Covid-19 Response Funds
California Creative Corp
The California Arts Council has awarded 14 organizations to administer its new CA Creative Corps grant program, designed to boost awareness & civic engagement around health, the environment, emergency preparedness & social justice through the arts.
Click this link for more information.
Go to ResourceList of Bay Area Resources
Click this link to find local partners that provide cash assistance to undocumented immigrants in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Go to ResourceONE FAIR WAGE — Emergency Coronavirus Tipped and Service Worker Support Fund
One Fair Wage Emergency Fund — Provides cash assistance to restaurant workers, car service drivers, delivery workers, personal service workers and more who need the money they aren’t getting to survive. Click the link to learn more.
Go to ResourceGeneral Rapid Response Funds
Third Wave Fund Mobilize Power Fund
A rapid response fund for direct action, community mobilizing, and healing justice.
The next deadline for the Mobilize Power Fund will be Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Please click the link for more information and stay tuned for updates on further upcoming deadlines.
Go to ResourceThe Pollination Project
The Daily Grant Program makes make micro-grants 365 days a year to grassroots global change agents who seek to spread compassion in their communities and in the world for the benefit of all. All qualified applicants in any funding area are considered within the guidelines of this program, click this link to learn more.
Go to ResourceSan Francisco Rapid Response Fund for Movement Building
The Rapid Response Fund for Movement Building provides quick-turnaround funds to frontline social justice organizations that are strengthening the voice and power of low-income residents and people of color. The fund offers grassroots organizations small, one-time grants within 30 days of receiving a funding request.
Go to ResourceUrgent Action Fund Rapid Response Fund
Urgent Action Fund’s Rapid Response Grants for Security and Opportunity support the resilience of women’s and trans* movements by providing flexible and responsive support to women’s and trans* human rights defenders who face immediate threats and by supporting advocacy when unanticipated opportunities emerge to set new legal or policy precedents.
Go to ResourceThe Emergent Fund
The Emergent Fund is a partnership between Solidaire Network, Women Donors Network, Threshold Foundation, and Democracy Alliance. Two types of efforts are supported by the fund: Efforts that support emergent strategies that help communities respond to rapidly changing conditions. This includes resisting new or amplified threats and building power to move a proactive agenda. Efforts seeking long-term social justice and economic justice in a political and social climate that seeks to dismantle such efforts.
Go to ResourceBay Area Racial Justice & Movement Building
San Francisco Foundation
Rapid Fund for Movement Building Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are one-time grants of $3,000–$15,000 for discrete projects.
The Rapid Response Fund will not process applications between November 1, 2022, through January 13, 2023. Sign up here for more updates.
Go to ResourceThe California Wellness Foundation: Advancing Wellness Grantmaking
Advancing Wellness Grantmaking: Choose which portfolio best fits your funding request: Community Well-being, Equity in Access, Economic Security and Dignity, or Leading for Power and Change.
Go to ResourceWalter and Elise Haas Fund
The first step in applying for a grant from the Walter & Elise Haas Fund is to make sure your organization or project fits with the Fund’s priorities — both generally and in terms of the specific program area you’re applying to.
Go to ResourceThe Worker Lab Innovation Fund
The Worker Lab Innovation Fund is now accepting applications! Entrepreneurs of color and women are highly encouraged to apply for this cycle and applications will be accepted between December 2022 and March 2023. Up to six fellows will be selected from the application pool to participate in a four-month program designed to provide training, mentorship, and customized support that brings their idea to life and sets them up for larger-scale investment. Fellows will receive a stipend of $5,000 per month and will participate in programming for 8-10 hours per month. At the end of the four-month fellowship, at least one and up to three final Innovation Fund winners will be selected to receive a larger investment of up to $200,000 in their idea, as well as another full year of mentorship and support.
Click this link for more information on how to apply.
Oakland Black Business Fund
Oakland Black Business Fund – In response to heightened awareness of economic injustice and the devastating disproportionate effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the Black community, Oakland Black Business Fund (OBFF) provides capital and technical assistance to empower Black entrepreneurs to catalyze the revitalization of the local economy.
Go to ResourceBank of America Charitable Foundation
Bank of America aims to develop strong partnerships with nonprofit organizations focused on issues fundamental to economic mobility in low- and moderate-income communities. We focus on improving the lives of individuals and families by investing in health, jobs, and strengthening broader community vitality by addressing needs related to small business resiliency, and community development.
In 2023, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation will issue two requests for proposals (RFPs):
Economic Mobility focused on needs of individuals and families
(Jobs and Health)
Applications accepted 1/23/2023-2/17/2023
Economic Mobility focused on needs of community
(Community Development and Small Business Resiliency)
Applications accepted: 5/29-2023 – 6/23/2023
To learn more about the areas of funding click here. To access the grant, organizations must first fill out an eligibility form linked here.
FILM: California Documentary Project Research and Development and Production Grants
California Documentary Project Research and Development Grants and Production Grants The next application deadline is November 1, 2022 (tentative grant period April 1, 2023-March 31, 2026).
The California Documentary Project (CDP) is a competitive grant program that supports the research and development and production stages of film, audio, and digital media projects that seek to document California in all its complexity. Projects should use the humanities to provide context, depth and perspective and reach and engage broad audiences through multiple means, including but not limited to radio and television broadcasts, podcasts, online distribution and interactive media, community screenings and discussions, in classrooms and libraries, at cultural centers, film festivals, and beyond. Funding is available in three categories:
- CDP NextGen Grants up to $15,000
- Research and Development Grants up to $10,000
- Production Grants up to $50,000
American Documentary
Through our broadcast, interactive and engagement programs, we’ve has nurtured generations of independent mediamakers with direct funding, mentorship, editorial support and national distribution and engagement strategies. In addition, we provide year-round support for the field through artist-centered programs that include filmmaker funds and talent incubation initiatives.
American Documentary Fillm Funds and Residencies Check website for fund and residency opportunities.
Awards & Fellowships
Artist Opportunities with upcoming deadlines
Each month, Creative Capital compiles a list of residencies, grants, and open calls for artists working in all disciplines. This month’s list includes a residency for emerging artists on a 77 acre farm, a photography competition, and a call for projects that expand live performance through science and technology.
Go to ResourceComcast RISE
Comcast RISE is a multi-year commitment to provide grants, marketing, creative, media, and technology services to small businesses owned by people of color including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American among others or women. If your business qualifies, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for monetary grants, marketing consultations, media placements, commercial creative production services, or technology services from Effectv and Comcast Business.
Applications due October 16, click this link for more information and to apply.
Go to ResourceSan Francisco Foundation Multicultural Fellowship Program
The mission of the San Francisco Foundation’s Multicultural Fellowship Program is to equip emerging leaders of color with the experience, knowledge, and network to increase racial and economic equity in the Bay Area.
Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter for their primary fellowship program choice by 11:59pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. For more information click the link.
Go to ResourceInclusive Backing Small Business Grants
Applications for the next round of Inclusive Backing small business grants are now open! This is the latest effort between American Express and Main Street America’s year-round Inclusive Backing initiative. Small business owners in older or historic commercial districts can apply for grants of $5K each as they navigate the pandemic and plan for long-term success. This cycle will provide grants to small business owners who identify as Native or Indigenous, Hispanic or Latinx, LGBTQ+ or as immigrants, refugees or forcibly displaced. The application will close at 11:59pm CT on June 30, 2022.
Click the link for more information and to apply. https://nationalmainstreetcenter.submittable.com/submit/a86832a3-dc69-4f96-88d9-00df471f9f1c/inclusive-backing-grant-program-application-cycle-4
Go to ResourceCultural Funding
California Creative Corp
The California Arts Council has awarded 14 organizations to administer its new CA Creative Corps grant program, designed to boost awareness & civic engagement around health, the environment, emergency preparedness & social justice through the arts.
Click this link for more information.
Go to ResourceITVS: Diversity Development Fund for Documentary Films
Diversity Development Fund gives producers of color up to $25,000 in research and development funding so you can develop your documentary for public media. The documentary can be on any subject, viewpoint or style as long as it is in development or pre-production.
Diversity Development Fund has one funding round per year, with a deadline in September. For more information please visit: https://itvs.org/funding/diversity-development-fund
Go to ResourceCity of Oakland Cultural Funding Grant Program
The City of Oakland Cultural Funding Program distributes roughly $1 million through a competitive grant-funding process to Oakland-based art and cultural activities that reflect the diversity of the city. Click the link for more information about upcoming deadlines and to subscribe for updates. https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/cultural-funding-grant-program
Go to ResourceArtist Grants: Free Marketing Services & Micro Grants
Driving organic traffic from Google and Bing can be a meaningful way to grow sales for free. Given the economic pain being felt by so many artists due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we want to help you by providing a free SEO analysis and recommendations.
There is currently no cap on the number of possible marketing grant recipients per month. Grantees will be selected on a rolling basis. There is no application deadline.
https://www.annuityfreedom.net/financial-literacy/artists/
Micro-grant for Artists
$100 monthly grant. We will choose one person each month from the applications that we receive to give a $100 micro-grant. The winner will be selected on the last date of each month, beginning February 28, 2021.
Applications will only be eligible for the micro-grant in the month they are submitted. https://www.annuityfreedom.net/financial-literacy/artists/
Go to ResourceCalifornia Arts Council Open Grants List
The California Arts Council developed its 2022 grant season in service of our vision of a California where all people flourish from arts access and participation, prioritizing our equity goals and inclusive of extensive public input.
This year’s grant opportunities have been rooted in several of the aspirational areas identified in the CAC’s strategic framework, including increased capacity building for local arts agencies, general operating support, multiyear grant opportunities, geographic equity, small organization prioritization, and funding for individual artists.
Go to ResourceCal Humanities Grants
Cal Humanities Funding Opportunities. Join their mailing list to receive updates and guideline for their individual funds.
- California Documentary Project Research & Development Grant The California Documentary Project (CDP) supports the research and development and production stages of film, audio, and digital media projects that seek to document California in all its complexity. The next deadline is November 23, 2023 at 5pm PT. For more information click the link.
- Humanities for All Quick Grants Quick Grants (between $1,000 and $5,000) are awarded three times a year to small-scale public humanities programs and projects which take place within one year from the award date. The next deadline is February 15, 2023 at 5 PT. To learn more, click the link.
- Humanities for All Project Grants Project Grants ($10,000 to $20,000) are awarded twice a year to large scale public humanities projects of up to two-years duration from the award date. The next deadline is January 24, 2023 at 5pm PT. To learn more, click the link.
Zellerbach Family Foundation | Community Arts
This year, through a quarterly open application process, Community Arts will award approximately $1 million in grants to individual artists and nonprofit arts and culture organizations in the Bay Area. Grants will be awarded in $5,000, $10,000 and $15,000 amounts.
Submission dates are;
March 6-20, 2023; notification date June 6, 2023 Apply Now
June 5-19, 2023; notification date September 12, 2023
September 4-18, 2023; notification date December 5, 2023
December 4-18, 2023; notification date March 12, 2024
For more information click the links above.
Go to ResourceFILM: California Documentary Project Research and Development and Production Grants
California Documentary Project Research and Development Grants and Production Grants The next application deadline is November 1, 2022 (tentative grant period April 1, 2023-March 31, 2026).
The California Documentary Project (CDP) is a competitive grant program that supports the research and development and production stages of film, audio, and digital media projects that seek to document California in all its complexity. Projects should use the humanities to provide context, depth and perspective and reach and engage broad audiences through multiple means, including but not limited to radio and television broadcasts, podcasts, online distribution and interactive media, community screenings and discussions, in classrooms and libraries, at cultural centers, film festivals, and beyond. Funding is available in three categories:
- CDP NextGen Grants up to $15,000
- Research and Development Grants up to $10,000
- Production Grants up to $50,000
Center for Cultural Innovation Quick Grant
The Quick Grant program awards reimbursement funds up to $600 to California artists, creatives, cultural practitioners, and cultural producers, and San Francisco/San Jose nonprofit arts administrators to participate in professional development activities that build administrative capacity, hone business skills, and strengthen the financial sustainability of the grantee’s practice, area of cultural production, or arts organization.
Go to ResourceAmerican Documentary
Through our broadcast, interactive and engagement programs, we’ve has nurtured generations of independent mediamakers with direct funding, mentorship, editorial support and national distribution and engagement strategies. In addition, we provide year-round support for the field through artist-centered programs that include filmmaker funds and talent incubation initiatives.
American Documentary Fillm Funds and Residencies Check website for fund and residency opportunities.
Funding Research and Tools
Foundation Research
The process of finding grants begins with research. Foundations generally give based on priority area and geographic region. A good first step is to look for funders whose interests match your organization’s mission, programs, populations served, and location. Foundations generally make grants to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status. If you don’t have exempt status, consider finding a nonprofit to work with, or to act as your fiscal sponsor.
GuideStar is a database comprised of more than 2.6 million current and historic tax-exempt organizations’ profiles as well as data directly from IRS sources including 990 forms.
Fiscal Sponsorship
Many foundations require applicants to have a fiscal sponsor if they do not have 501(c)3 status. The below organizations provide fiscal sponsorship and various levels of support and service to organizations and individuals seeking grants.
SocialGood has a broad social mission: to promote and cultivate positive influences for individuals, communities, and the environment. What does this mean for you? It means that, no matter the purpose of your project (social change, public art, environmental justice, etc.), as long as it brings a benefit to others and is non-commercial (i.e., exclusively for-profit), we can sponsor you. Moreover, we will sponsor you quickly.
Intersection for the Arts- Fiscal Sponsorship
Membership at Intersection includes fiscal sponsorship, discounts on workshops, arts coaching, coworking space, and staff support. Plus, you join a dynamic community of people making art happen in the Bay Area.
Go to ResourceNEO Philanthropy Fiscal Sponsorship
As a fiscal sponsor, NEO acts as an umbrella organization for an individual or project’s charitable work, and accepts and administers funds on its behalf. Fiscal sponsorship at NEO gives groups a non-profit “home” and allows them to focus on their programmatic work while NEO manages the financial, HR and legal elements, giving the projects the room they need to make a significant impact on the world.
Go to ResourceCovid-19 related resources
City of Oakland COVID-19 testing
City of Oakland – The City of Oakland is partnering with Brown and Toland Physicians Group, CORE, Verily, and Roots Community Health Center to provide free COVID-19 testing to people who live or work in Alameda County regardless of insurance or immigration status.
Go to ResourceRoots Clinic Drive through testing
Alameda County residents who don’t have insurance can contact the testing sites below:
Free COVID-19 Testing for the Whole Community
Click here for more information on testing in Oakland (Mon, Thurs)
Click here for more information on testing in San Jose (Thurs)
Go to ResourceCOVID-19 Drive Thru Testing at Allen Temple
Tues, Weds + Thurs 10am-4pm
Pre-registration recommended, testing is free. Click this link for more information and to pre register.
Go to ResourceCounty of Alameda COVID-19 Food Distribution, Testing, & Services Map
This map assists people in locating food distribution sites, COVID-19 testing sites, and other services during the COVID-19 shelter in place order
Go to ResourceOrder Free COVID Tests
Click this link for more information on how to receive free COVID tests delivered to your home.
Go to Resource