FOR
GRANTSEEKERS

Drawing inspiration from the vision of Phyllis Wattis and her legacy of support for the arts in the Bay Area, the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation remains committed to funding the creation of both the fine and performing arts through its New Works grants program, as well as organizations providing direct support to individual artists through its Legacy Grants program. The foundation prioritizes support for smaller, independent arts organizations presenting challenging and cutting-edge works.

The general requirements for eligibility are:

• Organizations and artists that work in Alameda, Marin, and/or San Francisco counties
• Public charities operating under an IRS 501(c)(3) status or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization

Grants are made in support of the following practices:

• Visual Arts, including the exhibition of painting and sculpture
• Theater, including opera
• Music
• Dance

Support for arts festivals will be considered on a case-by-case basis, please contact foundation staff to discuss your request.

​The foundation will not fund: New Works grants to organizations whose overall budget is greater than $1.5 million dollars; capital expansion; endowment funds; seed grants; scholarships; direct individual awards; research and planning; or literary arts programs.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications to the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation are only accepted during an open application period. The New Works application cycle is open from July 7 – 18, 2025. For more information about eligibility and to access a PDF of the New Works grant application, visit the For Grant Seekers page.​

To access the application during the application period, you will need to log in to the grants portal:

If your organization is a new applicant, please click the “Register Here” button on the left side of the grants portal login page. If your organization is a return applicant, log in on the right side of the grants portal login page.​

If you are not sure if you or your organization have an existing profile in the grants portal, if you need to be added as a contact for an organization already in the portal, or if you have any other technical difficulties or questions, please contact Tatiana Gordon, Grants Manager, at tgordon@pfs-llc.net.

Once you have logged into the grants portal:

• Review your Organization Profile and Personal Profile to ensure we have the most up-to-date information about you and your organization.
• Click “Save Draft” frequently as you work, as the system does not auto-save.