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Operating Grants

Through the Office of Cultural Affairs, the City of San José offers several programs of financial support to ensure a continuing and rich variety of cultural opportunities for its residents as well as visitors to the city.

The City of San José awards Operating Grants (OpG) to a limited number of professionally-managed San Jose arts/cultural organizations with ongoing, year-round arts programming. The grant supports general operating needs.

2025-2026 OPERATING GRANTS

  • APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2025 by 4:59 PM
  • Grant Applications will be open for submissions on WebGrants after the pre-application workshop.

PRE-APPLICATION WORKSHOP (REQUIRED)

A required FY25-26 OpG pre-application workshop will be held on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM via Zoom. Register for the workshop at:

https://sanjoseca.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UhwvxrdNQZ-IfDj6lvVf-A 

  • The FY 25-26 OpG Pre-Application Workshop will be recorded and made available after December 11, 2024.
  • NOTE: Applicants who are considering submitting an Operating Grant are REQUIRED to attend the pre-application workshop OR review the recorded workshop before applying.

Two-Year OpG Application Eligibility

Each year, certain organizations are eligible to submit a two-year application. During the FY 2025-2026 funding cycle, the two-year application covers both FY 2025-2026 and FY 2026-2027 grant cycles.

Two-Year Application

Applicant organizations that meet all the following criteria are eligible to submit a two-year application in the FY 2025-2026 grant cycle:

  • Have annual operating expenditures averaging ABOVE $750,000 in the three most recently completed fiscal years (For non-arts organizations, substitute documented arts-specific expenditures in place of annual operating expenditures).
  • Have received an Operating Grant in the past two funding cycles, and
  • Did not incur an operating deficit at the end of FY 2023-2024 and are not projecting an
    operating deficit at the end of FY 2024-2025, OR incurred an operating deficit at the end
    of FY 2023-2024 or projects an operating deficit at the end of FY 2024-2025 but can
    demonstrate that the deficit did not or will not exceed 15 percent (15%) of its unrestricted
    fund balance (unrestricted net assets).

All other applicant organizations must submit a one-year application for the FY 2025-2026 grant program cycle.

QUESTIONS? Email questions to ron.muriera@sanjoseca.gov