ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: November 27, 2000
Author/Local: W. Au/871-6639

RTS No. 1727

CC File No. 2151

CS&B: December 7, 2000

TO:	Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
FROM:	Director of Social Planning
SUBJECT:	2000 Partners in Organizational Development Grant Allocation

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council approve a Partners in Organizational Development grant of $17,500 to the United Way of the Lower Mainland for subsequent distribution to community services organizations in the amounts listed in Appendix A of this report, source of funds to be the 2000 Community Services grants budget.

GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services submits the foregoing for Council’s CONSIDERATION.

COUNCIL POLICY

Approval of grant recommendations requires eight affirmative votes.

PURPOSE

This report recommends approval of the City’s contribution to the Partners in Organizational Development (POD) program for community service agencies in Vancouver.

BACKGROUND

On March 28, 2000, Council approved an allocation of $18,000 for the POD portion of the Community Services Grants. This was reduced to $17,500 to reflect the Community Services Grants reductions approved on May 4, 2000.

The Partners in Organization Development program was initiated in 1989 as a jointly funded partnership of the Vancouver Foundation, United Way, the Department of the Secretary of State and the City of Vancouver to help non-profit groups deal with common organizational problems and thus to function more effectively.

In both 1993 and 1996, the Partners in Organizational Development program evaluations indicated that it was meeting real needs in the community, that it should be continued, and that other funding partners should be found so that the program could assist more organizations.

In addition to funding the various organizational development activities which the program has always supported (identified as the “Organizational Development Stream”), POD also includes an “Access Stream” to help non-profit organizations become more inclusive and responsive to community diversity.

To reduce costs and red tape the United Way has always handled the administration of the POD program, co-ordinating mailing lists, distributing applications, and mailing out one cheque to each successful applicant. The United Way receives a 6% administration fee from all of the POD funders as reimbursement for these administrative services.

DISCUSSION

This year’s POD program funding partners are: United Way of the Lower Mainland, B.C. Immigration & Multiculturalism, Vancouver Foundation, Health Canada and the City of Vancouver with a total available budget of $169,760.

POD grants are reviewed by a committee of staff representing each funder. Proposals are assessed on the basis of completeness of the application, eligible activities and costs, documented need, clear activity plan and long-term benefits to the organization as a whole. Copies of the 2000 POD brochure describing the program, including eligibility and evaluation criteria, are attached as Appendix B.

A total of 96 applications were received. Of this total 18 were from Vancouver. Although the program is province-wide, Vancouver funds are allocated only to Vancouver-based organizations, while the other funders contribute both to Vancouver groups and non-Vancouver groups. For this cycle, contributions are as follows:

Funder: Community Services	Total
City of Vancouver	$17,500
Vancouver Foundation	$42,400
United Way	$42,400
BC Immigration & Multiculturalism	$50,000
Health Canada	$10,000
1999 returned grants	$7,460
TOTAL	$169,760

Grants recommended to Vancouver community services groups are listed in Appendix A, together with the City’s contribution. The Vancouver groups not recommended are also listed in Appendix A.

* * * * *

2000 POD COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANTS RECOMMENDED VANCOUVER ORGANIZATIONS

The following 5 Vancouver community service organizations are recommended for Partners in Organizational Development grants:

Organizations	Purpose	Request	COV Grant
Asian Society for the Intervention of AIDS-	- three day strategic planning session - board/staff development with emphasis placed on creating an effective governance and management structure for efficient decision making	$5,000	$3,000
Associated Awareness & Networking around Disordered Eating-	- to create an image and marketing plan for ANAD	$4,500	$3,500
Reach Centre Association-	- develop a process for wider community involvement in the centre's programs and policies - develop a fundraising plan to diversify funding base - develop a communications strategy for service networks and promote the model of community governed health care	$5,000	$4,000 (plus $1,000 from Vancouver Foundation)
Vancouver Society of Children's Centres-	- development of a business plan	$4,000	$2,000
Wish Drop-in Centre Society-	- develop an individual and major donors giving program	$5,000	$5,000
TOTAL		$23,500	$17,500

The following 12 Vancouver community service organizations are not recommended for POD grants from the City of Vancouver allocation.

Organization	Request	Comment
Aspire Integrative Remedial Education Society	$3,000	Unclear process
B.C. Special Olympics	$5,000	Does not meet funding criteria
Coast Foundation Society	$5,000	Not a priority
German Canadian Benevolent Society	$3,500	POD does not fund retroactively
Junior League of Greater Vancouver	$1,950	Ineligible -arrived late
Kitsilano Neighbourhood House	$5,000	POD does not fund retroactively
Law Courts Education Society	$5,000	Ineligible - no charitable reg. no.
Mid-Main Community Health Centre	$4,800	Ineligible - no charitable reg. no.
Option Youth Society	$4,500	POD does not fund retroactively
The Three Links Care Society	$3,000	Unclear activity plan
The Vancouver Tourism Awards Society	$5,000	Ineligible - no charitable reg. no.
Vancouver Second Mile Society	$5,000	Does not meet funding criteria

POD Brochure on file in the City Clerk's Office.

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver