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Community Service Grants
2024 Grant Program
The application period for the 2024 Community Service Grant Program is open from November 1, 2023 through 5:00 PM on Friday, January 26, 2024. The application portal will close at that time and late applications will not be accepted. Please read through all of the information below prior to utilizing the application link at the bottom of this page.
GRANTS FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
The City recognizes the value of local organizations who provide specialized social services and cultural programs that benefit the citizens of Westlake Village. Each year, the City Council sets aside an appropriation earmarked to support the Community Services Grant Program. Every group will be considered, but not all groups may receive funding. Grants will be awarded in amounts of not less than $250. Not-for-profit organizations that serve the residents of the City of Westlake Village are eligible to apply.
After the application period, grants are reviewed by a City Council Appointed Community Services Advisory Fund Committee and two members of the City Council. The final recommendations and staff report are reviewed by the full City Council followed by the issuance of contracts to any agency that was awarded funding. Grants are typically issued in the Spring. Letters will be issued to any agency that was not recommended for funding.
DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM:
The City’s Community Service Grant Program is intended to provide monetary grants to eligible community non-profit organizations. The City recognizes the value of such groups, which provide specialized social services and cultural programs benefiting its citizens. All groups are eligible to apply, however, not all groups may receive funding. Grants awarded will be in minimum amounts of not less than $250. Funding is limited for each Grant Year.
ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS:
To be eligible to apply for grant monies under the City’s Community Service Grant Program, a community non-profit organization must satisfy the following standards: (1) serve the greater City of Westlake Village community and; (2) operate as a not-for-profit organization; (3) directly provide the social service(s), educational or cultural program(s) for which grant monies are sought; (4) not be a pervasively sectarian religious institution; and, (5) not propose to use grant monies for specifically religious activities.
"Directly provide" means that the community non-profit organization conducts the social service(s) or cultural program(s) itself rather than through a separate entity to which it sub-awards grant monies. A community non-profit organization that is affiliated with a church, synagogue, mosque or similar entity shall not be deemed a "pervasively sectarian religious institution".
APPLICATION PROCESS:
I. Completion of Application Form
All interested non-profit organizations must complete the online application form, including:
- Name and address of the non-profit organization (applicant is required to list the local branch if it represents a national or statewide organization.)
- Description of community services provided.
- Relationship of non-profit organization to the community.
- Current membership figures and approximate number of City of Westlake Village residents served by the non-profit organization.
- Amount of funds requested.
- Proposed project and budget plan for the use of the grant funds.
- Proof of 501(c)(3) status with a copy of the letter from the IRS or an explanation of why the non-profit organization does not have that status.
- Applicants are also requested to submit the past two years financial statements including the current year with balance sheets, profit/loss statements and indicating the age of revenue that is used for administration, salaries and program costs. (Please denote what salaries are directly related to administration and/or program costs.)
- Applicants are requested to provide information on their annual sources of revenue received.
- Any applicant who received grant funds from the City in the past is to indicate when the funds were received, the amount of funds received and document how the funds were utilized.
II. Application Deadline
Completed online application forms along with supplemental documents must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 26, 2023.
III. Evaluation of Applications and Selection Process
Following the application deadline, the City Council’s appointed Community Service Grant Committee will review and consider proposals from community groups. Applications received from public education institutions will be reviewed by the City’s Cultural Recreation Committee. Applicants may be asked to attend a public meeting to address the Committee, answer questions, clarify their use of funds, etc. All proposals will be evaluated to ascertain which non-profit organizations best meet the social service and cultural program needs that the City seeks to satisfy. Factors to be considered include, but are not limited to, the following:
A. The non-profit organization’s responsiveness in clearly stating the benefits to be derived by the residents of the City of Westlake Village, if grant funds are awarded;
B. The number of City of Westlake Village residents by age group served by the non-profit organization; geographic area(s) and total number of clients served by the non-profit organization;
C. The non-profit organization’s history of providing community services to the residents of the City of Westlake Village; and
D. The non-profit organization’s financial need for grant funds to service the City of Westlake Village residents.
IV. Award of Funds
Following the Community Service Grant Committee’s screening process, the Committee will present its recommendations to the City Council. The City Council will review the Committee’s report and consider award of funds to selected non-profit organizations. In all cases, the City Council retains sole and absolute discretion in administering this program, including which applicants will be awarded funds and the total level of funding in each instance.
V. Execution of Agreement
Non-profit organizations selected to receive funds will be required to sign and execute an agreement with the City of Westlake Village (see attached sample agreement). NOTE: If award of funds is made, a recipient non-profit organization will be required to expend grant monies prior to the close of that calendar year.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
For additional information please contact City Hall at 818-706-1613.