Editorial: Time is right for re-evaluating city’s Non-Profit Funding

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By Raquel Hendrickson

While its Non-Profit Funding Program is on suspension due to budget constraints, the city of Maricopa is wisely taking another look at the process.

City staff want to modify the application procedure, but this is also a good time to re-evaluate the program. Council members’ highest responsibility is public money, and the NPFP is exactly the kind of program where that accountability is under a microscope.

The NPFP is an act of public generosity. Every nonprofit seeking money from taxpayers proclaims a good cause, but how programs are selected has been a work in progress.

Two primary questions are raised every cycle: Is this the best use of taxpayer money? If so, is the current program using the money in the most beneficial way?

Every cycle since 2012 has ended up with good results and dissatisfactory results.

Through the NPFP, the city gives up to $25,000 each to nonprofits it deems worthy of taxpayer money. The nonprofits that can benefit the most Maricopa residents or fill the biggest need should be at the top of the list.

In the past that has been the recycling outfit Environmental Concerns Organization, which was used citywide and was twice an NPFP recipient. But ECO, after being granted $25,000 last year, had its city contract ended and gave back the money it received through the NPFP.

Community Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA), too, has benefited twice from the program, and for good reason. This year, organizers were frugal enough with their $25,000 to have funds left over to continue its Youth Mentorship Program beyond the fiscal year and they are pursuing other avenues of funding.

But there was dissension last year over Barcelona Soccer, with the city council going against the advice of its own evaluation committee and giving the club $15,000 rather than $5,000. Other clubs sniped about the merit of Barcelona. The debate left Barcelona needing to doubly prove itself, which put everyone in a difficult situation.

The Non-Profit Funding Program still needs to prove itself as well. The council’s selection process – and how accountable the council is for its selections – should be part of any evaluation of the NPFP while it is conveniently on hiatus.

 

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