AHEAD Economic Development Grant

AHEAD Economic Development Grants are offered through FHLBank San Francisco to help lower-income communities access infrastructure, resources, and economic opportunity. The program name AHEAD stands for Access to Housing and Economic Assistance for Development. The grant program is intended to support members of FHLBank San Francisco and their community partners in developing projects that help low- to moderate-income people, neighborhoods, and communities participate more fully in a changing economy. AHEAD grants support innovative initiatives that create new economic opportunity by expanding proven development models or piloting new interventions. The source material identifies several supported activity areas, including creating or preserving jobs, delivering job training or education programs, supporting small business, microlending, and microenterprise incubation for low-income entrepreneurs, and addressing special economic development needs among at-risk youth, veterans, persons with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, tribal communities, and other populations. The amount of funding available for AHEAD is determined annually by the Bank's board of directors. The grants are awarded through a competitive application process and delivered through FHLBank San Francisco member financial institutions. Only member financial institutions may submit applications, and they do so on behalf of a sponsor or project sponsor. Sponsors are the nonprofit organizations, local government agencies, or tribal associations that will use the grant funds. Eligible sponsors include nonprofit organizations, local government agencies, and tribal associations engaged in economic development activities that meet local needs in Arizona, California, and Nevada. The source material does not state a required match, cost share, award floor, award ceiling, total program funding amount, number of awards, or named restrictions on specific expense categories beyond the stated economic development purpose and activity examples. For the 2026 AHEAD Program, applications are being accepted from members through the Bank's secure portal. The final application deadline is 5:00 pm PT on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. The deadline to request a project application workspace on the secure portal is Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Applicants are also encouraged to watch the on-demand 2026 AHEAD Program webinar or view the presentation slides to learn about the application, disbursement, compliance processes, and tips for preparing a successful application and budget. The AHEAD grant cycle occurs annually, with applications accepted between April and May each year and grant recipients typically announced in September. Disbursements for AHEAD awards must be made between the award announcement in early September and early November. The compliance period is 18 months from the time of award in early September. For AHEAD-related questions, the program contact email is ahead@fhlbsf.com.

Watch the on-demand webinar and review presentation slides before applying; prepare a complete application and budget; use the Live Q&A to ask program questions before the deadline.