Community Challenge Grants

Provides funding to community groups, businesses, schools and nonprofit organizations to make physical improvements to their neighborhoods.

download guidelines & applications

Five Key Eligibility Requirements

1: CCG provides grants to the following types of organizations: 

1. Nonprofit organizations
2. Community or neighborhood groups
3. San Francisco businesses or merchant associations
4. San Francisco based Community Benefit Districts (CBDs)
5. Schools

2: Grantees must meet vendor requirements of the City and County of San Francisco. 
CCG funds are issued to San Francisco vendor approved nonprofit organizations with a 501 (c) 3 status. Local community groups, businesses, or schools performing a community project in their neighborhood must have a nonprofit fiscal sponsor. The grant contractor must be an approved and compliant City supplier. For more information on becoming a supplier, please visit https://sfcitypartner.sfgov.org.

3: Funded projects require community participation and contributions. 
The CCG awards a minimum grant of $15,000 up to a maximum grant of $175,000. All grantees must provide a match of cash, volunteer labor (valued at $25/hr), donated materials and/or supplies, or services. Please review the full guidelines for detailed rules pertaining to match requirements. 

Parameter	CCG Grant
Budget	$15,000 to $175,000
Duration/Contract Period	12 Months
Match Requirement	35% for all projects

4. Projects must demonstrate minimum requirements, and should:

• Emphasize self-help and involve neighborhood residents in the planning and implementation of the project.
• ​Meet all of the application requirements, including developing work plans, budgets, maintenance plans, obtain insurance, permit approvals (where required), and be prepared to comply with grant administration protocols defined in the guidelines. 
• Have a 5-year maintenance plan detailing ongoing maintenance after project completion, if a public art project, the maintenance plan must extend to 10-years. Identify an individual or entity responsible for maintenance as well as the source of funds to support proposed maintenance plan.
• ​Include installation of interpretive signs explaining the function of the project to the public and acknowledging CCG, including the CCG logo. Signs may include other project partners and funders, as desired.
• Costs associated with such signage may be included in your grant request.

Projects must not:

• Duplicate or replace funding for an existing private or public program
• Duplicate existing maintenance programs
• ​Conflict with existing City policies 

5. If awarded funds, grantees must comply with all CCG requirements, including:

• Attend a pre-contracting meeting and enter into a contract with the CCG within three months of selection, or risk funds being revoked
• Acquire all necessary City permits, depending upon the type of grant, prior to begin project work
• Acquire and maintain the necessary insurance through the life of the project
• Submit detailed reports for disbursement of grant funds on a reimbursement basis
• Notify CCG staff of key project milestones and participate in grant administration staff site visits
• File quarterly status reports, project drawings (if applicable), and project completion reports

Please review the full list of eligibility requirements. The information provided above is a summary of select eligibility criteria and is not intended to replace in whole, or part, the requirements of a grantee as detailed in the eligibility requirements and contract agreement. 

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