Board endorses revised community grant guidance and moves application window to July

The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors on April 8 approved updated guidance for the county's Community-Based Organization funding program (formerly the Non-County Organization program), adopting a revised application timeline and a new cloud-based grants portal to streamline applications and reporting.

Staff described the most significant changes as a move of the application window from March to July, a reduction in required reporting from three reports to two (mid-year and final), clarified permissible expenditures and new contract safeguards for capital equipment and buildings, and the launch of an eCivis portal to standardize applications and evaluations.

Under the new timeline staff presented, the portal will open July 1, 2025, applicants will have until July 31 to apply, staff will evaluate applications in August and then meet individually with supervisors in late August to review district-level submissions. The board will consider funding recommendations on September 23, and memoranda of understanding will follow for successful applicants. Approved awards would have an October 1, 2025 start date and a September 30, 2026 expenditure period, with a mid-year report due March 2026 and final report due September 30, 2026.

Staff said the portal will provide prospecting tools for smaller nonprofits and enable the county to track duplication of services, measure outcomes and enforce contract terms. New MOU language will require recipients to repay county funds if they sell assets purchased with grant awards within a defined useful life (three years for vehicles, five years for heavy equipment, up to 10 years for significant building improvements), county staff said.

Board members emphasized accountability and alignment with the board's strategic priorities. The board voted unanimously, 5'—0, to approve the revised guidance document and the new process.