The Yerba Buena Community Benefit District (YBCBD) is pleased to issue the Community Benefit Fund.
Donor Name: Yerba Buena Community Benefit District
State: California
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/15/2023
Size of the Grant: up to $25,000
Details:
As part of their commitment to advancing the quality of life for residents and visitors in the Yerba Buena Neighborhood, YBCBD has $166,640 available in FY23 to award to projects that enhance neighborhood vitality and promote community connections. Up to $83,640 is available this funding cycle.
The Community Benefit Fund is governed by YBCBD’s Community Benefit Fund Committee, which is comprised of board members, and community representatives who live, work, and/or volunteer in the Yerba Buena neighborhood. The Committee considers three types of grants:
- Full Grants
- Mini-Grants
- Event Sponsorships
The Committee established the following values and approach for the Fund:
- The Fund will reflect YBCBD’s mission, values, and goals, and grant awards will be complementary to, but not duplicative of, other YBCBD investments or support.
- The Fund is committed to providing a transparent application and selection process, ensuring strong accountability to the community.
- The Fund is designed to promote community collaboration and strengthen YBCBD relationships with its constituency and the community at-large.
Funding Priorities
Funding will be awarded in four primary categories:
- Public Art – Public art provides a diverse and stimulating environment for the District’s residents, visitors, and employees. They seek works of art that meet the highest aesthetic standards reflective of diverse social and cultural perspectives. Public art may take many forms, including freestanding sculptures, murals, fountains, and artist designed functional elements such as doors, gates, fencing, lighting fixtures, street furniture and bridges. It can include “place-specific” installations, either temporary or permanent, that respond to elements or characteristics found in a particular location.
- Projects can provide new opportunities for significant creative work to be presented in public spaces and support new artistic and cultural experiences for the community. Projects will reach beyond the typical arts audience, engage the public in unusual ways, and take place in contexts outside conventional exhibition and performance spaces. Preference is given for projects that actively engage District residents and/or are created by District artists. All permanent public art projects must include a plan for ongoing security and maintenance; be publicly accessible or visible to the public free of charge; and be installed in accordance with all applicable city codes and regulations.
- Streetscape Improvements – Projects that improve the environmental and/or aesthetic feel of the neighborhood, creating a better place to live, work, study and visit are included in this category. Possible projects include capital items such as, trees as well as activities such as tree planting, community gardening, and neighborhood clean-ups. All streetscape improvement projects must include a plan for ongoing security and maintenance; be publicly accessible or visible to the public free of charge; and be installed in accordance with all applicable city codes and regulations.
- Community Building – Projects that provide community building activities and are implemented within the District will be considered for funding. Projects may include a variety of recreational, educational, social service and/or community building strategiesand events that improve the quality of life for people in the District. Projects may be open to the general population or target specific populations (such as youth or seniors) and focus on district residents and/or visitors; with a strong priority for those that are free of charge and accessible to people of all income levels. Projects can be offered on a one-time, multiple intervention, or ongoing basis. Please note that due to an increase in the number of proposals, fundraising events or gala requests with strong District connection and benefit will still be considered, but will be given a much lower priority than other requests.
- Public Safety Enhancement – Projects that prevent or reduce violence and increase safety in the District will be considered. Projects may include a variety of strategies from pedestrian safety initiatives, neighborhood watches, and security escorts to emergency telephones and increased lighting. Capital projects must include a plan for ongoing security and maintenance; benefit the public in the District; and be installed in accordance with all applicable city codes and regulations.
Funding Information
- Full grants of up to $25,000
- Mini-grants of up to $5,000 per project
- Event sponsorships of up to $5,000 per event
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must have nonprofit 501(c)(3) taxexempt status or utilize a fiscal agent who has nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
- Geography – For full grants, the proposed project or event must be implemented within the District. The project may benefit residents of the District, other San Francisco residents who participate in the project within the District, or visitors to the District. The applicant agency does not have to be located in the District, but the actual project must occur in the District. Priority will be given to projects that are operated by organizations located within the District. For mini-grants and event sponsorships, the proposed projects and/or events must occur in the neighborhood and benefit the neighborhood.
- Use of Funds – The project must not supplant public funding or be used to fill a budget deficit. Funding can be used to encourage voter participation but not for lobbying, political contributions, or to support political campaign-related activities.
For more information, visit YBCBD.
