Tempe Community Council recommends $1.136 million for human-services grants, urges continued attention to new programs

Tempe Community Council presented its agency-review recommendations to the City Council, proposing distribution of $1,136,000 in human-services funding for the upcoming fiscal year and describing the panel’s process and priorities.

"We have available $1,136,000 from the General Fund, Water Bill donations, Tempe Community Council, and Healthy Giving Campaign," Executive Director Octavia Harris told council. Volunteers reviewed 75 programs representing 67 agencies and recommended funding 42 programs representing 36 agencies.

Harris and Nancy Blevins, chair of the Community Impact Committee, described process changes: a two-bucket application system (renewals and new/returning applicants), a $30,000 cap on new program requests, continued emphasis on mental-health funding following TCC’s Community Needs Assessment, and integration of financial review into the volunteer scoring process. Renewal eligibility requires five or more consecutive years of funding for the same program, consistent mission alignment and quarterly reporting, Harris said.

The panel recommended renewals totaling $792,451 and additional awards from the remaining allocation for high-scoring new or returning programs. Reviewers set a score threshold: applicants scoring 56 or above (out of 70) would receive 80% of their request; those scoring below 56 were not recommended. The total requested by applicants was about $2.2 million, leaving a shortfall of roughly $1.1 million.

Funding recommendations were broken down by population served (homeless individuals and families, working-poor, children and youth, older adults, individuals with disabilities, survivors of domestic violence) and by service category (crisis, stability, self-sufficiency). Harris said the committee noted an uptick in dollars requested for programs serving the working poor.

Councilmembers praised the volunteer reviewers and raised concerns about the growth of multiyear renewals. Councilmember Amber cautioned that continuously funded programs could restrict resources available to new programs over time. Vice Mayor Gohlen and others urged more public outreach to increase voluntary water-bill donations that help fund grants.

No formal council vote was taken; TCC’s recommendations will be used by council staff and the community foundation as they finalize allocations for the coming fiscal year. Harris said contracts and quarterly reporting will follow distribution starting July 1.