The Richmond City Council is set to revamp its grantmaking process, aiming to enhance community impact and streamline operations. During the Organizational Development Standing Committee Meeting on October 6, 2025, Amy Popovich, the Deputy Chief Information Officer for Human Services, outlined a new framework designed to improve efficiency and effectiveness in distributing funds to local organizations.

The proposed changes come in response to an audit conducted earlier this year, which highlighted inefficiencies in the current system. Currently, the city manages 70 individual contracts across various departments, leading to a cumbersome process that can take nearly eleven months from application to funding. The new model seeks to cut this timeline significantly, reducing it to approximately three months.

Popovich emphasized the importance of aligning the grantmaking process with the mayor's vision for a thriving Richmond, focusing on four key areas: children and families, health, economic mobility, and arts and culture. By partnering with experienced grantmaking organizations, the city aims to provide better technical assistance and capacity building for grantees, which has been a challenge under the existing decentralized approach.

The new framework will allow grantees to know the total available funding before applying, addressing a major concern raised in the audit. This shift is expected to create a more responsive experience for applicants and enable city staff to concentrate on their core responsibilities.

The council retains budget authority, with the mayor proposing allocations to each priority area, which will then require council approval. This collaborative approach is intended to ensure that funding aligns with community needs and priorities.

As Richmond moves forward with these changes, residents can anticipate a more efficient and impactful grantmaking process that better supports local organizations and enhances community well-being.