Through discretionary Arts, Culture, and Community Festivals (ACCF) funds derived from Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) funds, City Council Offices can award nonprofit organizations funding to promote local arts and culture. ACCF's City Council allocations are governed by Council Policy 100-23, and Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) is governed by Council Policy 100-03.

Funds awarded to organizations are awarded at the discretion of each Council Office. Allocations are typically offered annually, with the application opening near the beginning of the fiscal year and payments being processed at the end of the fiscal year.

Please note that these allocations are distinct from the City of San Diego’s arts and culture funding categories, including Creative Communities San Diego and the Organizational Support Program.

FY25 ACCF Update: Reporting 

The City Council ACCF grant program is strictly reimbursement-based. All grantees must complete the reporting form in full to receive their funds. Grantees may submit reimbursement documentation immediately and as late as July 31, 2025, but reimbursements cannot be processed until the funding agreement is executed. Grantees will receive an email confirmation once their funding agreement is executed and they are eligible to receive reimbursement payments. We ask that grantees submit reporting documentation as soon as possible to ensure timely processing.

Grantees are required to submit the following sections of the Reporting Form as one combined PDF file:

1. Request for Reimbursement Payment Form
2. Expense Reporting Form
   1. Supplemental Documentation (addendum)
3. Final Performance Report
4. Checklist

All expenses must have been incurred during the City’s Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025). Eligible expenses are those allowed by Council Policy 100-23 and closely related to the program activities authorized by the funding agreement.

All grantees will have until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2025, to submit reporting information. All submissions must be sent to our inbox accf@sandiego.gov with the document titled “Grantee Name_FY25 ACCF Final Report.”

Please utilize the following documents: 

FY25 ACCF Reporting Form

FY25 ACCF Reporting instructions

FY25 ACCF Reporting Example 

FY25 ACCF Awards 

We are excited to announce that the tentative FY25 ACCF City Council awards have been announced! Please remember that all awards are subject to Council approval and should be considered tentative until an executed funding agreement is entered. 

FY25 ACCF Award List: New Contracts (non-CCSD/OSP)

FY25 ACCF Award List: Contract Amendments (CCSD/OSP)

We are excited to announce that the tentative FY25 CPPS awards have also been announced! Please visit the CPPS webpage for more information. 

Application

The Fiscal Year 2025 application has been CLOSED.

Who can apply?

Nonprofit organizations with a legally tax-exempt status that represent the goals of  Arts, Culture, and Community Festivals funding as identified in Council Policy 100-23. Organizations and projects should align with the following purposes:

• Provide access to excellence in culture and the arts for residents of, and visitors to, San Diego.
• Enrich the lives of the people of San Diego and build healthy, vital neighborhoods.

Organizations may also apply using an eligible fiscal sponsor.

Did your organization apply for or receive TOT funding?

Organizations that have applied for or received a Fiscal Year 2025 TOT funding award are ineligible to apply for  council office ACCF funding, except Creative Communities San Diego and Organizational Support Program funding recipients (see below). However, TOT funding applicants and recipients can apply for Community Projects, Programs, & Services (CPPS) funding.

Did your organization receive a CCSD or OSP award from the City?

Organizations awarded a Fiscal Year 2025 Creative Communities San Diego (CCSD) or Organizational Support Program (OSP) award are still eligible for ACCF City Council funding allocations.

Organizations can either submit the abbreviated application, which requests for additional funds be added toward an organization's existing CCSD or OSP award. If an organization submits the abbreviated application and has been awarded funds by a City council office(s), the award will be processed as an amendment to the existing CCSD/OSP Agreement. The awarded funds must be used for the same purpose(s) as outlined in the CCSD/OSP Agreement. Contract amendments are administered by the Commission for Arts and Culture once confirmed by our office. Or an organization can submit the full application, which requests for funds for a different project, unrelated to the organization's CCSD or OSP award.

Did your organization apply for FY25 CPPS?

Organizations are eligible to receive both CPPS and ACCF awards in a given fiscal year, as CPPS is not funded by TOT. Please note that while the CPPS process has recently been changed, the ACCF process remains unchanged.

How can I submit an application? 

1. Full Application (without CCSD/OSP award)

• Proof of Nonprofit Status (IRS)
• Proof of good standing with the CA Secretary of State
• Proof of good standing with the CA Attorney General
• IRS Form 990, 990EZ, or 990N
• Certification for a Drug Free Workplace
• EOC Workforce Report
• IRS Form W-9

2. Abbreviated Application (with CCSD/OSP award)

• No supplemental documents required.

FY25 ACCF Schedule

FY25 ACCF Overview PowerPoint

FY25 ACCF Overview Video

CPPS & ACCF Supplemental Document Tutorial Video

FY25 ACCF Companion FAQ for Applicants

Funding Allocations

• FY 2024 ACCF Funding Allocations
• FY 2023 ACCF Funding Allocations
• FY 2022 No ACCF Funding Allocations
• FY 2021 No ACCF Funding Allocations
• FY 2020 ACCF Funding Allocations
• FY 2019 ACCF Funding Allocations
• FY 2018 ACCF Funding Allocations
• FY 2017 ACCF Funding Allocations
• FY 2016 ACCF Funding Allocations
• FY 2015 ACCF Funding Allocations
• FY 2014 ACCF Funding Allocations
• FY 2013 ACCF Funding Allocations

Contact
For questions, please email ACCF@sandiego.gov or contact Council Administration directly.

FY25 CPPS & ACCF Council Office Representatives

Please click here to find out which Council District your organization is located in.