Eligibility 

Special Events must: 

• Take place within City of Santa Cruz (City) limits; 

• Not be for religious or political purposes, nor promote activities that City Council policies have deemed unsupported or banned; 

• Have a history of being held at least one prior time or are brand new; and 

• Submit a Special Events Grant Application on or before January 31st of each calendar year, to be funded for special events occurring that same July 1st through June 30th of the following year. 

Applicants/Sponsors must: 

• Provide a completed Special Events Grant Application and a copy of a completed Special Events Permit Application with associated supplemental information; 
  NOTE: The Special Events Grant Application is NOT a formal application for the Special Events Permit Application. A Special Events Permit Application must be submitted to: eventpermits@santacruzca.gov. 

• Be held on public property within the City Limits of Santa Cruz. 

• Not have outstanding debt owed to the City and, if applicable, be in good standing with the Special Events Coordinator (Administrator) in terms of fulfilling past special event requirements; 

• Be based inside the City limits or show demonstrated benefits are primarily for the residents of the City; 

• Meet all Special Events Grant Application and Special Events Permit Application process deadlines for consideration; 

• Declare all other funding sources that they are seeking or have been granted; and 

• Submit a Post-Event Report to the City within thirty (30) days following the special event. 

Ineligible Applicants/Sponsors: 

• Projects or organizations that have not satisfactorily fulfilled their obligations following previous fee reductions, waivers, or other special event requirements; 

• Organizing a private function or on private property; 

• Organizing a for-profit commercial venture; 

• Organizing primarily a fundraiser or charity; and 

• Financially dependent on receiving City funds. 

Evaluation Criteria 

In evaluating the priority of the Special Events Grant Applications, preference will be given to applications that: 

• Are applying for the first time and have not received support from the City in the past; 

• Raise the profile of Santa Cruz through prominent acknowledgment of its support and assistance in event marketing materials and at the event itself; 

• Embody the City’s Health in All Policies pillars: equity, public health, and sustainability; 

• Have a high number of expected attendees; 

• Address City Council priorities and adopted General Plan policies; 

• Benefit the residents of Santa Cruz; 

• Contain an educational component; 

• Create revenue-generating opportunities for local businesses; 

• Involve more than one (1) Santa Cruz community group (in event organization and/or participation); and 

• Commit to tracking event attendance.