City Arts of San Mateo was founded in 1996 in the city of San Mateo as a non-profit organization for the arts. The mission of the organization was to include members of the community and make them aware of the beauty of arts in all its forms from music, to dance, film, theatre, sculpture and painting, and not only.

City Arts functioned as an advisory to all things connected with the arts and as a resource association as well. It encouraged everyone, residents and visitors alike, to take delight in, appreciate and even partake in making art, in whatever form they chose.

City Arts of San Mateo tried to stimulate individuals and businesses into creating memberships with them so they could fund various activities and give something back to the community. All the money raised with the help of memberships and their contributing members would go into funding programs and events they would organize, artist commissions, educating those interested in the arts as well as for community outreach.

The general membership put at the disposition of individuals would include titles such as those of a contributor, friend of City Arts, patron, sponsor or benefactor, depending on the membership purchased. The prices would range from a mere 25 dollars to 500 dollars and above, accordingly. For those that joined, they would receive the satisfaction of making a positive contribution to the community. The membership was viewed as a donation and would be tax deductible whenever the law so allowed. City Arts of San Mateo stated that any such members would have their names published on their website under Current Members, for all to know the service they have done them. They would also receive notices of future events and activities in advance.

The business leadership membership would offer companies the chance to be friends to, patrons or benefactors of City Arts in exchange for a membership from 1,000 dollars to 5,000 and above, also accordingly. Benefactors of any of the business leadership levels would receive the same benefits that a general membership provided. Apart from that they would be credited on specific projects as sponsors. Company logos of those members would appear on all marketing materials pertaining to the City Arts projects in which the funding was used. Business members would also appear on the site of the organization under the title of current members and their name would be included in all press releases about the events of City Arts of San Mateo where the money from their membership was used.