1993 Cultural Equity Endowment Legislation and informed by current best practices in racial equity. These communities include: African and African American; Latinx; Asian and Asian American; Arab; Native American; Pacific Islander; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer; Transgender and Gender Variant People; People with Disabilities; and Women. (SF ADMIN. CODE CHAPTER 68: CULTURAL EQUITY ENDOWMENT FUND. Sec. 68.6. PROJECT GRANTS.)

If you are a part of a community not listed that you feel should be included, we encourage applicants to articulate and provide supporting evidence regarding the historical and current inequities experienced by your community. 
 

eligible grant Request Amount

The anticipated maximum amount for a Cultural Equity Initiatives grant is $100,000 over two years based on current budget availability. Should additional City funding become available, grant award amounts could be increased.

The applicant organization’s average annual operating revenue from the two most recently completed fiscal years determines the eligible request amount. Please review the funding chart to determine the maximum grant request amount.

The organization’s two-year average annual operating revenue is calculated by adding the IRS Form 990 line item Total Revenue for the two most recently completed fiscal years and dividing the sum by two. If you submitted a 990-N Postcard, please submit Profit and Loss Statements and Balance Sheets from the two most recently completed fiscal years.

Fiscally Sponsored Organizations:
A fiscally sponsored organization’s average annual operating revenue is calculated by adding the Profit and Loss Statement line item Total Revenue for the two most recently completed fiscal years and dividing the sum by two.

         

Grant Term
A grant funded pursuant to these guidelines will have a grant term of two years (24 months). The City at its sole, absolute discretion shall have the option to extend the term for additional years as determined by the Arts Commission.

This application is issued pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Chapter 21G: Grants. The San Francisco Arts Commission reserves the right to: reissue these guidelines and request for applications; reject or cancel any or all applications; prior to application deadline, modify all or any portion of the selection procedures, including deadlines for accepting responses, the specifications or requirements for any services to be provided under this Solicitation, or the requirements for content or format of the applications.

Project Requirements

• Arts organizations and Fiscal Sponsor organizations: Organizations that exceed the $2,000,000 due to re-granting must verify their operational budget without pass-through funds at the time of application. Applicants must upload audited financials from the most recently completed fiscal year demonstrating the dollar amount of pass-through funds.

How to Apply

APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT: https://sfartscommission.us-1.smartsimple.com/
Applications must be submitted online in the SFAC grants management portal. Emailed applications are not accepted. In fairness to others, we cannot accept late or incomplete applications. If the applicant does not provide the complete set of information in the appropriate format by the deadline, the application may be deemed incomplete and ineligible. No deadline extensions will be granted.

If you need special accommodations, you must contact Program Officer Jennifer Chu at jennifer.chu@sfgov.org or 415-535-7305 at least two weeks before the application deadline in order for us to appropriately accommodate.
 

Who Can Apply

Eligibility

ORGANIZATIONS

• The applicant 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). To check or update your status visit: https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/
   
• The applicant organization must be in good standing with the California Franchise Tax Board. To check or update your status visit: https://webapp.ftb.ca.gov/eletter/?Submit=Check+Status
   
• The applicant organization must be in good standing with the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts. To check or update your status visit: https://rct.doj.ca.gov/Verification/Web/Search.aspx?facility=Y
  • 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.
     
  • If applicant will use any nonprofit subcontractors/subgrantees/subrecipients to perform the agreement, proposer will be responsible for ensuring they are also in compliance with all requirements of the Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts at the time of grant execution and for the duration of the agreement.
     
• The applicant organization must be in good standing with the California Secretary of State. To check or update your status visit: https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business
   
• The applicant organization must be San Francisco-based. 
  • The organization must demonstrate a San Francisco corporate address. Documentation demonstrating a San Francisco corporate address must be submitted with the application.
     
  • Verifiable proof of San Francisco corporate address: 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.
     
  • If using a fiscal sponsor, the Applicant Organization’s address must be different from their fiscal sponsor.
     
• The applicant organization must articulate a consistent programmatic history and public benefit to the City of San Francisco, its neighborhoods and communities over the last two years (since November 2021). Please see the grant application instructions document for further information on the San Francisco Art Activities requirement.
   
• The applicant organization’s mission statement must be clearly focused on the development, production, presentation and/or support of arts activities and/or youth arts activities in San Francisco.
   
• The organization’s annual operating revenue must not exceed $2,000,000.
   
• Applicants must not be in default on any grants or loans from: (1) SFAC; (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, Grants for the Arts); (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 SFAC has fiduciary relationships with these particular organizations.
   
• The proposed project must take place in San Francisco between July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026.
   
• It is anticipated that successful proposals will be for a term of 2 years (24 months) beginning in fiscal year 2024 with a possible extension based on extenuating circumstances as determined by the Arts Commission in consultation with the grantee. Any extension is subject to Arts Commission approval and funding appropriation. The Arts Commission reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to not exercise an extension option.
   
• Financials: The applicant organization’s Profit and Loss Statements and Balance Sheets for the two most recently completed fiscal years are required to upload with the application.
   
• 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 the San Francisco Arts Commission, the organization must become a registered, compliant supplier and meet the City of San Francisco's insurance and business tax requirements. For more information about supplier requirements, visit: https://sfcitypartner.sfgov.org/pages/become-a-supplier.aspx
  
  Please note: you will only be required to register as a City Supplier if you are approved for funding.
   

fiscal sponsors

• 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). To check or update your status visit: https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/
   
• The Fiscal Sponsor organization must be in good standing with the California Franchise Tax Board. To check or update your status visit: https://webapp.ftb.ca.gov/eletter/?Submit=Check+Status
   
• The Fiscal Sponsor organization must be in good standing with the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts. To check or update your status visit: https://rct.doj.ca.gov/Verification/Web/Search.aspx?facility=Y
  • 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.
     
  • If applicant will use any nonprofit subcontractors/subgrantees/subrecipients to perform the agreement, proposer will be responsible for ensuring they are also in compliance with all requirements of the Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts at the time of grant execution and for the duration of the agreement
     
• The Fiscal Sponsor organization must be in good standing with the California Secretary of State. To check or update your status visit: https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business
   
• The Fiscal Sponsor organization must be San Francisco-based.
  • The Fiscal Sponsor organization must demonstrate a San Francisco corporate address. Documentation demonstrating a San Francisco corporate address must be submitted with the application.
     
  • Verifiable proof of San Francisco corporate address: 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.
     
  • If using a fiscal sponsor, the Applicant Organization’s address must be different from their fiscal sponsor.
     
• The fiscally sponsored organization/project cannot be any type of for-profit entity, including sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), or corporation.
   
• Applicants/organizations cannot retroactively work with or change fiscal sponsorship after a grant application is approved for funding.
   
• NEW: If the application is funded. A Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the fiscal sponsor and the fiscally sponsored applicant must be provided and include the following:
  • 1) Description of the exact nature of the services to be provided by this fiscal sponsor;
     
  • 2) The manner in which funds will be disbursed from the grant to the fiscally sponsored project/entity;
     
  • 3) An outline of the reporting requirements for the fiscally sponsored project/entity; 
     
  • 4) The fiscal sponsorship fee;
     
  • 5) Identification of the fiscal sponsor’s staff person who will serve as the primary liaison with the fiscally-sponsored project/entity.
     
• 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 is the legal grantee and receives the funds on behalf of the applicant who is the subgrantee.
   
• The fiscal sponsor/grantee is required to work with the subgrantee to complete and submit financial documentation of the disbursement of funds with the grant’s final report.
   
• ALL FUNDS MUST BE PAID TO THE SUBGRANTEE IN ADVANCE OF THE FINAL DISBURSEMENT OF THE GRANT.
   
• Copyright: If the applicant receives funding, the fiscal sponsor and the applicant must decide who will hold the copyright to any materials or work created during the grant period. This should be discussed in advance of signing the grant agreement, as it includes language regarding copyright.
   
• 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 the San Francisco Arts Commission, the organization must become a registered, compliant supplier and meet the City of San Francisco's insurance and business tax requirements. For more information about supplier requirements, visit: https://sfcitypartner.sfgov.org/pages/become-a-supplier.aspx
  
  Please note: you will only be required to register as a City Supplier if you are approved for funding.

RESTRICTIONS

• Programs of another City agency or department are not eligible to apply, which includes the City-owned Cultural Centers, and Cultural Districts.
   
• Only one application may be submitted to this grant category.
   
• Partners and collaborators cannot apply separately for the same project.
   
• Grant funding does not imply that the San Francisco Arts Commission or any other City agency will produce, exhibit, promote or present the art created. It is the responsibility of the artist to secure a venue, insurance and any permits for public presentations.
   
• Applicants may only be funded in CEI for two years and may reapply in the fall after fully closing out the grant at the end of the two-year grant period. If your grant was amended, your grant must be closed before you can re-apply.
  
  

 

ineligible expenses

Grant funds may not pay for:

1. Activities outside of San Francisco;
2. Deficit reduction;
3. Start-up money for new organizations;
4. Development of space.

Insurance Requirements
 

Please note: Insurance is NOT required to submit an application; you will only be required to provide insurance if you are 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.

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

Commercial Automobile Liability Insurance: 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, as applicable.

Sexual Misconduct Insurance: Working with vulnerable populations (minors under 18 years old, elderly over 65 years old, developmentally disabled populations) requires that sexual misconduct insurance be added to the general liability policy in amounts not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence, $2,000,000 general aggregate.

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.
 

City Permits and Permissions

If the proposal includes components that require City permits or approval such as publicly installed art, murals, street closures or sound amplification in public space, the organization will be solely responsible for securing the necessary permits, permissions and approvals. This planning should be reflected in the project timeline.

Please note that any art installed with these grant funds on property owned by the City and County of San Francisco or on private property, must be reviewed and approved by the San Francisco Arts Commission starting with the Visual Arts Committee. This applies to murals, public sculpture and similar projects. It will be the responsibility of the grantee to add this process into their grant plan and budget. Please contact Craig Corpora at craig.corpora@sfgov.org for questions about murals, sculpture or any other type of public art.

 

Panel Evaluation & Scoring Criteria

Panelists are instructed to use the following scoring criteria which correspond to the application questions below. Close review of this grid may help you prepare your application responses. Please thoroughly review the application instructions for the complete overview of grant application questions, required uploads and guidance.
 

CATEGORY	POINTS	APPLICATION QUESTIONS	SCORING CRITERIA
Racial Equity (30 points)	30	1. Describe the organization’s history engaging    communities identified in the Cultural Equity     Endowment legislation* and how this grant will    enhance the organization’s mission.     (300 word limit)	Organization demonstrates a history and mission of     engaging communities identified in the Cultural Equity    Endowment legislation.*    Panelists may also refer to Mission Statement, Core    Programs and Services and Intended     Communities/Audience.
San Francisco Arts Community Impact (40 points)	20	2a. Grant Plan and Budget    Complete the grant plan and project budget.	Organization has clear artistic vision, consistent presence     and benefit for San Francisco communities, plays a vital     role in San Francisco’s arts and culture ecosystem and     measures and understands benefits of their artistic     programming.     Completed grant plan aligns with project summary and      describes what the organization hopes to achieve; and      budget aligns with the project summary and line items      are explained in detail.      Panelists may also refer to Mission Statement, Core      Programs and Services and Intended      Communities/Audience.
	10	2b. Work Samples     Upload up to 5 Work Samples that express the     organization’s mission and reflect the communities     engaged.
	10	2c. Program Evaluation      How does the organization collect and share      community feedback internally and externally?           (300 word limit)
Operational Effectiveness (30 points)	10	3. Add the names of the Advisory Board or Board of      Directors, role on the board and explain their      experience with historically underserved      communities, including those listed in the Cultural      Equity Endowment legislation*.       (300 word limit / Up to ten)	Organization demonstrates appropriate advisory or     governance structure, diverse community representation     and experience with historically underserved     communities, including those listed in Cultural Equity     Endowment legislation.*
	10	4. Provide brief bios of the core staff and include         relevant community-based experience and         professional qualifications.        (1,000 characters with spaces/ Up to 3 Bios)	Has appropriate staff with relevant skills and community-        based experience with intended audience/or        communities.
	10	5. Describe who is engaged in fiscal oversight and       reporting, and the process for how your       organization develops its annual budget.       (300 word limit)       Upload the following financial documents in PDF.        -Nonprofits:  IRS 990, 990-EZ, 990-N Postcard        -Fiscally Sponsored Organizations: Profit and Loss        Statements and Balance Sheets for the last two        completed fiscal years        -Organization Budget Notes	Organization demonstrates a process of financial          planning and monitoring.

 

*We recognize that some communities may not be listed in the link above and encourage applicants to articulate and provide supporting evidence regarding the historical and current inequities experienced by their community. Please review the San Francisco Arts Commission Racial Equity statement.

 

Grant review Panelists

SFAC grant applications are evaluated in an open review process by a panel of peers. Grant review panelists reflect the diversity of San Francisco, have broad knowledge about racial equity, and have experience that aligns with the purpose of the grant.

Application Review

Panelists evaluate and rank applications according to the stated scoring criteria.

Panel Review Attendance and influence

Grant review panels are publicly accessible. A schedule of the panel review will be posted on the SFAC website calendar and applicants will be notified in advance via email. Please be sure the email address in your application is current and regularly checked. Take steps to ensure that emails from the San Francisco Arts Commission’s sfac.grants@sfgov.org email address are not lost in your spam filter. Many applicants find it informative to listen to the discussion of applications and are welcome to observe the panel review. Applicants may not engage in discussion with any panelists or San Francisco Arts Commission staff during the panel.

If an applicant is found to have attempted to influence a panelist or Mayoral-appointed Commissioner in any way, including contacting them before or after the panel to discuss their application, their grant application will be automatically disqualified.

Panel Reviews and Panelist Scores​

Virtual panels will be recorded.

Links to the panel review recording and preliminary scores are emailed to applicants within 10 business days of the review.

Funding Recommendations

Based on an evaluation of the applications, panelist scores create a ranking for funding recommendations. Grant amounts are either the full amount of the grant request or a substantial portion of the request.

Funding Approval

Panel recommendations are subject to the approval of the Arts Commission. Typically, recommendations are first reviewed by the Community Investments Committee and then must be approved by the full Commission.

Arts Commission meetings are open to the public. Agendas are available at https://sfgov.org/arts/ 72 hours in advance of a meeting.

Grant notifications

Grant notifications are emailed to the address listed on the application and include instructions about the contracting process and orientation dates.