Funding for Cultural Affairs
How Cultural Affairs Funding Works
FY28 Funding Allocation Method
How FY28 Award Amounts Are Calculated
FY28 uses a more transparent funding allocation model so applicants can understand how application results, financial context, program parameters, and available City funding translate into award amounts.
Impact leads. Size is context. The current FY28 formula direction gives 60 percent of the blended result to the application and impact score and 40 percent to budget context. Budget information does not increase an application’s merit score.
The allocation model uses:
- The 100 point peer panel application score.
- A budget context factor based on organizational operating scale for OSP or project scale for CCSD.
- The total amount of City funding available for the program.
Pathway specific minimums, maximums, ranges, caps, and other published rules.
Pathway minimums and maximums FY28 pathway Anticipated minimum
Anticipated maximum
Strengthening Emerging & Growing Organizations $20,000
$100,000
Organizational Growth & Sustainability $30,000
$200,000
Global Creative City Partners $200,000
$300,000
Community Arts & Creative Spaces $10,000
$100,000
Public Cultural Life $5,000
$50,000
Creative Ecosystem Builder $5,000
$75,000
Final awards remain subject to available and appropriated City funding and the final published allocation rules.
Current Budget Context Curve
Operating revenue or scale anchor | Budget context points |
|---|---|
$10,000 | 50 |
$30,000 | 55 |
$100,000 | 60 |
$300,000 | 66 |
$1 million | 74 |
$3 million | 82 |
$10 million | 90 |
$30 million | 96 |
$100 million | 100 |
Current Blended Points to Award Curve
Blended points | Base award value |
|---|---|
50 | $2,500 |
60 | $5,000 |
65 | $20,000 |
70 | $40,000 |
75 | $65,000 |
80 | $95,000 |
85 | $130,000 |
90 | $175,000 |
95 | $230,000 |
100 | $300,000 |
The curves are smoothed so the application result can create meaningful differences between applicants without causing unnecessary clustering at pathway maximums.
- Funding Home
- Funding Opportunities
- Organizational Support Program (OSP)
- Creative Communities San Diego (CCSD)
- Impact
- City Artists
- Current Awardees
- Application Support
- Resources for Applicants
- Capacity Building Initiatives
- San Diego Artist Incubator
- Individual Artist Fellowship
- Get Involved
- How Cultural Affairs Funding Works
- Arts and Culture Citywide Impact
- Funding Pathway Finder