Monday, October 27, 2008

One of our potential funding sources

From the SF Beautiful website:

San Francisco Beautiful continues the legacy of its founder, Friedel Klussmann, by awarding grants to organizations that seek to maintain or enhance San Francisco´s unique beauty and livability. Projects must also encourage civic participation and create healthy, safe, and sustainable communities.

The quarterly grants, which usually range from $1000 to $5,000, are awarded to a wide range of projects. When evaluating applications, SFB pays particular attention to the level of community participation and to the sustainability of the project beyond the term of the grant.

Grants are given on a one-time basis to community groups and organizations working on projects in San Francisco. Grants are not awarded to individuals.

Proposal submission deadlines are: February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1.

Is your project right for a Friedel Klussmann Grant?

We look for projects that seek to accomplish one or more of the following:
  • Maintain the livability of San Francisco by rehabilitating or enhancing community landscapes or urban architecture.
  • Adhere to good urban design and contribute to the city´s beauty and sustainability. Projects should enhance the city´s public face.
  • Improve the quality of our city´s unique urban landscape. Areas of interest include neighborhood commercial districts, the waterfront, historic landmarks, parks and other open or urban spaces.
  • Support and enhance the link between clean, healthy physical settings and a healthy local socio-economic climate.
  • Encourage community involvement in projects that enhance and beautify neighborhoods or provide historic understanding/documentation of a neighborhood or significant space.
  • Create safe, inviting spaces for residents and visitors alike.


  • Our fields of interest include:
  • Neighborhood beautification
  • Public stairway improvements
  • Greening for public schools, parks and other urban spaces
  • Litter/graffiti/blight abatement/control
  • Public park and open space restoration/preservation
  • Enhancing urban spaces
  • Public awareness/educational programs
  • Restoration/preservation/documentation of historic sites/neighborhood treasures


  • Grant Policy and Program Limitations:
    San Francisco Beautiful offers grants as a one-time catalyst to a project within the city of San Francisco. A demonstration of community volunteerism and support, as well as a high level of commitment to sustaining the proposed project into the future is expected. SFB encourages matching funds and in-kind support for the projects it funds. Grantees must have non-profit and tax-exempt status or work with a fiscal agent who does. Grants are not awarded to individuals. No more than one grant will be awarded per year to any applicant. Grants range from $1000-$5,000 in most cases.

    Sunday, October 26, 2008

    The process begins








    Met with Jane Martin of Plant SF last week to discuss the possibilities for our neighborhood beautification. She was a wealth of knowledge and help in determining a practical route to take. It looks like we have about a year to get the planting going! So exciting to have finally started the process.

    The next steps:
    1. Involve the high school.
    2. Make drawing/measurements.
    3. Talk with Terra Vista homeowners.
    4. Determine plant palette with Jane.
    5. Get funding secured.
    6. Prepare plan and documents for permit applications.

    Know anyone in the area who may have engineering/architecture skills? Would love to talk with them!

    Wednesday, October 15, 2008

    Anzavista Neighborhood Beautification Project #1




    The Median Strip on Anzavista and O'Farrell:

    Our mission is to beautify the neighborhood of Anzavista through community supported projects such as the planting and care of the median strip. See photos above as it looks now.

    If you'd like to learn more, join us on the 23rd of October to measure the area and brainstorm ideas for the greening of this area.

    Would you like to participate in the planning?
    Contact Jeny at jeny(at)jenysmith.com