Grants Guidelines

1. Authority

These guidelines are in all respects subordinate to the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Standing Rules of the corporation.

2. General

SF Pride awards annual grants to non-profit community partners within the San Francisco Bay Area. Community Partner Grants represent the primary mechanism for local non-profit reinvestment. Additional discretionary grants may be made to external non-profit organizations on a case-by-case basis. The organization retains full discretion regarding grant distribution and is under no obligation to issue grants in any given cycle.

3. Scope and Activities Supported

A. Standard grant awards to a single organization typically do not exceed $3,000 in a fiscal year. B. Total aggregate discretionary grants typically do not exceed $10,000 annually. C. Discretionary grants are awarded to incorporated organizations with missions aligned with LGBTQ+ community advancement and Pride celebration organizing. Grants are never made to individuals. D. Grants may provide conference attendance scholarships, specific project funding, event sponsorships, or operational assistance. E. The organization prioritizes mentoring relationships with emerging Pride celebrations domestically and internationally.

4. Administration

A. Grant requests must be submitted in writing to the Executive Director. B. The Executive Director reviews applications and submits them with evaluative commentary to the Grants Committee. C. The Grants Committee evaluates requests and presents recommendations to the Board for approval. D. Evaluation criteria include:

The applicant’s track record and prior grant compliance;
Alternative revenue sources available to the applicant;
Community impact and populations served; and
Alignment with diversity and intersectional community needs.

5. Local Project Grants

The corporation may, at its discretion, award a local project grant of up to $1,000 for a unique community display, activity, or event aligned with organizational values and freely accessible to the public.

6. Conversion of Loans

The Board of Directors retains the authority to forgive, in whole or in part, the principal balance of any loan issued under the Loans Policy, reclassifying the forgiven balance as a charitable grant.

Approved by the Board: February 1, 1999
Amended: April 3, 2001