Title
Financial Partners Policy
Action
Action:
Adopt a policy for use through the annual budgeting process related to Financial Partner applicants and funding consistent with the Budget, Governance, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee’s recommendation.
Body
Committee Chair:
Dimple Ajmera, Budget, Governance, and Intergovernmental Relations
Staff Resource(s):
Marie Harris, Strategy and Budget
Explanation
§ As part of the annual budget development process, the Strategy and Budget Department conducts an application process for funding through the city’s financial partners process.
§ During the budget development process for fiscal year 2025, a referral was made to the Budget, Governance, and Intergovernmental Relations Council Committee (BGIR) to review the criteria of funding for the Financial Partners Process that is conducted annually as part of budget development.
§ Upon review the Committee is proposing updates to the criteria and to formalize the criteria into a Council policy. Key criteria within the proposed policy include:
- Organizations funded through the Financial Partners process must be active non-profit organizations. Organizations that are actively seeking non-profit status can also apply (contracts will not be finalized unless non-profit status is active).
- The requested funding amount should be no more than 30% of organization’s budget and be for one-time expenses (programming/staffing).
- Term Limit on Funding for General Fund Discretionary
§ Funding for an organization can continue for up to five years (must be approved by Council each year)
§ After Financial Partnership period, determination can be made if on-going service contract is appropriate.
- Performance Monitoring and Accountability
§ Must include performance and equity metrics that will quantify organizational success in advancing strategic priorities through funded programs and/or initiatives.
§ All Financial Partner contracts will include Performance Measures, CBI-Certified MWSBE Utilization Targets, and Equity Measures.
§ Payments may be delayed until reporting requirements are met and/or progress toward performance deliverables is confirmed.
§ If funded for previous fiscal year, agency must have demonstrated sufficient progress toward their performance measure targets at mid-year reporting to be considered for funding in the next fiscal year.
§ Partner organizations with gross receipts greater than $100,000 require a financial audit completed by a Certified Public Accountant, under $100K will require a 2-year comparative financial statements.
Committee and Council Discussions
§ On May 6, 2024, the BGIR Committee received an overview of the city’s current financial partners funding process and provided input on expected criteria.
§ At the June 3, 2024 Committee meeting the committee reviewed and refined policy considerations for criteria included in the annual Financial Partners process.
§ At the June 3, 2025 Council Committee meeting the committee chair reviewed the proposed funding and reporting enhancements with Council.
§ At the September 3, 2024 BGIR Committee meeting, the Committee voted to recommended the proposed policy for consideration by full Council. (Council members Brown, Mayfield, and Mitchell voted in favor; Council members Ajmera Bokhari were absent for the vote).
§ At the September 3, 2024 Council Committee Discussions meeting BGIR Vice Chair Mitchell reviewed highlights of the proposed Financial Partners Policy with Council.
§ The proposed policy was presented to Council during the October 7, 2024 Council Committee Discussions meeting.
Attachments
Attachment(s)
Proposed Policy
October 7th presentation