Discuss and Approve Nonprofit Partnership Workplan Phase I Process Improvements Late Packet Report Added, Presentation

Summary

This item proposes process improvements for the City's FY2027 Nonprofit Partnership Workplan Phase I. This phase aims to provide a fair and transparent method for evaluating nonprofit funding requests outside of existing grant programs. In FY2026, $506,646 was awarded to 17 nonprofits through this process. The proposed improvements, based on feedback from nonprofits, staff, and councilmembers, aim to:

• Clarify Eligibility: Exclude nonprofits already funded through existing grant programs or multi-year service agreements to reduce competition for other organizations.
• Refine Funding Priorities: Shift focus from solely aligning with City Council Priorities to giving higher priority to service categories not covered by existing grants (e.g., arts and culture, environmental stewardship, workforce development) and potentially using data from the Community Survey and Human Services Needs Assessment.
• Improve Application Design and Engagement: Streamline the application by removing redundant questions, adjusting reporting requirements based on funding thresholds, posting materials earlier, and incorporating informational sessions, workshops, and applicant interviews.
• Define Service Categories: Introduce self-selected categories for applicants (e.g., Youth Services, Homelessness Services, Arts & Culture) to reduce funding redundancy.
• Clarify Committee Roles: Define the Finance Committee's role in setting budget goals and the Policy & Services Committee's role in reviewing applications and recommending awards.

Citizen Impact

These process improvements aim to make the funding process for local nonprofits more efficient and equitable. This could lead to better-defined services and potentially fewer redundancies in how nonprofits are funded, ultimately benefiting the community through more targeted support.

Confidence

high