Grants & Artistic Support

Dancers’ Group maintains this calendar of grants, residencies, and opportunities that support dance and dance-makers in the Bay Area. This calendar is not exhaustive and details can change – please confirm details with each grant/opportunity.

Informational: Mon, Aug 24 at 12pm

CA for the Arts: Grassroots Artists Advocacy Program Cohort 3

The Grassroots Artists Advocacy Program (GAAP) is a cohort-based fellowship program for artist advocates that live or work in Oakland or San Francisco. Artist Advocates include diverse artists, culture bearers, and creative workers with a dedicated and committed artistic or cultural practice who directly engage in advocacy and policy development to advance the holistic well-being of the field.

LOI Deadline: Fri, Aug 28 5PM PT

Belonging In Oakland: A Just City Cultural Fund

Belonging in Oakland: A Just City Cultural Fund (the Fund) is committed to providing three-year grants to Oakland-based collaborations between cultural and social change organizations. Eligible organizations must either have nonprofit status or be fiscally sponsored by a nonprofit. They should also have a proven record of shaping racial and social justice-oriented policies or practices in sectors such as community development, economic justice, educational equity, environmental justice, sustainability, climate change, food justice, health & well-being, and housing rights, immigrant & refugee rights, land use & spatial justice, participation in the civic realm, public safety, and workers’ rights. The Fund seeks such organizations to form or continue collaborations with civically-engaged, Oakland artists/cultural practitioners who are deeply rooted in communities that have borne the brunt of systemic racism and social and economic inequality.

Deadline: Fri, Aug 28 at 11:59AM

Center for Cultural Innovation: Cali Futures

CALI Futures supports artists and cultural workers who are contributing to alternative efforts that hold promise for greater sustainability, sense of belonging, and self-determination than current conventional systems offer. Launched in 2026, CALI Futures (the “Fund”) supports artists and cultural workers across California–individually and in teams–who are meaningfully contributing to alternative efforts outside of conventional nonprofit and for-profit arts and culture systems that have not worked for everyone. This Fund encourages those working in alternative efforts focused on income, ownership, and care, and uplifts the role of artists and cultural workers in shaping and sustaining these efforts. By supporting alternative efforts operating at systemic levels to provide greater financial stability, strengthen creative ownership, and deepen connections to each other, CALI Futures supports the work that makes thriving conditions more possible for the broader arts ecosystem. Project-restricted grants of $5,000 will be awarded through a competitive grant application process.

Deadline: QUARTERLY – Sep 1

The Svane Family Foundation: Culture Forward Grant

Culture Forward is a $5 million grant initiative by The Svane Family Foundation supporting arts and culture projects that attract families, students, and young professionals to Downtown San Francisco. Grants are open to individual artists, collectives, and arts and culture organizations. Applications will be reviewed and grants will be distributed on a quarterly basis.

Deadline: Fri, Sep 4 by 11:59PM PST

Radiate Fellowship

RAWdance is excited to launch a 3rd round of the Radiate Fellowship — an 18-month paid opportunity supporting early-career dance artists as they pursue their own journeys and goals (artistic, administrative, activist, and any permutation in between) by expanding resources, emphasizing relationship building, and providing a mindful structure for explorations and discovery. Radiate focuses on elevating underrepresented artistic voices and visions through personalized, individual support. Each experience in the program is designed by the Fellow to serve their specific needs, with support from the team at RAWdance.

Complete one of the registration forms by Wed, Sept 2

Organization Application due by Mon, Sep 14

Artist Application due by Mon, Sept 21

CA$H Dance Grant

CA$H Dance supports a wide range of practices, artists, and organizations across the San Francisco Bay Area. Grants may support a project, your artistic process, or your broader creative practice. That means your work does not have to fit one model or lead to a finished performance to be eligible. The grant awards in 2026 are:

$5,000 for Artists and Organizations.
Approximately 20 grants are awarded each round.

The program is funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation with additional support from the Fleishhacker Foundation, Grants for the Arts, Kenneth Rainin Foundation, and the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation. CA$H was designed by artists for artists in 1999 through the organizational work of Dancers’ Group and Theatre Bay Area.

Deadline: QUARTERLY – Oct 13

Zellerbach Family Foundation: Community Arts

Supports the creation of work by Bay Area artists and access to the arts for Bay Area communities. Grantseekers must be located in or serving communities in Alameda, Contra Costa or San Francisco Counties. While Community Arts grants are awarded as general operating support, application materials must include information about an upcoming project. Applications must be submitted by 5:00pm on the application cycle due date. Late and/or incomplete applications will be considered in the following cycle, if eligible. $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000.

Deadline: Tue, Oct 20 at 2PM

Grants for the Arts: Community Challenge Grants Program

The Community Challenge Grants (CCG) program recognizes our communities’ interdependence and collective strength and funds neighborhood beautification projects that foster resilience, safety, and belonging in San Francisco.

General Eligibility:

The applicant organization must be a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization or the applicant may use a fiscal sponsor that meets this criteria
The applicant or key project staff must have successfully completed projects of similar size and scope or work with a qualifying fiscal sponsor
The project location must take place in the City and County of San Francisco with approval by the property owner(s)

Grant Request Range: $50,000 - $150,000

Deadline: Mon, Aug 31

Chalk Hill Artist Residency

Chalk Hill Artist Residency is a unique opportunity for artists across mediums to work and stay at the beautiful Warnecke Ranch and Vineyard. The program is located in Sonoma County, an hour and a half north of San Francisco. Talented artists from a diverse range of abilities and geographical locations are able to find the space and time needed to pursue creative work. Chalk Hill Artist Residency offers the use of the artist house, studio space, and access to the ranch property. The property's oak woodlands, hiking trails, vineyards, and private access to the Russian River are sources of inspiration for residents.

Deadline: Tue, Oct 6 at 5pm ET

Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Sponsored by the U.S. government, the program expands perspectives through academic and professional advancement and cross-cultural dialogue. In partnership with more than 140 countries worldwide, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers unparalleled opportunities in all academic disciplines to passionate and accomplished graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals from all backgrounds. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad. Grant lengths and dates vary by award.

Deadline: Mini-Grants are offered monthly and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Submit your application before the end of the month to be considered for the next month’s award.

ARTogether: Mini-Grants for Artists

Awards $500 to Bay Area refugee and immigrant artists for work on a current or ongoing art project. Preference will be given to refugee artists and to projects which are beyond the development stage.

Deadline: Applications are reviewed and grants are awarded monthly based on available funds. Apply by the 10th of every month.

First Peoples Fund: Yéigo Action Grant

Offers grants for individual Native artists and culture bearers who are in need of quick financial assistance for an artistic opportunity, emergency situation and/or sudden unanticipated expense related to their art practice or business. $100-$5,000.

Deadline: Monthly, visit each chapter’s page for their guidelines.

The Awesome Foundation

Each fully autonomous chapter of the Awesome Foundation supports awesome projects through micro-grants, usually given out monthly. There are chapters in Marin (currently inactive), Oakland (currently inactive), San Francisco, San Jose, and Santa Cruz. Awesome Disability and Awesome On the Water are independent chapters of the Awesome Foundation. $1,000.

Deadline: Applications for residencies at different parks are continuously updated and rotated throughout the year. Visit the website for current listings and deadlines.

National Parks Arts Foundation: Residencies

Works directly with select artists and the National Park Service (and their affiliates) to create unique Artist in Residency programs within the wonders of the National Parks. The NPAF is currently active in parks across the nation.

More info at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/allresidencies

Deadline: Applications are open periodically throughout the year.

Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants

Provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies to artists in financial need who are creating in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, and choreography.

Deadline: Ongoing; Applications must be received by the JFLA at least 3 months prior to the beginning date of the project.

Japan Foundation Los Angeles: Arts & Culture Mini Grant

Supports projects that will enhance further understanding of Japanese arts and culture. Applications can be accepted only for projects that take place within the 13 states west of the Rocky Mountains. Up to $5,000, paid in the form of reimbursement.

Deadline: Ongoing; For online projects, applications are accepted on a rolling basis and must be received by JFNY at least 1 month prior to the project start date. For in-person/hybrid projects, applications must be submitted at least 3 months prior to the project start date.

Japan Foundation New York (JFNY): Grant for Arts & Culture

Aims to support projects that will further understanding of Japanese arts and culture. They accept applications from non-profit organizations for projects that take place within the 37 states east of the Rocky Mountains, plus Washington DC, regardless of the location of the applicant organizations. Up to $5,000, paid in the form of reimbursement.

Deadline: Ongoing. Recommended to apply 6-8 weeks before your presentation date.

Foundation for Contemporary Arts: Emergency Grant

$500 - $3,000. Provides urgent funding for visual and performing artists who:

Have sudden, unanticipated opportunities to present their work to the public when there is insufficient time to seek other sources of funding
Incur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates.

Deadline: Ongoing; funding decisions are generally made within eight weeks of submitting an application.

Community Foundation for Monterey County: Organizational Development Grants

Supports focused, strategic projects that strengthen a nonprofit’s ability to be resilient now and in the future. Grants can help organizations make progress in addressing unique, non-recurring management or leadership situations or to significantly strengthen their internal functioning and therefore ability to advance their mission. Typically $5,000 - $10,000.

Deadline: Ongoing; funding decisions are generally made within eight weeks of submitting an application.

Community Foundation for Monterey County: Opportunity Grants

Supports emerging organizations and ventures, urgent needs and other time-sensitive efforts where a small amount of money will make a difference. Typically $5,000 - $20,000.

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