Youth Education and
Utility Awareness through the
Project Learning Partnership Grant Program
March 11, 2025
Carmen Iton, Youth Programs, Community Benefits
1 2
Program Overview
The Project Learning Partnership Grant (PLG)
Program supports existing summer and academic-year
youth programs to integrate project-based learning on
water, power, and sewer concepts and develop civic,
environmental and career awareness in youth.
3 Project-Based Learning on
Water, Power, and Sewer
4 Youth Projects
4 Still from filming of 'Birds by the Bay'
at Hummingbird Farm, a joint project between
PLG grantees PODER and BAYCAT.
Still from animated short 'Water Hero' by
Chinatown Community Development Center
about water conservation and reuse.
Career Exposure and Awareness
5 6
Successes To-Date
• Nearly 5,000 youth have engaged in meaningful
projects related to the SFPUC through this Grant
Program.
• Approximately 33% of youth participants reside in
zip codes 94124 and 94134.
• In the most recent competitively bid grant
cycle, 38% of surveyed youth reported interest in a
career with the SFPUC.
7 Proposed Changes to Grant Program
• Grant sizes proportionate to number of youth
served
• Administrative changes in alignment with new
Controller’s Office performance standards
• Reporting structure
• Performance monitoring
8 Youth Testimonials
“I really enjoyed
learning about
flooding and then
working with the
farm team
to create systems
to hold water at
our farm, instead
of letting it run
into the sewers
at Geneva
Avenue and
overflood
the combined
sewer/drainage
system.”
-PODER intern
9 “I feel more
informed in a
variety of areas that
I may be eligible
and or qualified to
apply to careers
and now know more
and have become
more familiar with
organizations that
are steeped in
environmental
education/activism
and more."
-Literacy for
Environmental
Justice participant
Thank you!
10 DEPARTMENT
External Affairs Division
AGENDA NO.
7 MEETING DATE
March 11, 2025
AGENDA ITEM
Public Utilities Commission
City and County of San Francisco
Calendar: Regular Calendar
Project Manager: Carmen Iton
Approve Modification to the Project Learning Partnership Grant Program Rules
Summary of Proposed
Commission Action:
Approve modifications to the Project Learning Partnership Grant Program Rules to increase the number of grant awards to reach a wider audience of youth and young adults as directed by the S an Francisco Public Utilities Commission, better align grant funding with program costs, incorporate best practices administrative and reporting changes consistent with new city grant performance standards; and authorize the General Manager to execute Grant Agreements under the modified Grant Program.
Background: By its Project Learning Partnership Grant Program ( Grant Program), the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission ( SFPUC) aims to increase exposure and readiness opportunities for utility careers for young people in San Francisco by expanding and/or enhancing established youth and young adult programming and partnerships.
Learning projects with a clear nexus to the SFPUC’s utility purposes related to education, workforce, and community benefits goals will be implemented through the award of grant funds to up to 21 local community-based organizations to be identified through a competitive grant application process. The Grant Program aims to engage an estimated 500 young people total per year in SFPUC -developed educational and career readiness programs.
These efforts contribute to multiple components of the SFPUC’s Strategic Plan by supporting environmental education, leadership development, and utility career awareness of youth and young adults throughout San Francisco, thereby enhancing the pipeline of skilled and diverse workers to jobs at the SFPUC and exposing the communities in our service areas to the scope and breadth of our services and their impact. The SFPUC is committed to equitably investing in increasing awareness of and interest in SFPUC careers from potential applicants that are underrepresented in the utility industry.
Agreement: PRO.0310(G), Project Learning Partnership Grant Program Commission Meeting Date: March 11, 2025
By leveraging existing programming in the community, these grants will increase the number of San Francisco youth and young adults meaningfully engaged in SFPUC -based learning opportunities, while enhancing the participants’ awareness and understanding of water, power, and sewer services, environmental stewardship, and civic - community engagement. Furthermore, through these grants, youth and young adults will serve as partners of the SFPUC and, as informed future ratepayers, be our ambassadors to the broader community.
Through the Grant Program, the SFPUC currently has a total of 18 grants, each with a not-to-exceed value of $105,000 and a duration of three years, to community-based organizations to implement SFPUC - developed project-based learning curriculum into those organizations’ existing after-school, out -of-school, or in- school program s and fund stipends for youth participating in the programs , that will be expiring April 2025 . Through a new solicitation (PRO.0310(G)), SFPUC proposes to award up to 21 grants, with a not -to-exceed value of $130,000 over 3 years, to continue this programming and expand the number of grantees.
Scope of Contract: Grant Deliverables
Each grantee will administer one or more SFPUC project-based learning experiences for youth and young adults ages 14 -20 years old enrolled in the grantee’s existing community- based after-school, out- of-school, or in -school program. Grantees must provide grant -funded services to a minimum of 1 5 students per year and must provide a minimum of 20 hours of instruction per year using the SFPUC - developed curricula.
The grantees will use SFPUC-developed curricula to integrate project- based learning around three core areas of the SFPUC’s work: (1) the importance of safe and reliable water resources , (2) the administration and growth of the Hetch Hetchy P ower system and CleanPowerSF , and (3) the City’s combined sewer system and flood management.
To fulfill grant requirements , grantees will implement interactive and creative SFPUC educational programs for youth and young adults to build baseline knowledge of utility operations and career awareness.
Grantees will be encouraged to use techniques in experiential learning, classroom-based learning, and arts -based learning to convey the takeaways and lessons from the curricula to make clear links between SFPUC operations and to highlight the opportunities around career pathways in the water, wastewater, and power industries.
Grantees will be required to evaluate program performance and report on participation rates, engagement strategies, and the overall impact Agreement: PRO.0310(G), Project Learning Partnership Grant Program Commission Meeting Date: March 11, 2025
of programs on participating youth and young adults.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Grantees will be selected in part based on proven experience designing and implementing education and leadership development programs for youth and young adults. Grantees shall have demonstrated capacity and success in connecting young people to internships, work experience , training programs , and/or providing paid work experience for youth related to utilities, environmental stewardship, or city employment. Applicants must be able to clearly articulate a plan to integrate technically relevant and complex issues related to the operations of SFPUC enterprises in a creative and engaging way for younger audiences, and clearly connect program curricula to career pathways related to city employment, and careers in the utility
and environmental sectors. SFPUC will also consider
applicants’ experience in innovative educational strategies that leverage experiential, arts, and classroom approaches for increasing participants’ understanding of pre-designed curricula.
The competitive solicitation process includes a publicly advertised Request for Grant Proposals, followed by a scored evaluation process.
The evaluation process will consist of review for completeness and a scoring of the grant proposals by an objective selection committee comprised of SFPUC employees , and subject matter experts from other city departments.
Grant Amount
Each grant awarded under the program will be for an amount not -to- exceed a total of $1 30,000 and shall have a maximum duration of three years. Grantees who serve between 1 5-29 students per year will be eligible for up to $32,620 per year. Grantees who serve 30 or more students per year will be eligible for up to $44,635 per year.
Eligible expenses will be detailed in each Grant Agreement and shall represent grantees’ operating expenses incurred in performing the grant deliverables including but not limited to grantee staff salaries; project-based learning materials and supplies;
program participant
stipends and/or wages complia nt with the Minimum Compensation Ordinance (MCO); and certain other costs detailed in the Grant Agreement and compliant with guidelines issued by the Office of the Controller.
Further details can be found in the attached Project Learning Partnership Grant Program Rules.
Budget & Costs: Funds will be available at the time of award of grant agreements from Agreement: PRO.0310(G), Project Learning Partnership Grant Program Commission Meeting Date: March 11, 2025
the Youth Employment and Environment Operating Budget.
Not-To-Exceed Amount: $130,000 (per grant agreement)
Number of Grants: Up to 21 grants
Program Cap: Not-to-exceed $2,000,000 over a three-year term
Schedule: Advertised: 2/11/2025
Estimated Notice-to-Proceed Date: 7/1/2025
Estimated End Date: 6/30/2028
Duration: 3 years
Attachments: Project Learning Partnership Grant Program Rules
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
City and County of San Francisco
RESOLUTION NO.: ___________
WHEREAS, The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) has identified workforce development and educational priorities that support a utility purpose by inspiring young people to pursue careers with the SFPUC; and
WHEREAS, The SFPUC’s workforce development and educational strategies aim to expand the number of youth connecting to work and learning opportunities related to the SFPUC; and
WHEREAS, To implement its workforce development priorities and strategies, the SFPUC has established a Project Learning Partnership Grant Program through which the SFPUC hopes to expose approximately 500 youth and young adults annually to education, careers, and opportunities related to the utility mission and work of the SFPUC; and
WHEREAS, The Project Learning Partnership Grant Program grants will leverage existing youth development programs that provide youth and young adults from San Francisco with learning and career awareness opportunities; and
WHEREAS, SFPUC staff propose new Project Learning Partnership Grant Program Rules setting forth the eligibility and selection criteria and grant requirements, with a copy on file with the Director of Commission Affairs; and
WHEREAS, Under the Program, the General Manager or the General Manager’s designated staff will solicit applications for and award up to 21 grants to qualified local community-based organizations to fund those organizations’ implementation of at least 20 hours per year of SFPUC-developed project-based learning in their existing youth programming, and to fund student stipends for youth participating in the programs, with the grantee required to serve a minimum of 15 students per year; and
WHEREAS, The SFPUC proposes each grant will be in an amount not to exceed $130,000 over a three-year term, for a total program cost of up to $2,000,000 over the three-year term; and
WHEREAS, Funds will be available at the time of award of the grant agreements from the Youth Employment and Environment Operating budget and addback funds; and now be it
RESOLVED, That this Commission hereby approves the revised Project Learning Grant Program Rules attached to this Resolution and on file with the Director of Commission Affairs; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That this Commission authorizes the General Manager to solicit applications, award, and execute up to 21 Project Learning Partnership grant agreements with qualified local community-based nonprofit organizations, each for an amount not-to-exceed $130,000 and for a duration of three years, for a cumulative amount of grant funds to be awarded under the Project Learning Partnership Grant Program not to exceed $2,000,000 over the three- year period, to provide utility educational and career awareness opportunities to San Francisco youth and young adults in accordance with the approved Project Learning Grant Program Rules.
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission at its meeting of March 11, 2025.
__________________________________
Director of Commission Affairs
San Francisco Public Utilities
Commission
1 PROJECT LEARNING PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM (PRO.0310(G)) RULES
I. Grant Program Overview and Purpose
The Project Learning Partnership Grant Program will enable the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to provide grants to up to 21 community-based organizations to integrate SFPUC-developed project-based curriculum into those organizations’ existing youth programs.
Each grant will be for a term of three years, and an amount of up to $130,000 total. Funding levels will be determined based on the number of youths each grantee proposes to serve with the SFPUC-developed project-based curriculum. Please see below for information on tiers for different funding levels.
The purpose of this grant program is to educate San Francisco youth and young adults about water, power, and sewer concepts and careers, and help them be positioned to move into utility careers in the future. Building on the success of previous Project Learning Partnership grant cycles, the grant program serves as a gateway for the next generation of environmental stewards to build awareness of and readiness for employment opportunities with the SFPUC.
II. Eligibility Requirements for Grant Applicants
Grant applicants must be 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that serve youth and young adult residents of San Francisco. Grantees’ grant-funded educational programming must serve at least fifteen youth total per year and provide a minimum of 20 hours’ worth of classroom instruction per year.
The SFPUC is interested in funding grantees that have demonstrated experience and competency serving youth and young adults ages 14-20 years old, including but not limited to those living in government-subsidized and public housing, and Environmental Justice Communities, as defined by:
1. Areas facing the top one-third of cumulative environmental and socioeconomic burdens across the city. The EJ Communities include areas of Bayview Hunters Point, Chinatown, Excelsior, Japantown, Mission, Ocean View-Merced Heights-Ingleside, Outer Mission, Potrero Hill, SoMa, Tenderloin, Treasure Island, Visitacion Valley, and Western Addition (SF Planning, Environmental Justice Framework).
2. Areas disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative public health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation (SF Planning, Environmental Justice Framework).
3. Areas with concentrations of people that are of low-income, high unemployment, housing burdened low-income households, or low levels of educational attainment (CalEnviroScreen 4.0)
III. Grant Deliverables
Grantees shall utilize grant funds to implement SFPUC’s project-based learning curriculum that develops eco-literacy and utility career awareness in youth and young adults in San Francisco.
Grant requirements and deliverables are:
2 1. Grantee Attendance and participation in the following SFPUC Activities:
a. Annual Grantee Program Coordinator Meeting and Training: Grantee must attend approximately six (6) hours of SFPUC training each year to cover grant structure and objectives, and to equip grantee staff with curricula and activities related to the SFPUC project areas listed above. This meeting will also cover a timeline and necessary documentation to ensure timely payment processing;
b. Career Resource Day: Grantee’s participating youth must attend each year an SFPUC-organized career resource day of approximately Career Resource Day: at least four (4) hours of time each grant year spent learning about the SFPUC, utility, and City and County of San Francisco career pathways. Participating youth are required to attend programming, and grantee staff is required to supervise youth attendees and coordinate with SFPUC staff, who will establish locations, schedules, and learning objectives;
Option 1: Attendance at the annual Futures Fair
Option 2: Attendance at a pre-approved city-run career fair
c. SFPUC Exploration Day: Grantee’s participating youth must attend each year an SFPUC-organized Exploration Day consisting of approximately four (4) hours of learning about SFPUC operations and their connection to environmental justice.
This may include panel discussions, interactive activities for participants, tours of SFPUC facilities, and project-based learning on the grantee sites. SFPUC staff will establish locations, schedules, and learning objectives.
2. Project-Based Learning: Each year of the grant agreement, Grantees will be required to implement 20 hours’ worth of project-based learning experience for the youth that it serves utilizing the SFPUC’s pre-designed curriculum. SFPUC will provide grantees with technical assistance and detailed, engaging, and age-appropriate curricula for a project- based learning experience. The SFPUC curricula will offer creative and engaging activities on water, power, and sewer concepts; environmental justice and stewardship; and the breadth of career pathways and opportunities within the utility sector. The 20 hours of classroom time will be used to conduct activities, support youth research and investigation, and facilitate the development of a youth-led final project related to one of three subject areas within the SFPUC-provided curricula: (1) water-related curriculum, (2) power-related curriculum, and (3) wastewater-related curriculum.
IV. Selection Process and Criteria
Grantees will be selected through a competitive solicitation process that includes a publicly advertised Request for Grant Proposals (PRO.0310) and a scored evaluation process involving an impartial selection committee.
Applicants will be required to submit a Written Grant Application that provides details on how the applicant meets the eligibility requirements and will meet the goals and objectives outlined in the solicitation.
3 Funding levels will be awarded based on the intended number of grantee youth engaged in learning about SFPUC concepts and careers and other grant-related activities. Funding will be determined based on the specific tiers shown below; funding amounts will be uniform within each tier of number of youth served.
Number of Youth in Each Grant
Program Engaged in Grant-funded
Activities (Annual Goals)
Annual Grant
Award per
Organization
Maximum Grant
Award per
Organization
15-29 Up to $32,620 Not to exceed $95,000
30 or more Up to $44,635 Not to exceed $130,000
The selection committee will be comprised of SFPUC employees and subject matter experts from other city departments. The City will not include SFPUC/City staff involved with the preparation of this Solicitation on the selection committee. Individuals affiliated with applicant organizations, including those with affiliated immediate family members, are not eligible to serve on the selection committee. The selection committee will base its determination on its collective experience and knowledge of community needs, as well as the overall program goals, and the quality of the written grant requests. The selection committee will score applications using the following point scale:
Grant Request Components Point Scale
Grant Request Narrative
• Program description
• Work approach
• Target population description
including annual number of
participants and youth characteristics
• Alignment with SFPUC mission,
operations, and strategic goals
• Proposer qualifications
• Program evaluation
76 points
Budget and Budget Narrative 20 points
Request Cover and Checklist 4 points
Total 100 points
V. Performance Evaluation
At the end of the program period each grant year, all grantees must submit the Final Grant Report and Youth Survey. The Final Grant Report includes program information, participant demographics, and other relevant information required for city-wide reports. The Youth Survey includes a succinct questionnaire for youth participants to gauge their interest in environmental and utility careers. The purpose of the Final Grant Report and Youth Survey is to better understand the demographics served in the grantees program and outcomes of the program. With this data, we will be able to evaluate our effectiveness in providing the necessary resources to grantees and the community. (Please note: Data is subject to change each year, based on new 4 requirements from city officials, but templates will be supplied by SFPUC staff to incorporate these changes).
Each year, grantee will be required to attend a progress monitoring meeting with SFPUC staff to discuss grant progress. SFPUC reserves the right to conduct one (2 hour) site visit to fulfill this deliverable at the SFPUC’s sole discretion.
Performance Measures
The following table outlines the evaluation criteria of the Project Learning Partnership Grant.
Awarded agencies will be evaluated annually based upon the following criteria. The goals of this annual evaluation will be to determine opportunities to improve grant performance, to understand whether goals may need to be adjusted based on performance trends, and, in cases where grantees are consistently not meeting performance, to determine whether projects will be eligible for future funding. Programs will be required to administer surveys or other evaluation instruments to examine the outcome measures listed below.
Name Type Measure Target
Youth actuals vs.
projections
Participant
Outcome
Program served at least 90% of projected
youth served
90%
Understanding of PUC
concepts
Survey Percent of participants demonstrate an
increased understanding of SFPUC
concepts and careers
75%
Education/career goals Survey Percent of participants report developing education or career goals and understanding
the steps needed to achieve their goals
because of the program
60%
Career Resource Day
Attendance
Event Percent of participants who attend the event 70%
Annual Grantee
Program Coordinator
Meeting Attendance
Event 1 staff in attendance at Annual Grantee
Program Coordinator Meeting
Yes
SFPUC Exploration
Day
Event Percent of participants in attendance 70%
Project-Based Learning Deliverable 20 hours of Project Based Learning completed, and documentation (project,
video, pictures) submitted
100%
Grant Reporting Deliverable Grant report submitted on time and accurately
Yes
Survey Completion Deliverable 2 surveys administered to all youth in program
Yes
Progress monitoring Deliverable Grantee participates in progress monitoring meeting
Yes
Annual Budget
Submission
Deliverable Annual budget submitted on time and
accurately
Yes
5 VI. Use of Grant Funds – Eligible Expenses
The SFPUC shall remit Grant Funds only on a reimbursable basis and only for Eligible Expenses.
The term “Eligible Expenses” means expenses incurred and paid by Grantee during the term of this Agreement in implementation of the Grant Plan and in performance of the Grant Deliverables.
All Eligible Expenses must be:
(a) paid by Grantee before the submission of the applicable Funding Request (no advances of Grant Funds shall be made);
(b) properly documented;
(c) within the scope of the applicable Budget line item; and
(d) directly related to activities performed within the physical boundaries of the City and County of San Francisco.
Eligible Expenses may include:
(a) Grantee staff salaries and wages; Grantee staff time billed in conformance with SFPUC instructions;
(b) project-based learning materials and supplies;
(c) program participant stipends and/or wages compliant with the Minimum Compensation Ordinance (MCO);
(d) direct out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Grantee or its officers, directors and employees;
(e) operating (as opposed to capital) expenses;
(f) rent or related fees for equipment, performance, or meeting halls or studios;
(g) telephone charges, stationery and office supplies; and
(h) advertising, outreach, and publicity costs.
Eligible Expenses shall specifically exclude:
(a) personal or business-related costs or expenses related to meals, catering, transportation, lodging, fundraising or educational activities for Grantee officers or 6 employees;
(b) capital expenses;
(c) any costs or expenses which are prohibited under the terms and conditions of any federal or state grant supplying all or any portion of the Grant Funds;
(d) penalties, late charges or interest on any late payments;
(e) taxes other than those paid as part of Eligible Expenses; or
(f) any tax, penalty, or other cost or expense not expressly included in authorized Eligible Expenses.