The Fleishhacker Foundation aims to support innovative new work by Bay Area artists through its Small Arts Grants Program. It focuses on funding a broad range of arts groups that produce and present innovative work, support working artists, and engage marginalized communities. Emphasis is placed on diversity, supporting artists and groups that represent and engage marginalized artists and communities, including people of color, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, immigrants, and under-resourced populations.
The Small Arts Grants Program is specifically designed for Bay Area arts and culture nonprofit organizations and fiscally sponsored projects with annual budgets between $100,000 and $749,999. This includes support for film projects directed by Bay Area filmmakers with budgets under $750,000. Grants are flexible and can be used for various needs including operations, staffing, compliance, artists' compensation, and production costs. The program values diversity, innovation, and contribution to the local arts scene, especially among marginalized communities. The assessment for grant requests considers the organization's history of innovative work, community engagement, response to COVID-19, artist compensation, financial needs, Board and community support, and resource efficiency.