The Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative complements San Francisco’s funding of nonprofit services and resources for low-income residents and aims to maintain and expand these vital services by deploying financial assistance, professional services, assessment tools, and other resources to address key challenges facing the sector, including the high costs of real estate.

Since the first grants were awarded in May 2017, organizations supporting youth, seniors, immigrants, domestic violence survivors, artists and people with disabilities have received funding for lease stabilization, space acquisition and strategic restructuring. Since 2017, the NSI has provided grants to support the acquisition of over 137,000 square feet of nonprofit-owned space and the stabilization of over 227,000 square feet of nonprofit-occupied space..

For questions about the Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative and individual grant programs, please contact Risa Blumlein Keeper at rbkeeper@communityvisionca.org. 

We are accepting applications to support one-time expenses for eligible nonprofit acquisition, relocation, construction, and renovation projects.
Up to $3.1 million is available to fund:

• Grants up to $1 million for commercial real estate acquisitions or 55-year+ leases
• Grants up to $250,000 for construction on commercial spaces in 100% affordable housing developments
• Grants up to $75,000 for relocation and/or renovation costs in spaces with leases three years or longer; up to $10,000 additional available for eligible safe reopening expenses
• Technical assistance (TA) to support real estate readiness and financial planning

Funded by the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), Community Vision administers these programs in partnership with OEWD, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, and the San Francisco Arts Commission.

Application Process

STEP 1: IS YOUR NONPROFIT ELIGIBLE? 

Important eligibility requirements include:

• Must have a 501(c)3 tax exemption or be fiscally-sponsored by a tax-exempt nonprofit organization;
• Must be located in San Francisco County;
• Must be deeply-rooted in historically underserved community(ies);
• Must have a two-year track record of providing services to San Francisco residents;
• Must have site control (letter of intent, fully-executed lease, or purchase and sale agreement); and
• Must be able to attract additional resources and support for the project outside of this grant

For additional eligibility requirements, please read the program guidelines. Acquisition Grant program guidelines can be found at this link. Relocation & Renovation Grant program guidelines can be found at this link. 

STEP 2: GATHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.

As part of the application process you will be required to upload several documents. Click here to access a document checklist.

STEP 3: REGISTER FOR AN APPLICATION INFORMATION WEBINAR. 

Click here to sign up for a free webinar.

STEP 4: VISIT THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. 

You can access the Frequently Asked Questions by clicking here.

STEP 5: SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION CALL (FOR ACQUISITION GRANT PROGRAM APPLICANTS ONLY)

Consultation calls are required for Acquisition Grant applicants only and must be scheduled by Wednesday, January 20, 2021.

STEP 6: APPLY. 

Applications are now closed. 

• Application period opens: Friday, November 20, 2020
• Application information webinars:
  • Thursday, December 3, 2020: 5 pm Pacific. Click here to access the recording.
  • Wednesday, January 6, 2021: 10 am Pacific. Register here.
• Application deadlines: Acquisition and Relocation & Renovation Grant applications are due by 12 pm Pacific on Friday, January 29th, 2021. Technical Assistance (TA) Program applications are being accepted on a rolling basis.
• Consultation calls: Consultation calls are required only for nonprofits applying for an Acquisition Grant and will take place Monday, January 11 – Friday, January 22, 2021. The deadline to schedule a call is Wednesday, January 20, 2021.
• Last day for submitting questions: The deadline to ask a question is Wednesday, January 20, 2021.
• Target date for award notification: Monday, March 22, 2021
• Grant Period: April 2021-February 2022

Community Vision is dedicated to anti-racist practices and to building an anti-racist organization. We recognize that a history of discriminatory financial practices and intentional disinvestment have contributed to a lack of economic progress in low-income communities and communities of color.

Acquisition Grants

Acquisition Grants provide critical financial support to assist nonprofits in becoming owners of their facilities, and to expand the total amount of nonprofit-owned commercial space in San Francisco. Up to $2.2 million will be available in the current round of funding. Note that consultation calls are required and must be scheduled by January 20, 2021.

Prior to applying, read the Program Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

Applications are now closed.

Relocation & Renovation Grants

Relocation & Renovation Grants support expenses associated with lease renewals, relocation, renovation and construction. Organizations must have a fully executed letter of intent (LOI), purchase and sale agreement (PSA), or lease with a term of three years or more in order to apply. Up to $925,000 is available in this current round of funding. Organizations applying for up to $75,000 in Relocation & Renovation Grants are eligible to apply for an additional grant of up to $10,000 for reopening services to the public.

Prior to applying, read the Program Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

Applications are now closed.

Technical Assistance Program

The Technical Assistance Program supports organizations facing permanent displacement in the next 18 months or barriers to growth due to real estate constraints, or that are in the process of negotiating a lease with a nonprofit sponsor for commercial space located in a 100% affordable housing development.

Organizations can choose the type of technical assistance that best meets their needs, including:

• Organizational Engagements: Community Vision will provide up to 40 hours of support on your real estate project. Click here to apply. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and approved/declined within 45 days.
• Mini-Consults: Community Vision will provide up to 5 hours of analysis, application assistance, and advice. Click here to schedule your mini-consult.
• Rapid Response Consultation Calls: Community Vision will provide up to 2 hours of referrals, feedback, and thought partnership. Click here to schedule your Rapid Response consulting call.

Join us to learn more about the programs and application process.

Thursday, December 3, 2020
This webinar has passed.
Click here to access the recording.

Wedneday, January 6, 2021
This webinar has passed.
Click here to access the recording.

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