Program areas at Friends of the School of the Arts Fnd
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION SUPPORT: FOSOTA offers free or low-fee funds management for mission-aligned projects that need access to nonprofit grants. In FY 23-24, the organization managed $100k+ in grant funds for projects by students from schools throughout the city, including an after-school safe space for middle schoolers facing education challenges, an outreach program dedicated to addressing accessibility in arts education, and youth workshops to fill the overlooked gap between art and entrepreneurship.
CAPSTONE PROJECT AWARDS: Our application-based grants provide funds for student, teacher, department, and community projects. Among them are grants to seniors to help them realize their capstone projects-- in-depth explorations with real-world applications that integrate the academic, artistic, cultural, and personal experiences of an arts-based education. In FY 23-24, the organization provided $20k in student funding, in addition to providing support for the teachers and a capstone project advisor.
ALUMNI OUTREACH: The Asawa SOTA alumni association cultivates community, connections, and camaraderie to support and celebrate alumni, the school, and arts-based learning. Funded by FOSOTA to foster equity and inclusion, the alumni association is dues-free, and all Asawa SOTA alumni are automatically members. In addition to funding the association, FOSOTA provided over $8k in graduation support and alumni grants in FY 23-24. FARM ARTS PROGRAMMING: FOSOTA supports the McAteer Campus Community Farm in developing farm-to-school and sustainable culinary arts programming. In FY 23-24, FOSOTA provided $11k in funding for farm maintenance, repairs, and community events. Additionally, FOSOTA began the management of a $100K USDA grant to establish the site as San Franciscos first schoolyard farm providing produce for public school meals.