Advocacy

County Council News and Updates

2020-01-27T09:40:01-05:00January 27th, 2020|Advocacy, Events|

Represent our sector and learn more at County Council committee sessions. Click here for the current committee schedule.

1/27, 9:30am PHED/HHS 
Follow-up: OLO Report 2019-4: Inventory of Rent Subsidy Programs in Montgomery County

1/27, 10:15am HHS 
Update: Status of Gude Men’s Shelter

1/27, 2pm PS
Briefing: Suicide Prevention Practices – Mental Health Evaluation and Management Review

1/27, 2pm E&C 
Follow Up Worksession: OLO Report 2019-14, MCPS Performance and Opportunity Gaps

1/30, 9:30am E&C/HHS  
Update: Implementation of the County’s Early Care and Education Initiative
Discussion: school-based substance prevention programming

1/30, 2pm, GO/HHS 
Bill 36-19, Contracts and Procurement – Office of Grants Management

Current Advocacy Opportunities

2020-01-13T09:57:25-05:00January 10th, 2020|Advocacy, Grants & Funding|

Stay informed about legislation impacting the nonprofit sector by testifying on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 1:30pm at the County Council Hearing Room.

Bill 39-19, Contracts and Procurement – Local Small Business Reserve Program – Amendments. Permits local nonprofits to participate in this preference program.

Bill 36-19, Contracts and Procurement – Office of Grants Management – Establishes an Office of Grants Management in Montgomery County whose duties will include overseeing Community Grants.

Sign up to testify on the County Council website. If you cannot attend in person, please consider emailing or mailing the Council.

Also, consider joining the Nonprofit Montgomery’s Advocacy committee and play a part in developing and delivering our advocacy agenda. The committee will meet quarterly, with occasional phone meetings in between. Join and make your voice heard as we advocate for nonprofit organizations and the residents we serve.

We will update you on upcoming issues of interest, gather feedback on advocacy positions, and provide guidance and opportunities for connection as you advocate for issues related to your individual organization. Let us know if you would like to join by emailing Lesley, Executive Director, Nonprofit Montgomery.

ICYMI: Community Grant Changes and Timeline for FY21

2020-01-13T09:56:53-05:00January 9th, 2020|Advocacy, Grants & Funding|

ICYMI: Community Grant Changes and Timeline for FY21
Click here to go to the County Grants website.
The Grants Portal is now open.
The following changes are confirmed for Community Grants in FY 21:
  • County Council and County Executive grants will be combined into a single program.
  • The application portal for FY 21 will open on January 2 for nonprofits wishing to renew current grants, plus those applying for new grants. New programs and program enhancement grants will be awarded based on funding availability.
  • Applications for renewing and new grants will be due by January 29, 2020.
Priorities for funding in FY 21 are as follows:
  • Viable and effective programs funded in FY20
  • Renewing programs may request funding levels from FY 18 and FY 19 if FY20 funding was lower, or if funded in FY 18 and 19 but not in FY20.
  • Limited funds for new requests may be available, depending on funding availability.
Grants to be renewed will be announced in the County Executive’s budget.  Any new grants will be reviewed and transmitted to the Council after March 15.
The process and timeline for Cost-sharing Capital Grants will be unchanged. Watch for a full County Council worksession on Community Grants in January.

Click here to view the December 19, 2019 memo on the FY21 Community Grants process from the Office of Management and Budget to the County Council.

We Need You – Join our Advocacy Committee

2020-01-02T13:02:36-05:00January 2nd, 2020|Advocacy|

Join Nonprofit Montgomery’s Advocacy committee and play a part in developing and delivering our advocacy agenda. The committee will meet quarterly, with occasional phone meetings in between. Join and make your voice heard as we advocate for nonprofit organizations and the residents we serve.

We will update you on upcoming issues of interest, gather feedback on advocacy positions, and provide guidance and opportunities for connection as you advocate for issues related to your individual organization. Let us know if you would like to join by emailing Lesley, Executive Director, Nonprofit Montgomery.

Montgomery County Community Grants Update

2019-12-11T10:39:19-05:00December 14th, 2019|Advocacy|

The County Executive and County Council are considering sweeping changes to the County’s Community Grants process, which last year distributed over $14 million in funding to local nonprofits.The Council’s Health and Human Services and Government Operations Committees have held two joint meetings on the topic. Here is a memo from the Office of Budget and Management explaining some of the change options.

Following the November 5th Community Grants Dialogue (read our recap here), Nonprofit Montgomery, in partnership with the Office of Budget and Management and County Council Grants Office, hosted five focus groups to gain nonprofit input on potential changes to the Community Grants process. Fifty-two nonprofit leaders attended the focus groups, which were held in late November and early December.

Recommendations from the County Executive are forthcoming. In the meantime, the application process for funding in FY21 has been delayed. Nonprofit Montgomery will issue and Advocacy Alert as soon as changes are announced. Stay tuned!

Census 2020 – What Can Nonprofits Do?

2019-12-11T10:33:56-05:00December 14th, 2019|Advocacy, Nonprofit Resources|

Nonprofits have an important role to play in the 2020 Census. An accurate count of Montgomery County’s population is critical because:

  • Every year, the federal government allocates more than $675 Billion in funding based on census data.
  • Every Marylander not counted costs the state approximately $18,250 over 10 years.
  • Census data is used to plan schools, new homes and businesses and improve neighborhoods (see the County’s fact sheet)

Nonprofits reach vulnerable and often-undercounted communities. We can take the lead in making sure our clients, staff, and other constituents complete the Census. Nonprofits can:

  • download and display information about the Census in waiting rooms and other gathering places.
  • educate all staff, and especially those who work directly with clients of the importance of the census.
  • help clients complete the census online.
  • make sure that constituents know that the 2020 census does not contain any questions about citizenship, and that data they provide remains confidential by law.

For the first time the 2020 Census will be online. All residents should receive a post card in early March with an address to complete the online census. Those who do not complete the census will receive reminders, and may have a visit from a Census worker.

Montgomery County’s Office of Community Partnerships is coordinating Census 2020 for the County.  Visit the County website for information on how to get involved. Nonprofits can register as a Census partner, or can request a presentation for their staff. Please check out the County’s resources, and begin outreach to constituents in January.

Montgomery County Council News and Updates

2019-12-11T10:40:45-05:00December 11th, 2019|Advocacy|

Represent our sector and learn more at County Council committee sessions. Click here for the current committee schedule.
Congratulations new County Council Officers: Sidney Katz, President and Tom Hucker, Vice President

Update on County Revenues
On Tuesday, December 10 at 9:30am, the County Council will receive a briefing on County revenues from the Department of Finance (DOF) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The discussion will be focused on revenue revisions since the Council approved the budget at the end of May. Additional discussion on potential budgetary impacts will be scheduled for January. The staff report can be found here.

Councilmember Jawando’s Local Small Business Reserve Program and Direct Purchase Enhancement Act
On December 3 Coucilmember Jawando introduced Bill 39-19, the Local Small Business Reserve Program (LSBRP) and Direct Purchase Enhancement Act. The Act will encourage County purchasing from local small businesses and for the first time allow nonprofit organizations to become entities certified for LSBRP. A public hearing on the bill will be held in January.

County Council Press Release (11/25): Council to introduce bill on establishing
the Office of Grants Management on Nov. 26

  • Bill 36-19, Contracts and Procurement – Office of Grants Management – Established
  • A public hearing on this bill is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 14, 2020 at 1:30pm

Nonprofit Montgomery Community Grants Dialogue Recap

2019-11-13T11:44:23-05:00November 13th, 2019|Advocacy, MoCo Government News|

Last Tuesday, Nonprofit Montgomery hosted the annual Community Grants Dialogue providing nonprofit leaders with an opportunity to hear from County staff about proposed changes to the Community Grants process. Josh Watters, Budget Manager, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Carolyn Chen, Council Grants Manager presented on the following proposals. Proposals have major implications for nonprofits that have been funded through County Executive and County Council grants.
At this point, none of the proposals have been adopted. Nonprofits will have the opportunity to have input into the changes through a series of focus groups hosted by Nonprofit Montgomery with County staff. Contact us if you would like to be added to the waiting list.

Click here to read the six proposals outlined at the Grants Dialogue. See the October 22 Office of Management and Budget Memo for further explanation of each. The PowerPoint can be found here.

Nonprofit Montgomery Advocacy Alert – November 8, 2019

2020-02-05T08:43:12-05:00November 8th, 2019|Advocacy, Member News, MoCo Government News|

Proposed Changes to Community Grants
Sign up for a focus group on grant changes today.

(L to R: Josh Watters, Carolyn Chen)

 

On Tuesday Nonprofit Montgomery hosted the annual Community Grants Dialogue providing nonprofit leaders with an opportunity to hear from County staff about proposed changes to the Community Grants process. Josh Watters, Budget Manager, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Carolyn Chen, Council Grants Manager presented on the following proposals. Proposals (explained below) have major implications for nonprofits that have been funded through County Executive and County Council grants.

At this point, none of the proposals have been adopted and there is still time to make your voice heard. Nonprofits will have the opportunity to have input into the changes through a series of focus groups hosted by Nonprofit Montgomery with County staff. Spaces will fill quickly, so sign up today.  

Here are the six proposals outlined at the Grants Dialogue. See the October 22 Office of Management and Budget Memo for further explanation of each. The PowerPoint presentation can be found here.

Item #1: Combine County Executive and County Council NDAs, make no changes to the Cost-Sharing Capital Grants Process
Instead of having two parallel review processes, the grants pool will be combined into one. Work on this priority began last year with the combined application. A single grant pool will be in place for FY21. Details of the process for FY 21 will be announced soon.

Item #2: Change the Community Grants Process to be Outcomes Driven
Currently Community Grants are approved in the budget process in the spring. This proposal would have a total amount for grants to be approved in the budget, but actual awards would be made outside of the budget process.  Grant funds would be allocated to priority areas aligned with the County Executive’s priorities, and awarded in grant cycles spread throughout the year. Grants would be reviewed by teams of subject matter experts. This change is slated for implementation in FY22.

Item #3: Create a Grants Office to Manage the Community Grants Process
A Grants Office would be created in County Government to administer multiple grant cycles. The office would help applicants, and would also help County departments apply for external funding. The Grants Office would be created in FY21.

Item #4: Create an Aspire Grant Program to help build Nonprofit Capacity
The Aspire Grants program would help nonprofits build capacity, innovate and partner. Grantees would receive technical assistance and be eligible for funding. The Aspire Grant program would be created in the FY21 budget.

Item #5: Create a Grant Agreement Tool
A Grant Agreement would streamline awards to nonprofits by removing them from the contracting and procurement process. Funds would be paid out in installments, and tied to progress reports outlining the accomplishment of grant outcomes. OMB is currently looking into the legality of this approach.

Item #6: Move Certain Community Grants to the Base Budgets of Departments 
Some Community Grants will be recommended for base budget contracts. County Departments have been asked to evaluate Community Grants they administer looking at how long the department has administered the grant, how the grant fulfills the departments outcomes, and how it fits with the County Executive’s priority outcomes and the Department’s core mission.

Recommendations will be made to the County Executive for grants to be moved to the base budget in FY21. Nonprofits will find out in March if services they provide will be included in base budget contracts. Contract will initially be awarded for one year, and may be competitively bid in the future.
TIMELINE AND DATES TO WATCH

November 22, December 2 & 3: Community Grant Focus groups (sign up here)
December: Community Grants application portal opens for applicants for funding in FY 21. Grants workshops held.
December 3: Legislation to create a Grants Office in County government will be introduced. Public hearings will follow.
January: Applications for funding in FY 21 due
January 16: Potential HHS/ GO committee meeting to review progress
March: Nonprofits find out if particular programs/services are recommended for base budget contracts.
July 1: Start of the FY 21 funding year; County Grants office created.

At this point, none of the proposals have been adopted and there is still time to make your voice heard. Sign up for a focus group to express your opinion.

Stay informed. Watch Nonprofit Montgomery’s enews for updates; and the County Grants team will be updating the website with current information. 
Background: Montgomery County’s County Executive and County Council grants awarded over $14 million in grants to nonprofits for this fiscal year. The County Council and County Executive committed to fixing some long-term issues in the process and have been working on a proposal. An internal workgroup was convened to develop a proposal, and two work sessions with the County Council Health and Human Services and Government Operations Committees (July 18 and October 24) have been held.

Nonprofit Montgomery asked for representation and a voice for nonprofits in the deliberations. Josh Watters from OMB and Carolyn Chen from the Council Grants office have met with Board and Advocacy Committee members and on Tuesday attended Nonprofit Montgomery’s Community Grants Dialogue to answer questions about the following proposed changes.

(L to R: Carolyn Chen, Lesley MacDonald, Debbie Riley, Jackie DeCarlo, Josh Watters)

Council News and Updates

2019-09-02T14:43:38-04:00September 5th, 2019|Advocacy, MoCo Government News|

Represent our sector and learn more at County Council committee sessions. Click here for the current committee schedule.

9/9: E&C 2:00pm  
FY19 MCPS Operating Budget and Grand Funds categorical transfers

9/12: E&C 9:30am
Supplemental appropriation to MCPS’ FY19 Operating Budget, Entrepreneurial Activities Fund – $3,500,000 for School Bus Safety Camera Program

9/12: PHED/E&C 9:40am
Expedited Bill 19-19, Economic Development – Workforce Development – Amendments

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