Council approves Grants Advisory Commission recommendations totaling $288,010 for local nonprofits

The Roseville City Council on May 21 approved the Grants Advisory Commission's fiscal year 2025–26 recommendations to award $288,010 to 17 nonprofit applications from the Citizens Benefit Fund and REACH (Roseville Employees Annual Charitable Hearts) funding pools.

Toby Thomas of the City Manager’s Office presented the history and mechanics of the Citizens Benefit Fund (CBF) and REACH funds and reported that the commission reviewed 27 eligible applications requesting $587,677 and recommended funding 17 programs totaling $288,010. The commission categorized awards into operation mission support, small requests, and strategic one-time grants; there were no eligible strategic-one-time awards this round.

Council considered individual awards that required recusals. Vice Mayor Karen Albert, Councilmember Ricucci and Mayor Bernasconi had conflicts for one grant to the Roseville Police Assistance League; the council used a lottery procedure to select one conflicted member to participate and the other two left the dais for that vote. The council approved $13,306 to the Roseville Police Assistance League after the random selection process. The council also approved grants to Lighthouse Counseling & Family Resource Center ($30,000) and Stand Up Placer ($20,500) and the remaining package of 14 recommended grants totaling $220,204 from the Citizens Benefit Fund and $3,300 from REACH.

Votes were taken by roll call and passed. Staff said the awards will be distributed at the Grants Advisory Commission meeting on Aug. 12, 2025. Councilmembers thanked commission members and staff for the review process.