To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Michelle Halstead, Director, Commissioners’ Office
Prepared By:
prepared
Daniela Villarreal, Management Analyst I, Commissioners’ Office
end
presenter
Presenter: Daniela Villarreal, Management Analyst I, Commissioners’ Office
end
Subject:
title
1:45 PM *2025 Aid to Agencies Overview and Discussion
end
Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The purpose of this study session is to provide information on the Aid to Agencies Program and seek Board direction on how to proceed for the 2025 grant cycle.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Arapahoe County Commissioners developed the Aid to Agencies program to financially support non-profit organizations in 2008, filling service gaps in the county through annual grants using general fund dollars. The discretionary Aid to Agencies program has evolved to fund organizations through two mechanisms: a safety net program in which agencies receive annual funding without needing to apply and a competitive grant program in which agencies apply to receive a portion of available funds.
During the 2024 grant cycle, all applicants and grantees were notified about the county’s budget challenges and our inability to guarantee funds would be available in 2025 to continue the program. County Commissioners and staff have met with grantees over the past six months to discuss the County’s next steps to modernize finances and address existing funding gaps. In these meetings, organizations have shared the impacts that Aid to Agencies funding has made in their day-to-day operations and what it could mean if they lost that annual funding.
The program has had a budget of $2,079,500 of which $1,550,603 is allocated for safety net organizations and the remaining $528,897 towards a competitive grant program. An interdisciplinary committee comprised of human services, community resources, and commissioners’ office staff develops program criteria that include funding categories, scoring criteria, and a timeline.
Historically, the County meets with the Board during June to determine the structure and timeline of the competitive grant program, with the application launch occurring in June and closing in August. Given projected budget constraints and to help establish nonprofit expectations, staff is seeking direction from the Board on the 2025 grant cycle, proposing the following options for consideration:
1. The Board could decide to completely cut funding for the 2025 Aid to Agencies program and re-evaluate the future of the program for 2026.
a. If new revenue is obtained, staff would recommend amending the budget to provide funding for safety net programs in 2025 and developing a more robust competitive grant program for 2026.
2. Partially fund Aid to Agencies program, eliminating the competitive grant program for 2025 and funding safety net providers at 50% of their allocation, for a total of $775,301.50.
a. If new revenue is obtained, staff would recommend amending the budget to provide 100% funding for safety net programs in 2025.
3. Maintain status quo, funding $2,079,500 of which $1,550,603 is allocated for safety net organizations and the remaining $528,897 towards competitive grant program.
Staff will discuss the pros and cons of each option for Board consideration.
Alternatives: The Board could choose not to approve one of the proposed options for consideration.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☒Be fiscally sustainable
☒Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community focused
Staff Recommendation: The staff committee is recommending Option 2, which seeks to strike a balance between known budget constraints and the community impact of reductions on nonprofit service providers.
Fiscal Impact: Option 2 would require $775,301.50 of general fund monies, which would make available $1,304,198.50 for other county needs.
Concurrence: Human Services; Community Resources.