Grants & Awards

Current Grants

We grant to a wide range of organizations in accordance with our goal and objectives. In 2009 we made 102 grants totaling $4,052,989.

View the Community Development Program's grants awarded in 2009.

Read about grantmaking by the Bay Area Workforce Funding Collaborative.

Nonprofit Transitions Fund Supports Intentional Change

September 2009

While Bay Area nonprofits have been resilient, and even grew during recent recessions, they must radically adjust given the scope of the recent recessions. Some face hard decisions about streamlining, merging, consolidating, or even sunsetting. Growth used to be a barometer of success. In the current economic climate, adaptability is a more pertinent measure. As part of The San Francisco Foundation’s emergency response grantmaking, we invite organizations to apply for a grant from the Nonprofit Transitions Fund, providing $350,000 to support serious planning efforts, consultants, due diligence, and other expenses. Read the What's New article to learn more about the Nonprofit Transitions Fund and how to apply by the Monday, October 26, 2009, deadline.

Grants Spotlight

We support organizations of different types, sizes and strategies. Here are just a few of our recent partners that are making a difference.

Affordable Housing – Urban Strategies Council ($50,000 grant in 2008). Urban Strategies Council uses collaboration, advocacy, and research to combat poverty and transform low-income neighborhoods. Currently, the Council is working with community partners to construct a comprehensive response to the multi-faceted foreclosure crisis, including timely, accurate local data and information, intensive outreach and education, engagement of the lending industry and policy makers, and strategies to address vacant foreclosed properties. Recently, Urban Strategies Council and its partner Oakland ACORN were awarded Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds to create a Community Land Trust that will purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed properties, stemming blight and creating new homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income buyers.

Economic Security – Opportunity Junction ($30,000 grant in 2009). In these tough times, organizations that provide assistance to job seekers are more important than ever, especially in areas hardest hit by layoffs and foreclosures. At Opportunity Junction in East Contra Costa County, technology, literacy, and personal development combine with real world experience to put people on the road to economic self-sufficiency. Low-income residents, including those with limited English and other barriers to employment, may apply to participate in job placement, technology, asset building, and tax assistance programs at no cost to them.

Safety Net – Episcopal Community Services ($30,000 grant in 2009) – Episcopal Community Services has provided essential services to homeless San Franciscans since 1982. Serving more than 6,000 people last year, ECS utilizes a holistic approach that addresses the multiple causes leading to homelessness. Community Development has supported ECS’ creation and management of permanent supportive housing for individuals and families, and its CHEFS program, which trains formerly homeless individuals for careers in the culinary field.

Applying for a Community Development Grant

The Community Development Program welcomes unsolicited proposals aligned with our objectives twice a year. Please visit our How to Apply page for an overview of The San Francisco Foundation’s grant application process and cycles.

We occasionally accept out-of-cycle proposals for work related to our specific initiatives and proactive work. Please check our Community Development News page for information and RFPs (requests for proposals).

Please note: If you are providing emergency shelter, supportive services, and crisis intervention programs that protect individuals and families against the adverse effects of poverty, you should apply under the Community Health program. The Community Health program generally supports organizations and projects that focus on primary health care, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, case management, domestic violence, family crisis support, and food programs for the homeless.

Efforts we do not support: Organizations that provide only emergency safety-net services (overnight shelter beds, clothing, transportation vouchers, personal care items, etc.) may be less competitive in Community Development’s responsive grantmaking unless services oriented towards permanent self-sufficiency are also provided.

If you have questions about applying for a Community Development Grant, please contact the Foundation at 415.733.8500 or communitydevelopmentinfo@sff.org.