The Action Awards grant program supports projects that bring free, recurring community events to public spaces in San Francisco. Any SF resident or SF-based business or community group can apply to receive up to $5,000 and technical support to bring their event series to life. You could be the next recipient!

If you’re interested in hosting community events, applying for the Action Awards is a fantastic opportunity to get the financial resources you need to cover event expenses like rental equipment and promotional materials. As a grantee, you also receive technical assistance like guidance on event planning, permitting, and other logistics that can be difficult to navigate. By hosting these events through the Action Awards program, you can amplify your reach, contribute to the betterment of your neighborhood, and ensure your events are set up for long term success.

Currently, ten $5,000 grants are up for grabs. SF residents, SF based businesses, and community groups are invited to apply to receive funding and technical assistance to bring free, recurring events to their community. 

Over the two-year life of the program, SF Parks Alliance has awarded $170,000 to grantees who have hosted bike rides, dance classes, skateboarding contests, and more, all in service of bringing a sense of community to public spaces. In total, grantees have brought around 100 events to ten districts, with over 3,000 people from the public in attendance. 

“The Action Awards have empowered us to partner with local grassroots Deaf groups, schools, and community-based organizations to provide a series of American Sign Language Meetup events as well as arts and culture spaces in San Francisco. Through these events, our team is able to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps between Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and hard of hearing folks and members of the mainstream community,” says Brian Berlinski of grantee ASL Love.

Applications for the fall 2023 cycle are open November 1, 2023 through January 3, 2024. Any and all ideas for recurring, community-led programming are welcome. 

Mandeep Sethi, a music teacher at awardee, June Jordan School for Equity, said, “Music in the Garden at June Jordan School for Equity has been overwhelmingly successful thanks to the support of the SF Parks Alliance and the Action Award. Through this grant, we have been able to gather our community to enjoy amazing musical artists in our community garden, and share stories of struggle, strength, and resilience.”

To learn more about the Action Awards program, please consider joining us at one of the following events:

• Action Assembly, November 14, 2023 (5 PM – 7 PM) at 1074 Folsom Street
  • We will review the program and parameters, hear from current and past grantees, and attendees will have an opportunity to connect with other applicants.
• Informational Webinar, November 15, 2023 (2 PM – 3 PM), via Zoom
  • We will host an online webinar to review the grant guidelines and answer any questions. A recording will be posted on the Action Awards homepage afterwards.

For additional information and to apply visit shineonsf.org.

If you have any other questions please reach out to shineonsf@sfparksalliance.org.