Investing in spaces, projects, and people to build joyful civic engagement.
Civic Space Foundation’s largest recent grant went to Into the Streets for First Thursdays & Mini Grants, a $2,060,000 award in 2025 that points to a strong emphasis on street-level civic activation. The foundation, which operates the Civic Joy Fund for San Francisco work, backs projects, spaces, and people that build joyful civic engagement through public-space use, arts and culture, and community-led neighborhood initiatives. Its recent grants show a practical model of funding local organizers, merchants, artists, and event producers who create gatherings in specific districts and corridors. That pattern is visible across awards such as $643,563 to Noise Pop Industries LLC for Summer of Music and $120,000 to BEChinatown for Night Markets. The grantees include neighborhood associations, community groups, small businesses, and cultural organizations, suggesting a grantmaker that uses direct support to animate streets, support local programming, and strengthen place-based civic life. Program labels like Mini Grants, Pilot Programs, Adopt a Block, and SF Drag also indicate a mix of small-scale and larger project funding tied to public-facing activation.
Civic Space Foundation supports several closely related cause areas, all centered on civic life in public space. For arts and placemaking, it gave $289,441 to Broke But Grand LLC for Paint the City, a grant tied to visual intervention in the streetscape. In neighborhood stewardship, it awarded $16,750 to Precita Eyes Muralist Assoc for Adopt a Block, alongside smaller awards for related block-level work. The foundation also funds street commerce and programmed gathering. It gave $126,340 to Chris & Greg Events LLC for Night Markets and $100,000 to Community Youth Center of SF for the same program. Music and cultural programming are another clear thread: $10,000 went to Dwntown Comm Benefit District for Summer of Music, while $47,122 supported BAS Holdings LLC for SF Drag. Across these examples, the common denominator is public-facing programming that activates specific places.
Recent grants cluster in a wide range, from $5,150 to $2,060,000. The middle of the distribution appears to sit well below the headline award, with repeated project-level grants at $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000. The 2025 list also shows multiple awards to the same program labels, especially Night Markets, Mini Grants, and Pilot Programs, which suggests recurring program streams rather than isolated one-off gifts. Civic Space Foundation is a public charity and a regular funder, and the available records show no unsolicited-application route in the program descriptions. The grantee mix includes LLCs, business associations, and nonprofit organizations, indicating flexible support for both formal nonprofits and local operators delivering civic programming.
$3M
$6.4M
$8M
$5.7M
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Grant dollars are heavily concentrated in San Francisco. Recent recipients there include Into the Streets, Noise Pop Industries LLC, BEChinatown, North Beach Business Assoc, and Precita Eyes Muralist Assoc. The list also reaches other U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Washington, DC, Bend, and Orem? No, the provided recent grants list names Bend, OR; Palm Springs, CA; Los Angeles, CA; and Washington, DC. Every listed grant in the current sample goes to a U.S. recipient, with 100% of grants in the United States. California recipients dominate the list, but the foundation’s giving is not limited to its headquarters city.
It funds public-space activations, arts and culture events, street activations, community-led neighborhood initiatives, and place-based programming. Recent grant labels include First Thursdays & Mini Grants, Summer of Music, Night Markets, Paint the City, Adopt a Block, Pilot Programs, and SF Drag.
The program descriptions say no for the Civic Joy Fund streams listed. Both the San Francisco-focused Civic Joy Fund and the related grant descriptions indicate that they do not accept unsolicited requests.
Recent awards range from $5,150 to $2,060,000, with many grants clustered at $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000. The largest listed grant is $2,060,000, while several project grants sit in the five-figure range.
San Francisco receives the most visible support in the recent grants list, with awards to groups such as Into the Streets, Noise Pop Industries LLC, BEChinatown, and Precita Eyes Muralist Assoc. The broader sample also includes Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Bend, and Washington, DC.
The grantees include neighborhood associations, community groups, small businesses, event companies, arts organizations, and business associations. Examples in the recent list include merchant associations, community centers, LLCs, and mural or music organizations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Civic Space Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants must provide their name, contact information, organization, city, and state, and describe a proposed Civic Joy-aligned project, its purpose and impact, beneficiaries, community-building approach, budget, timeline, and intended partners or vendors. The form is oriented toward everyday people and local leaders seeking to run a public event in their city.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Into The Streets | San Francisco, CA | $1,276,500 | 2026 | First Thursdays & Mini Eid St. Fair |
| Valencia Corridor Merch Assoc | San Francisco, CA | $350,000 | 2026 | Neighborhood Night Markets |
| Johns Grill | San Francisco, CA | $115,000 | 2026 | Third Thursdays |
| BE Chinatown | San Francisco, CA | $114,594 | 2026 | Neighborhood Night Market |
| Excelsior Action Group | San Francisco, CA | $112,973 | 2026 | Night Market & Block Party |
| Urban Land Institute | Washington, DC | $102,500 | 2026 | Market St Reimagined |
| Community Youth Center of SF | San Francisco, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | Neighborhood Night Markets |
| SF Black Wallstreet Fdn | San Francisco, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | Neighborhood Night Markets |
| Noe Valley Merch & Prof Assoc | San Francisco, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | Neighborhood Night Markets |
| Cole Valley Merchants Assoc | San Francisco, CA | $75,000 | 2026 | Neighborhood Night Markets |
| Soma West Comm Benefit Dist | San Francisco, CA | $60,000 | 2026 | Neighborhood Block Party |
| Glen Park Association | San Francisco, CA | $56,509 | 2026 | Night Market & Block Party |
| EMPIRE Distribution Inc | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Neighborhood Concert |
| Geary Blvd Merchants Assoc | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Window & Tree Lights |
| Dear Community | San Francisco, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | Neighborhood Night Markets |
| Chris & Greg Events LLC | Palm Springs, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | Neighborhood Night Market |
| North of Market TLCBD | San Francisco, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | Tenderloin Street Fair |
| Noise Pop Industries LLC | San Francisc, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Neighborhood Night Markets |
| African-American Shakespeare | San Francisco, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Hayes Valley Community Festival |
| San Francisco Parks Alliance | San Francisco, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | SF Pochfest |
| Castro Street Fair | San Francisco, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Neighborhood Festival |
| Chinese Hist Soc of America | San Francisco, CA | $11,000 | 2026 | Neighborhood Block Party |
| The Sisters of Perp Indulg | San Francisco, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | SF Drag Party |
| Marigold Project Inc | San Francisco, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | Day of the Dead Event |
| Gumbo Social | San Francisco, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | Neighborhood Block Party |
| Checkin LLC dba The Check-In | San Francisco, CA | $8,000 | 2026 | Neighborhood Block Party |
| Outer Sunset Neighbors Inc | San Francisco, CA | $7,359 | 2026 | Neighborhood Block Party |
| Oasis Arts | San Francisco, CA | $6,050 | 2026 | SF Drag |
| Ocean Avenue Association | San Francisco, CA | $6,000 | 2026 | Neighborhood Block Party |
| Comfort & Joy | San Francisco, CA | $5,828 | 2026 | Halloween Market |
| Gold Toast LLC | San Francisco, CA | $5,143 | 2026 | Neighborhood Block Party |
| Into the Streets | San Francisco, CA | $2,060,000 | 2025 | First Thursdays & Mini Grants |
| Noise Pop Industries LLC | San Francisco, CA | $643,563 | 2025 | Summer of Music |
| Broke But Grand LLC | Bend, OR | $289,441 | 2025 | Paint the City |
| Chris & Greg Events LLC | Palm Springs, CA | $126,340 | 2025 | Night Markets |
| BEChinatown | San Francisco, CA | $120,000 | 2025 | Night Markets |
| North Beach Business Assoc | San Francisco, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | Mini Grants |
| Community Youth Center of SF | San Francisco, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | Night Markets |
| Excelsior Action Group | San Francisco, CA | $75,174 | 2025 | Mini Grants |
| Cole Valley Merchants Assoc | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Night Markets |
| Wah Mei School | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Night Markets |
| Little Secret LLC | Los Angeles, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Pilot Programs |
| American Journalism Project | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | Pilot Projects |
| Noe Valley Merch & Pro Assoc | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Night Markets |
| SF Black Wallstreet Fdn | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Night Markets |
| LA Mas Inc | Los Angeles, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Pilot Programs |
| Hot and Cool Inc | Los Angeles, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Pilot Programs |
| BAS Holdings LLC | San Francisco, CA | $47,122 | 2025 | SF Drag |
| Filmore Merch & Improv Assoc | San Francisco, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | Mini Grants |
| LA Voice | Los Angeles, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Pilot Programs |
Into The Streets
$1,276,500First Thursdays & Mini Eid St. Fair
Valencia Corridor Merch Assoc
$350,000Neighborhood Night Markets
Johns Grill
$115,000Third Thursdays
BE Chinatown
$114,594Neighborhood Night Market
Excelsior Action Group
$112,973Night Market & Block Party
Market St Reimagined
SF Black Wallstreet Fdn
$100,000Neighborhood Night Markets
Noe Valley Merch & Prof Assoc
$100,000Neighborhood Night Markets
Cole Valley Merchants Assoc
$75,000Neighborhood Night Markets
Soma West Comm Benefit Dist
$60,000Neighborhood Block Party
Glen Park Association
$56,509Night Market & Block Party
EMPIRE Distribution Inc
$50,000Neighborhood Concert
Geary Blvd Merchants Assoc
$50,000Window & Tree Lights
Dear Community
$40,000Neighborhood Night Markets
Chris & Greg Events LLC
$40,000Neighborhood Night Market
Noise Pop Industries LLC
$25,000Neighborhood Night Markets
African-American Shakespeare
$25,000Hayes Valley Community Festival
Castro Street Fair
$25,000Neighborhood Festival
The Sisters of Perp Indulg
$10,000SF Drag Party
Marigold Project Inc
$10,000Day of the Dead Event
Gumbo Social
$10,000Neighborhood Block Party
Checkin LLC dba The Check-In
$8,000Neighborhood Block Party
Outer Sunset Neighbors Inc
$7,359Neighborhood Block Party
Ocean Avenue Association
$6,000Neighborhood Block Party
Comfort & Joy
$5,828Halloween Market
Gold Toast LLC
$5,143Neighborhood Block Party
Into the Streets
$2,060,000First Thursdays & Mini Grants
Noise Pop Industries LLC
$643,563Summer of Music
Broke But Grand LLC
$289,441Paint the City
Chris & Greg Events LLC
$126,340Night Markets
BEChinatown
$120,000Night Markets
North Beach Business Assoc
$100,000Mini Grants
Excelsior Action Group
$75,174Mini Grants
Cole Valley Merchants Assoc
$50,000Night Markets
Wah Mei School
$50,000Night Markets
Little Secret LLC
$50,000Pilot Programs
Noe Valley Merch & Pro Assoc
$50,000Night Markets
SF Black Wallstreet Fdn
$50,000Night Markets
Hot and Cool Inc
$50,000Pilot Programs
BAS Holdings LLC
$47,122SF Drag
Filmore Merch & Improv Assoc
$30,000Mini Grants
