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:

We are pleased to announce that funding has been renewed for Fiscal Year 2025! The application for the City Council's ACCF allocations will be open from August 19th - September 13th, 2024. More information regarding Fiscal Year 2025 is available below. Please join us for one of our upcoming info sessions:

Logan Heights Library in the Community Room

567 S 28th St., San Diego, CA 92113

Monday, June 24, 2024

6:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.

Mission Valley Library in the Community Room

2123 Fenton Pkwy., San Diego, CA 92108

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

6:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. 

Skyline Hills Library in the Multipurpose Room

7900 Paradise Valley Rd., San Diego, CA 92139

Monday, July 8, 2024

6:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. 

Mira Mesa Library in the Community Room

8405 New Salem St., San Diego, CA 92126

Monday, July 22, 2024

6:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.

Online Meeting #2 (ACCF focused)

Click here to join

Monday, August 26, 2024

5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.  

Please note that the CPPS application is now open until Friday, August 9, 2024. 

FY24 ACCF Reporting and Request for Reimbursement:

All ACCF funding agreements in good standing have been approved.  Grantees may now file reporting documentation and requests for reimbursement. We ask that you submit reporting documentation as soon as possible to ensure timely processing. 

All grantees are required to submit the following as a combined PDF document: 

1. Request for Reimbursement Payment (RFRP) form 
   1. Organizational information
   2. Expenditure table
   3. Post-project narrative
2. Supplemental Documentation
   1. Proof of Purchase (invoice, receipt, timecard, etc.)
   2. Proof of Payment (canceled check, bank/credit card statement, etc.)

We ask that you combine reporting information into a single PDF document and submit the form to our inbox at accf@sandiego.gov. Please be reminded that all expenditures must have been incurred during the City’s Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024). The FY24 ACCF program is solely reimbursement-based. All expenditures must be incurred during the City’s Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024). Eligible expenditures are those allowed under Council Policy 100-23 and closely related to the program activities described in Section 2 of the application as enclosed in the final funding agreement. Requests will be due no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. 

Please utilize the following documents: 

Request for Reimbursement Payment (RFRP) Form

FY24 Reporting Instructions

FY24 Reporting Example

FY24 ACCF Information:

We are excited to announce that among 127 applicants, 79 community organizations have been awarded ACCF City Council allocations totaling $450,000 in funding. Please see the following resources and contact your assigned grant coordinator for more information: 

Full Application (non-CCSD/OSP):

FY24 ACCF Contract Award List

Abbreviated Application (CCSD/OSP Recipients):

FY24 ACCF Memo Award List

Grant Awardees should recognize that these allocations are tentative and are subject to approval by the full City Council. ACCF funding is provided on a reimbursement-basis only. 

FY24 ACCF Companion FAQ

Fiscal Year 2024 ACCF Schedule

Please note that the Fiscal Year 2024 ACCF application period has closed. It was open from June 1 - June 30, 2023. Please consider joining our mailing list by completing the form on the right side of this page. 

Please note that the FY24 Community, Projects, Programs, and Services (CPPS) funding awards have also been announced. 

FY25 ACCF Application

The Fiscal Year 2025 ACCF City Council Allocations application period will be open from August 19th - September 13th, 2024. Please note that the CPPS application is now open until Friday, August 9, 2024.

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.