Fundraising
Fundraising doesn’t need to be complicated or uncomfortable, and can provide your group with much needed funds for projects big (plantings/structures) and small (snacks for volunteers).
Not all enterprising neighborhood projects generate 100% of the financing they need to realize their project goals, regardless of the project size and scope. Many use a combination of public and private sector grants to get started. In addition to applying for grants, you may receive direct donations from friends, family, and neighbors. Funding a neighborhood public space project is not for the faint of heart; it requires commitment, organization, and a healthy dose of perseverance to ask for money, but the rewards of success are immeasurable. Here’s a list of available local funding sources:
Funding Sources
“Addback” Funding
Contact your District Supervisor and request a meeting. At the beginning of each new fiscal year (the beginning of July), the SF Board of Supervisors releases a list of budget amendments commonly known as “addbacks.” These are funds each District Supervisor allocates to various City departments for programs in their respective districts. Some assign the funds at their own discretion while others choose where to allocate funds through Participatory Budgeting, a public process in which constituents develop, propose, and vote on one-time services or projects.
Community Challenge Grant (CCG)
Recurring grant opportunities administered by the City Administrator’s Office and provides matching grants for neighborhood beautification projects, such as creating green spaces and gathering places.
Mayor’s Office of Housing & Community Development (MOHCD)
MOHCD provides grant funding for essential community services and capital improvements to groups eligible for funding. Click here to see the list of MOHCD funding opportunities, including RFPs.
Office of Economic & Workforce Development (OEWD)
OEWD’s “Invest in Neighborhoods” department provides no-cost services to strengthen and support neighborhood commercial districts in San Francisco, including grants to community-based organizations projects that strengthen small businesses, improve physical conditions, increase quality of life, and build community capacity in neighborhood commercial corridors. Examples include neighborhood marketing campaigns, concerts, street fairs, public space improvements, and public safety initiatives.
Online Crowdfunding Platform
Start your own crowdfunding campaign to fund a specific part of your project, an event or for general fundraising. Click here for a link to a Forbes article on successful crowdfunding tips and tricks.
Participatory Budgeting
Participatory Budgeting is an optional public process for San Franciscans to recommend and vote on how some public funds in the participating districts are budgeted. Not all supervisorial districts take part in participatory budgeting. Residents of participating districts who are 16 years old and older have the opportunity to develop, propose, and vote on one-time services or projects. Participatory budgeting is an innovative way to empower communities and ensure that tax dollars are spent wisely and democratically. Inquire directly to your district supervisor.
SF Public Utilities Commission
The Commission offers a robust portfolio of grants for community groups of all sizes geared towards green infrastructure, stormwater runoff, and onsite water reuse projects. Click here to see the list of all their different grants, including eligibility requirements.