Title
Resolution to Extend the Coordinated Funding Pilot through FY14
Memorandum
Attached for your consideration is a resolution to extend the Coordinated Funding pilot project for an additional year - through FY14 - contingent upon funding availability.
On November 4, 2010, City Council approved a coordinated funding process for human services funding in partnership with the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, the United Way of Washtenaw County, Washtenaw County, and the Washtenaw Urban County. This coordinated funding process includes a Coordination/Planning funding process (United Way and Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation funding), a Capacity Building funding process (United Way and Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation funding), and a Program Operations funding process (City, County, Urban County and United Way funding) in which each process is informed by the others and funders collaborate to ensure efficient and effective investment of both public and private human services funding. The final approval of funding recommended in each of these processes, however, remains under the authority of each partner's board. The City's FY12 and FY13 General Fund investments in nonprofit entities for human services were included in the Program Operations component of this coordinated funding process.
Subsequent to City approval in 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding was authorized and signed by all five partners that outlined the expectation that they coordinate their funding of Washtenaw County human service programs around six priority areas (Early Childhood, School-Aged Youth, Housing and Homelessness, Safety Net Health Care and Nutrition, Aging and Hunger Relief) in order to maximize the community impact of that funding. The agreement was signed as a two year pilot that covered 2011-2013.
A Coordinated Funding Oversight Team representing all parties has met regularly since the pilot was launched. Earlier this year, a $70,000 grant was received to conduct a formal third party evaluation of Coordinated Funding in the fall of 2012. The committee wishes to recommend a third year continuation of the Coordinated Funding pilot so that we can take advantage and utilize these evaluation findings and analysis for future improvements. Implementing a rigorous grant-making cycle without knowing and using these evaluation findings was not deemed a sound business decision.
All of the Washtenaw Coordinated Funder governing bodies have been presented with the following language relating to this third-year extension, and both private partners - the United Way of Washtenaw County and the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation - have formally approved the extension. Additionally, the City of Ann Arbor Housing and Human Services Advisory Board unanimously recommended the extension at their September 13, 2012 meeting. The Urban County and the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners will consider the extension in October 2012.
The Coordinated Funding Oversight Committee recommends the renewal of each of the five partners' commitment to extend the current Coordinated Funding pilot phase for an additional year covering the period of FY14, with the following conditions:
Program Operations: Grant awards to currently funded local nonprofits would carry-over for a third year (July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014) contingent on satisfactory completion of contract deliverables including evaluation reports and availability of funds. Re-applications would not be necessary.
Capacity Building: Current total capacity building funding would remain at a total coordinated level of $225,000 with the understanding that the focus of the grants may change depending on community capacity needs and priorities.
Planning and Coordination: Current total funding of Planning and Coordination entities would continue at a total coordinated level of $270,000 with the understanding that distribution of these funds amongst the six entities will be determined during the first half of 2013.
Original MOU: A one year addendum will be created covering 2013-2014, requiring new signatures of each Washtenaw Coordinated Funder representative by December 31, 2012.
Staff
Prepared by: Andrea Plevek, Human Services Manager and Mary Jo Callan, Community Development Director
Reviewed by: Sumedh Bahl, Community Services Administrator
Approved by: Steve Powers, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Board of Directors, the United Way of Washtenaw County Board of Directors, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, and the Washtenaw Urban County Executive Committee approved a Coordinated Funding process in the fall of 2010 for human services funding;
Whereas, a Memorandum of Understanding was authorized and signed by all five partners that outlined the expectation that they coordinate their funding of Washtenaw County human service programs around six priority areas (Early Childhood, School-Aged Youth, Housing and Homelessness, Safety Net Health Care and Nutrition, Aging and Hunger Relief) in order to maximize the community impact of that funding;
Whereas, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed as a two year pilot that covered FY11 through FY13;
Whereas, a $70,000 grant was received to conduct a formal third party evaluation of Coordinated Funding in the fall of 2012;
Whereas, the Coordinated Funding Oversight Committee wishes to recommend a third year continuation of the Coordinated Funding pilot so that we can take advantage of and utilize the findings and analysis of the formal third-party evaluation for future improvements;
Whereas, the governing boards of both the United Way of Washtenaw County and the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation have formally approved the extension in September 2012;
Whereas, the City of Ann Arbor Housing and Human Services Advisory Board unanimously recommended the extension at their September 13, 2012 meeting;
Whereas, the third year extension of the pilot is contingent on approval of all five funding partners, satisfactory completion of contract deliverables by grantees including evaluation reports, and availability of funds;
Whereas, total capacity building funding would remain at a coordinated level of $225,000 - comprised of United Way and Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation funds - with the understanding that the focus of the grants may change depending on community capacity needs and priorities;
Whereas, total funding of Planning and Coordination entities would continue at a coordinated level of $270,000 - comprised of United Way and Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation funds - with the understanding that distribution of these funds amongst the six entities will be determined during the first half of calendar year 2013;
Whereas, grant awards to currently funded human services nonprofits would carry-over for a third year (July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014) with no re-application necessary in for FY14;
Whereas, a one-year addendum will be created covering FY14, requiring new signatures of each Washtenaw Coordinated Funder representative by December 31, 2012;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Council approve the extension of the Coordinated Funding Pilot through FY14; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator, or his designee, is authorized to take necessary administrative actions and to execute any documents necessary to complete this transaction and to implement this resolution.
Submitted by: Community and Economic Development
Sponsored by: Councilmember Teall