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. In total, Community Vision has awarded $15.4 million in NSI: Acquisition and Lease Stabilization grants to support the acquisition of 178,047 square feet of new, permanent nonprofit-owned space, and to support over 273,272 square feet of high-quality leased facilities.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

• Acquisitions: Grants up to $1 million for eligible commercial real estate acquisitions or 55-year+ leases
• Organizations with leases for 3-4 years: Grants up to $50,000 for lease stabilization costs
• Organizations with leases 5+ years: Grants up to $75,000 for lease stabilization costs

Technical Assistance is also available to support real estate readiness and financial planning. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all available slots are filled.

For questions about the Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative and individual grant programs, please contact Community Vision’s grantmaking team at grantmaking@communityvisionca.org. 

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? 

Applicant eligibility requirements include:

• The organization and project must be located in San Francisco County.
• The organization must be incorporated, or have a fiscal sponsor that is incorporated, and be in good standing as a tax-exempt public benefit corporation under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3).
• The organization must have an established track record of at least two years providing direct or indirect services to members of low-income communities.
• Not be in default on any grants or loans from: (1) Community Vision Capital and Consulting; (2) Any City departments (including but not limited to the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, Grants for the Arts or the San Francisco Arts Commission); (3) Northern California Grantmakers Arts Loan Fund; (4) the Center for Cultural Innovation and/or (5) any other City contractor/re-grantor.

For additional project eligibility requirements, please read the:

• Acquisition Grant Program Guidelines 
• Lease Stabilization Grant Program Guidelines
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Priority will be given to organizations that: 

• Are deeply rooted in low-income communities, communities of color, and historically underserved communities in San Francisco.
• Are facing significant financial constraints within the nonprofit sector.
• Can demonstrate support for their efforts from multiple sectors.
• Clearly identifies how new beneficiaries will be acquired and existing beneficiaries served effectively by the proposed space.
• Can demonstrate evidence of planning to identify and mitigate financial risk.

STEP 2: GATHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS

As part of the application process you will be required to answer several narrative questions and upload several documents.

• Acquisition Grant Program Applicants: click here to access a checklist of required information.
• Lease Stabilization Grant Program Applicants: click here to access a checklist of required information.

STEP 3: REGISTER FOR AN APPLICATION INFORMATION WEBINAR 

Join us for an application information session:

• Wednesday, December 15, 2021: 11 am PST. Click here to watch the recording.
• Wednesday, January 19, 2022: 6 pm PST. Click here to watch the recording. 

STEP 4: VISIT THE FAQs

You can access the Frequently Asked Questions by clicking here.

STEP 5: ACQUISITION GRANTS ONLY: SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION CALL

Consultation calls are only required for Acquisition Grant Program applications. Consultation calls are required and will take place between Wednesday, January 5, 2022 and Friday, January 21, 2022. Consultation calls must be scheduled by Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Click here to schedule your consultation call. If no time slots are available, email grantmaking@communityvisionca.org.

STEP 6: APPLY

Applications must be received by 12 pm PST on Friday, January 28, 2022 to be considered for an award. The online application system will shut down at 12 pm PST on Friday, January 28, 2022. If you have any technical questions, email grantmaking@communityvisionca.org.

Acquisition Grant Program 

Lease Stabilization Program

• Application period opens: Wednesday, December 1, 2021
• Application information webinars:
  • Wednesday, December 15, 2021: 11 am PST. Click here to watch the recording.
  • Wednesday, January 19, 2022: 6 pm PST. Click here to watch the recording. 
• Consultation calls: Consultation calls are required and will take place Wednesday, January 5 – Friday, January 21, 2022. The deadline to schedule a call is Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Click here to schedule your consultation call.
• Questions: Questions submitted after Wednesday, January 19, 2022 may not be answered due to capacity. All answers to questions submitted by Wednesday, January 19, 2022 will be posted online within four (4) business days; answers to questions submitted after January 19, 2022 may not be posted online. You can submit a question by emailing grantmaking@communityvisionca.org.
• Application deadlines: Applications for Acquisition and Lease Stabilization Grants are due by 12 pm PST on Friday, January 28, 2022. Applications for technical assistance accepted on a rolling basis until all slots are filled.
• Target date for award notification: Week of March 21, 2022
• Grant disbursement deadline: Tuesday, February 28, 2023

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. Acquisition Grants can fund up to 25% of the property’s purchase price ($1 million maximum). In the current funding round, up to $2 million will be available for distribution.

Note that consultation calls will take place between Wednesday, January 5, 2022 and Friday, January 21, 2022. Consultation calls are required for Acquisition Grant Program Applicants and must be scheduled by Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Click here to schedule your consultation call. If no time slots are available, email grantmaking@communityvisionca.org.

Prior to applying, read the:

• Program Guidelines
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Checklist of required information.

To be eligible for an Acquisition Grant, in addition to the above applicant eligibility requirement, projects must meet all of the following criteria:

• The organization must have site control of the property intended for acquisition, as demonstrated by a fully-executed Letter of Intent (LOI) to purchase or lease for 55 years or longer, a fully-executed Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA), a fully-executed lease for 55 years or longer, or a recorded Grant Deed. This program does not allow organizations to switch sites after the application has been submitted. If your organization determines the intended site is no longer viable after the application deadline has passed, we will withdraw your organization’s application from the pool and invite a new application in a future round.
• If the organization is applying with a Grant Deed, the property must have been acquired on or after May 1, 2021.
• The proposed project must be the acquisition of newly nonprofit-owned space — organizations purchasing properties that are currently owned and/or controlled by nonprofits will not be eligible.
• The proposed project must not result in a decline in employees or program activity within San Francisco.
• The proposed project must not result in the eviction of any commercial tenant, or loss of housing. Projects with no displacement may be prioritized.
• The requested funds are not supporting startup activities for a new organization.

Applications are due by 12 pm PST on Friday, January 28, 2022. 

Lease Stabilization Grants

Lease Stabilization Grants support expenses associated with lease renewals, relocation, and renovation. 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 $500,000 is available in this current round of funding. 

Prior to applying, read the:

• Program Guidelines
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Checklist of required information

To be eligible for a Lease Stabilization Grant, in addition to the above applicant eligibility requirement, projects must meet all of the following criteria:

• Organizations must be facing permanent displacement or barriers to growth due to real estate constraints.
• Must provide evidence of site control includes a fully executed Letter of Intent with lease terms, lease, or an accepted purchase offer. Leases executed on or after October 1, 2020 are eligible. This program does not allow organizations to switch sites after the application has been submitted. If your organization determines the intended site is no longer viable after the application deadline has passed, we will withdraw your organization’s application from the pool and invite a new application in a future round.
• The property must be located in San Francisco County.
• Lease renewals are eligible if the grant request is for costs determined eligible by these program guidelines.
• Provide evidence of lease terms for a minimum of 3 years.
• The proposed project does not result in evictions or a decline in employees or program activity within San Francisco.
• The requested funds are not supporting startup activities for a new organization.

Applications are due by 12 pm PST on Friday, January 28, 2022. 

Technical Assistance Program

Technical Assistance services can include: financial planning, space planning, identifying/evaluating potential sites, assistance with lease negotiations, developing construction budgets and project timelines, analyzing potential funding sources, and assistance preparing budgets and projections for funding or financing applications. Technical assistance is offered through the following services:

• Organizational Consulting: Community Vision will provide up to 40 hours of support on your real estate project. Apply for a full consult. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all available slots are filled.
• Mini-Consults: Community Vision will provide up to 5 hours of analysis and assistance. Schedule a Rapid Response Consultation Call to start.
• Rapid Response Consultation Calls: Community Vision will provide up to 2 hours of referrals, feedback, and thought partnership. Schedule a call now.
• On-Demand Nonprofit Resource Page: Over 25 free downloadable templates and guides on nonprofit real estate and financial management best practices.

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

Wednesday, December 15, 2021
11 am PST
Click here to watch the recording

Wednesday
January 19, 2022
6 pm PST
Click here to watch the recording

Acquisition Grant Program 

Lease Stabilization Grant Program

Board Resolution
Template for
Acquisition

Sources & Uses
Template for
Acquisition

Board Resolution
Template for Lease
Stabilization

Sources & Uses
Template for Lease
Stabilization

General Program Resources

Board
Giving
Template

Budget &
Cash Flow
Spreadsheet

Existing
Tenant
Template

OEWD
Bidding
Guidelines

OEWD
Prevailing Wage
Instructions

Multi-Year
Budget
Spreadsheet

Community Vision’s Racial Equity Statement

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. We provide capital and technical assistance for low-income communities and communities of color to ensure fairness in opportunities, resources, and rights for everyone.

The City of San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development’s Racial Equity Statement

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development is committed to advancing racial and economic justice by instituting programs and services that focus on equity-driven growth to make San Francisco a better place to live, work, and do business. This requires proactively implementing strategies that reverse the impacts of racially discriminatory policies that have led to generations of disinvestment and economic inequities that have significantly disrupted the economic growth and prosperity of communities of color. We recognize that these funds are only a small part of the solution and we are committed to aligning our work beyond this investment.

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