The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Courtesy.

Nonprofit The Giving Back Fund aims to help fund San Francisco entertainment venues by connecting them to individual donors, who can make recurring monthly donations. According to the organization, it’s the first opportunity for most people to donate to their favorite venues. So far, pandemic assistance has come through federal, state and local government grants, as well contributions from well-to-do donors.

The monthly contributions in the project, called Independent Venue Preservation Initiative, has a comparative cost to that of a streaming service, according to the nonprofit. Using micro-donations from the community, The Giving Back Fund aims to help cover venues’ essential bills dating back to February 2020, including rent or mortgage payments, liability insurance and utilities.

There are also plans to expand the program, also called #SubscribeToLive to the greater Bay Area. Donations start at $15 monthly at the IVPI’s website and are made to the nonprofit via Patreon.

“Subscribe to Live is the only non-grant, non-loan community based, rapid relief financial aid program available,” said Elizabeth Simon of Bourgeois Productions Presents, the founder of the Independent Venue Preservation Initiative, in a written statement. “Looking back at the history of San Francisco, it’s clear we may have always needed a program like Independent Venue Preservation Initiative. The city has gone through significant changes with redevelopment in the 1970s, the tech boom and subsequent bust, and the housing crisis which forced artists and musicians to leave altogether. We are on the brink of another catastrophic event if we don’t deliver targeted aid where it is needed.”

IVPI’s advisory board includes Jocelyn Kane, former executive director of the San Francisco Entertainment Commission.

Unlike a grant or loan, #SubscribeToLive provides a direct bill pay service and will continue to pay these bills until the COVID-19 pandemic allows for business activity to resume at full capacity. To receive financial aid, venues must register to become a verified independent live performance venue.