Community Grants

 The City Council has determined that a Community Fund, equal more or less to 3.5% of the annual Local Option Tax budget, shall be set aside each fiscal year for the purposes of allocation to community groups and organizations that groups that preserve or enrich the health, education, welfare, and fitness of the community. Appropriations to the Community Fund shall not be made from any Enterprise Fund or other restricted fund. 

To be eligible to receive a Community Grant, the applicant must meet ONE of the following conditions: 

1. The applicant is a non-profit entity organized under the Model Non-Profit Corporation Act and designated as an exempted organization as defined by Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c); or 

2. The applicant is a joint powers authority/organization which provides a service that would otherwise be provided by the City of Victor. 

The City of Victor WILL NOT consider applications for grant funding from any of the following: 

1. A private individual for his/her own use; 

2. A private for-profit entity or organization; 

3. A political, politically affiliated, or political action organization; 

4. Private/Parochial Schools; or 

5. Organizations conducting programs that discriminate against individuals or groups based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender expression, disability or political affiliation. 

The Community Support Grant provides small grants, generally $7,500 or less per organization. Applying does not guarantee that funding will be allocated, and applications may not be funded in full. 

It is the City's policy not to fund requests from applicants for services that are otherwise supported by general tax dollars, represent a duplication of services for which the City already provides funding, or where the request comes from an applicant requesting funds for a service in another community, which is a type of service Victor already funds for itself. 

Specifically, the following requests will not be funded: 

• Requests for "start-up" costs, administrative costs, overhead costs, fund-raising costs, or other costs related to operating the initial service/program for which the group was organized; 
• Retrospective applications – if an event, service, activity, or program takes place before the application is submitted, it will not be considered for funding; 
• Requests for core staffing costs or utilities; 
• Requests to fund grant programs; 
• Programs for the purpose of advocating a religious faith or belief; 
• Celebrations for individuals; or 
• Requests from organizations to assist with a specific program or event which has received funding through another City of Victor grant program in that fiscal year. 

In evaluating whether to award grant funding, the City Council, or a special subcommittee of the City Council, may consider a combination of factors including, but not limited to: 

1. The organization's record of performance in providing similar services in the past; 

2. Whether the applicant's service/program directly benefits the City; 

3. Whether residents of Victor are directly involved in the organization/group as members of the Board of Directors or as program administrators; 

4. Sustainability of the organization; and 

5. Demonstrated need for the requested assistance. 

Eligibility (10 points)

•Organization is a non-profit with a mission that aligns with the city’s goals as set forth in budgets, resolutions, or planning documents, such as the Comprehensive Plan and Transportation Plan: 10 points

•Organization is a non-profit but mission does not align with City Goals: 5 points

•Organization is not a non-profit: 0 points

Funding Priorities (20 points)

•Program or initiative supports education, health and wellness, environmental sustainability, arts and culture, or community development and other activities consistent with the Community Grant Policy: 20 points

•Program or initiative partially supports one or more funding priorities: 10 points

•Program or initiative does not support any funding priorities: 0 points

Grant Application (30 points)

•Program or initiative is well-defined and clearly explained: 10 points

•Budget breakdown is realistic and reasonable: 10 points

•Expected outcomes and impact are clearly articulated and measurable: 10 points

Impact and Sustainability (20 points)

•The program or initiative is likely to have a positive impact on the community: 10 points

•The program or initiative has a plan for sustainability beyond the grant period: 10 points

Alignment with Grant Terms and Conditions (10 points)

•The program or initiative aligns with all grant terms and conditions: 10 points

•The program or initiative partially aligns with some grant terms and conditions: 5 points

•The program or initiative does not align with any grant terms and conditions: 0 points

Demonstrated Need (10 points)

•The program or initiative has a demonstrated need that and if funds were not awarded, the need would likely go unmet: 10 points

•The program or initiative does not have a demonstrated need: 0 points

Total Score: 100 points

Note:

The rubric above can be modified by the Subcommittee as long as the review criteria is consistent with the Community Grant Policy and applied to all applicants. Additionally, the weights of each category and the criteria used to assess applications can be adjusted based on the priorities and goals of the Council.

1. Grant Monitoring and Reporting: Recipients of community grants may be required to provide progress reports and final reports detailing the use of funds, program outcomes, and impact. The grant committee may monitor progress and impact to ensure compliance with grant requirements. 

2. Recognition and Publicity: Recipients of community grants may be recognized on the City's website and social media channels. The City may also require recipients to acknowledge our support in their marketing and publicity materials. 

3. Grant Terms and Conditions: All community grants will be subject to terms and conditions established by the City, including but not limited to reporting requirements, repayment of funds if program outcomes are not achieved, and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. 

4. Grant Review and Revision: This policy will be reviewed periodically and revised as necessary to ensure alignment with the City's mission and priorities. 

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.

Applications for Community Grants are accepted once a year, typically on or before the first of June. Organizations applying for funding must complete the Community Grant Application . Please follow all application instructions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

FY24 grant applications must be received by Thursday, June 8th, 2023, and should be submitted via email to michelles@victoridaho.gov . We encourage all eligible non-profit organizations to apply for funding to support programs and activities accessible to Victor's community. All applications received by the deadline will be reviewed and scored by a subcommittee of the City Council. Funding awards are finalized when Council adopts the city's Fiscal Year 2024 Budget (August 2023) and will be dispersed through the 2024 Tin Cup Fundraiser unless requested otherwise.

If you have questions or need further information about the Community Grant, please contact the City Administrator or the City Treasurer at 208.787.2940.