Dancers’ Group

The Fleishhacker Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for this grant program.

Christine Elbel Linchpin

The Fleishhacker Foundation’s Linchpin Grants Program provides multi-year, general operating support for critical Bay Area arts service organizations. Three-year grants of $12,000 annually are awarded to a core group of local nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is to advance the Bay Area arts community by serving an arts discipline and/or the local arts sector in a broad and sustained way. The program is named to honor the Foundation’s previous Executive Director, Christine Elbel, who launched the initiative in 2017.

The Linchpin program was created to acknowledge the crucial role that arts service organizations play in strengthening the Bay Area artistic community. It is designed to give key local arts services organizations the assurance of general operating support for a three-year period without re-applying annually.

Key characteristics of Linchpin grantees include:

  • Having a mission to advance the Bay Area arts community primarily through services to local artists, arts groups, arts workers, and/or arts organizations.

  • Serving an arts discipline and/or the Bay Area arts sector in a broad and sustained way.

  • Providing services to many artists, arts workers, and arts groups, rather than focusing on advancing the artistic work of a particular artist, arts group, or ensemble.

  • Serving as an advocate for their art form and artists in the broader community.

  • Having multiple programs that promote these goals rather than a single focus.

Programming examples include:

  • Resource and referral initiatives.

  • Trainings, workshops, and/or technical assistance with artistic development, technical production, career development, arts administration, financial management, marketing, and fundraising.

  • Fiscal sponsorship of artists, arts groups, and/or ensembles.

  • Newsletters or other publications covering local events and issues of concern to their members or constituents.

  • Advocacy on behalf of the arts sector to policymakers and the public at large.

  • Showcases of new work.

  • Subsidized artistic and administrative workspace.

  • Re-granting programs.

During its long history of funding the arts, the Foundation has recognized the importance of arts service organizations to the vitality and health of the Bay Area’s arts community. We consider Elbel Linchpin arts organizations to be crucial entities providing services to a large number of artists and arts ensembles. 

Please note that unsolicited proposals are not accepted for this grant program.

2023 – 2025 Christine Elbel Linchpin Grantees

  • Berkeley FILM Foundation

  • Dancers’ Group

  • InterMusic SF

  • Intersection for the Arts

  • San Francisco Cinematheque

  • Theatre Bay Area