Coronado City Allocates Over $1 Million in Community Grants

News Summary

Coronado has allocated approximately $1,068,000 in annual grants to local nonprofits as part of its community funding program, with a surplus of $93,002 remaining. Noteworthy organizations like Coronado MainStreet and Coronado Community Theater did not receive funding but may present their programs for future consideration. The City Council aims to streamline grant allocations, saving staff time and involving diverse community events. Although some programs were denied funding, local youth programs received support. Discussions will continue regarding the funding process in upcoming meetings.

Coronado has allocated over $1 million in annual grants to local nonprofits as part of its community funding program, which has been in place since the year 2000. This year, the City Council approved approximately $1,068,000 for various nonprofit organizations. Notably, there remains a surplus of $93,002 in the community grant fund, which is calculated annually as 1.4 percent of the city’s general fund.

Among the notable outcomes of this year’s allocations, two key nonprofits, Coronado MainStreet and the Coronado Community Theater, did not receive funding. The City Council intends to invite both organizations to present their programs later this year, which may lead to a public hearing regarding potential future funding opportunities. The Council has expressed a particular need for more information on the Coronado Community Theater, as a representative was absent during the initial allocation meeting. Additionally, there are questions surrounding Coronado MainStreet’s economic impact, prompting the Council to seek further details on its programs and how funding is utilized. Last year, Coronado MainStreet received $20,000, and this year it was recommended for $18,001.

In February, the City Council made a unanimous decision to expedite the community grants allocation process, with the aim of reducing staff time and streamlining operations. This decision is expected to save approximately 140 hours of city staff time during what has been identified as a season rife with key vacancies. This year, the allocations encompassed a variety of grants, including recurring grants, major event grants, and mini grants. Staff recommendations indicated that most organizations receiving recurring grants this year would receive 90 percent of their previous year’s funding.

Among the major events receiving full funding this year are five community staples: the Coronado Chamber of Commerce’s holiday parade and tree lighting, the Coronado Floral Association’s grant for the Coronado Flower Show, the Coronado Fourth of July celebration, the Coronado Island Film Festival, and the Coronado Schools Foundation’s annual Art and Wine Festival grant. Furthermore, mini grants totaling $15,000 were allocated to support new organizations and those previous recipients who did not receive funding last year.

In a notable instance of transparency, City Councilmember Amy Steward abstained from commenting or voting on Emerald Keepers, a nonprofit she helped to establish, despite there being no legal conflict of interest. Similarly, Councilmember Carrie Downey refrained from voting on Safe Harbor Coronado due to her daughter’s involvement with that organization.

There were also concerns expressed by members of the council regarding whether community grant funding equates to “funding a fundraiser.” This sentiment led to the denial of funding for certain programs such as A Taste of Coronado and FOCUS. In a positive development for local youth, Coronado Cheer was approved for funding to purchase safety mats that can also benefit other organizations when not in use.

This year, the automatic renewal grant amount was set at $913,724, which leaves approximately $162,000 in unallocated funds. As next steps, the City Council will continue discussions and approvals regarding the community funding process in its upcoming meetings, allowing for further planning and adjustment as needed.

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Additional Resources

• Coronado Times: City Awards More Than $1 Million in Community Grants
• Coronado Times: City of Coronado Opens Mini Grant Applications
• Coronado News: Coronado Community Foundation Awards Grants
• Wikipedia: Community Grant
• Google Search: Coronado Community Grants