Unionville formalizes charitable contributions with annual grant program

Unionville — The Town Council unanimously adopted Resolution RES-26-01 on May 18 to establish an annual Charitable Contributions Grant Program that formalizes how the Town evaluates and awards contributions to nonprofit organizations.

Clerk and Land Use Administrator Melody Braswell summarized the resolution, which requires applicant organizations to hold 501(c)(3) status and to submit applications between June 1 and June 30 each year. Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Clerk and scored by a grant review committee using an established rubric; funding recommendations will be presented to the full Council at the August meeting. Braswell noted and said she would correct a date error in the draft resolution.

Councilman Jeff Broadaway proposed and the Council accepted several amendments: allowing incomplete applications submitted before the deadline an opportunity to be corrected prior to July 1; swapping rubric point values to place greater weight on strategic alignment than financial responsibility; and, at the town attorney’s suggestion, adding an explicit eligibility criterion that contributions must be permitted by North Carolina law. Clerk Braswell confirmed organizations that previously received town contributions, including the Unionville Lions Club, must reapply under the new program for the upcoming fiscal year.

The Council approved the resolution as amended. The program creates a predictable annual process for civic organizations seeking town support and sets a schedule for committee review and Council action.