How to Apply

We strongly encourage all interested individuals to attend one of our How-to-Apply Workshops before applying for a small grant. Please see below for upcoming workshop dates.

All interested applicants must apply through the Hope SF Small Grants Program Application Portal hosted by Submittable.

If you have any issues with account creation or access, you can review Submittable’s instructions here. You can also email HopeSFSGP[at]gmail.com and/or hopesfsmallgrants[at]sff.org for assistance.

Have documentation ready including the project budget (how you plan to spend the money) and a letter of agreement from your fiscal sponsor that states they agree to be your fiscal sponsor for the project proposed. Please upload this letter in the documents section at the time you submit your Small Grants Program application (if applicable). Please refer to the FAQ below for more information on fiscal sponsors.

You will receive an email notification about the status of your application within 60 days. If awarded, a grant agreement will be emailed to your designated point of contact and a check will be mailed to the address provided thereafter.

As a way of working with and within community the Hope SF Small Grants Program will hold quarterly How-To-Apply Workshops within the four Hope SF communities. Quarterly workshops will provide technical support on how to apply, hear from Hope SF Residents and answer any questions.

How to Apply Workshops

Please check back in January 2025.

What is a fiscal sponsor?

Applicants must connect with a fiscal sponsor if they are not a designated 501(c)(3) organization. A fiscal sponsor is a nonprofit organization that provides fiduciary oversight, financial management, and other administrative services to help build the capacity of charitable projects. Visit councilofnonprofits.org for more information.

If you require fiscal sponsor support, please contact the Small Grants Program administrator at HopeSFSGP@gmail.com for technical assistance.

Can my organization apply multiple times for this grant program?

The Small Grants Program does not fund ongoing programming; therefore, your project will not be considered for additional funding if it does not have a different scope and design from your previous awarded project. If your organization is applying for another unique project in the community, your proposal will be considered. Please note, that organizations may only be awarded two grants per fiscal year from the Small Grants Program.

I am a current small grants program grantee, am i eligible for other grants from the San Francisco Foundation in the same fiscal year?

Yes. If you receive a Small Grants Program grant, you are still eligible to apply for and receive funds from other grantmaking opportunities at the San Francisco Foundation.

I am a current San Francisco Foundation grantee. Can I apply for a Small Grants Program grant?

Yes, current grantees of the San Francisco Foundation are eligible to apply for a Small Grants Program grant, given a proposal’s strong alignment with the grant program’s goals and criteria.

I have a very urgent request. What if my proposed action, activity, or intervention is within a week’s time?

Due to the time frame for application review, funding decision and processing payments, applicants that are successfully approved for funding would not receive funds until at least 5 weeks after the application submission deadline. We ask that applicants plan their budgets accordingly.

When will I hear about the status of my application?

We strive to review applications, schedule panel interviews, and respond to applicants within 30 days after submission deadlines, whether an applicant is awarded or not.