San Francisco Sun

Mayor London Breed and City Administrator Carmen Chu have announced over $14 million in funding for arts organizations in San Francisco. The Grants for the Arts (GFTA) program will distribute these funds to more than 260 organizations, providing crucial general operating support.

Since its establishment in 1961, GFTA has distributed over $400 million to support San Francisco's nonprofit arts community. This year marks the introduction of a two-year grant cycle aimed at helping organizations plan ahead and reduce application time, allowing them to focus on their missions.

Mayor Breed emphasized the importance of investing in arts and culture as part of the city's economic recovery. "Creating events across San Francisco that are centered around arts and culture is what makes our City so special," she stated.

Suzanne Ford, Executive Director of the San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade & Celebration Committee, expressed gratitude for being a recipient of the first two-year awards from GFTA. "These grants have been vital to ensuring that San Francisco Pride remains free," she said.

Rodrigo E. Durán from Cultura Y Arte Nativa de las Américas highlighted how the funding would empower BIPOC artists and strengthen local economies through multicultural events. Tony Lau from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce noted that GFTA's support helps facilitate the annual Chinese New Year Festival & Parade.

Brendan Lange from Gardens of Golden Gate Park, Greg Stern from SFJAZZ, Andrew C. Smith from The Lab SF, Angel Adeyoha from Folsom Street, Tom F. Murphy from Friends of JGA, and Kristen Jacobson, Director of GFTA all echoed similar sentiments about how this funding supports their respective organizations' missions and operations.

The complete list of grantees for Fiscal Year 2025 is available on the Grants for the Arts website.