The Organizational Assistance Program (OAP) is a two-year program (applications are reviewed every two years only) that supports Oakland-based 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organizations producing ongoing art and cultural activities that may include, but are not limited to, performances in dance, music or theater, classes and workshops, and exhibits, for the benefit of the community. There are two levels to the Organizational Assistance Program: Level I – Strategic Development Support and Level II – General Operating Support. The OAP is designed to promote the health and stabilization of Oakland’s nonprofit arts and culture providers.

Requests to the OAP are reviewed every two years and awarded annually. Recipients are required to submit a comprehensive interim report 30 days after the year-one grant period (July 1– June 30) and a final report at the end of the two-year funding cycle (June 30 of the second year). The interim report will give the recipient an opportunity to address changes in the organization and programs. However, if there are significant changes that impact the scope and/or the ability of the recipient organization to implement its goals, the organization may be re-evaluated by the Funding Advisory Committee of the Cultural Affairs Commission. Renewed funding in year two of the grant period is contingent upon evaluation of the interim report.

Strategic Development Support assists developing or established organizations in addressing serious challenges affecting the growth and/or stabilization of its operations and ability to provide consistent programs. Strategic Development funds allow organizations to hire competent consultants to provide technical assistance in addressing specific challenges and issues, such as organizational needs assessments, long-range strategic planning (required for recipients of Strategic Development Support), board development, strategic marketing and audience development plans, and development of arts education programs. Organizations in this category have high artistic promise, serve as an important source of arts and cultural programming for the populations of Oakland, and are able to demonstrate the potential to develop artistically and managerially to broaden public access to arts and culture.

This is a two-year development process. During the first year of funding, an organization will be required to develop a three-year organizational strategic plan or undergo a comprehensive organizational assessment (while continuing to provide arts and cultural services). During the second year, the applicant will be expected to begin implementing and evaluating its efforts. After the second year of development the applicant may be eligible to apply for General Operating Support.  If at the end of the two-year grant period an organization does not meet the eligibility requirements to apply for General Operating Support it may not be eligible to apply to the OAP for two years. However, it may still be eligible to apply for Project Support. Organizations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

General Operating Support provides two-year stable funding to arts organizations that have a proven and consistent history of achievement in the creation and/or presentation of artistic and/or cultural programs and are able to demonstrate a track record of sound managerial and fiscal competence. Applicants must have in place a comprehensive two-year strategic plan that supports the organization’s mission and guides its activities.

The Organization Project Support Program supports Oakland-based nonprofit organizations producing arts activities in Oakland that culminate in a local public outcome for the benefit of the community. Such activities may include, but are not limited to, performances of dance, theater, and music, exhibitions, classes and workshops.

The Individual Artist Project Support Program supports Oakland resident individual artists producing art activities in Oakland that culminate in a local public outcome for the benefit of the community. Such activities may include, but are not limited to performances of dance, theater, and music, exhibitions, classes and workshops.

The Art in the Schools category exposes young people in the Oakland public schools to quality, hands-on arts experiences in the school setting to educate them about the process of creating and producing arts. Funds will support arts residencies on the school site before, during or after school hours wherein there is a long-term, in-depth interaction between professional artists and an ongoing group of students.

The Northern California Grantmakers’ Arts Loan Fund is available to nonprofit cultural arts organizations and individuals that are recommended for funding from the City of Oakland ’s Cultural Funding Program (CFP). The primary function of the loan is to financially help bridge the gap when award recommendations are approved by Oakland City Council, and when organizations or individuals actually receive their grant monies.  Awardees that have secured a loan through the Arts Loan Fund that are not on track with the agreed upon loan repayment schedule may be ineligible to receive new funding from the Cultural Funding Program. Awardees with loans that are not in good standing as determined and verified by the Arts Loan Fund Steering Committee may have their outstanding loan retired with any future CFP awards

Please click here to review information regarding the Northern California Grantmakers' Arts Loan Fund.