From the Silver Creek Community Association's Candidate Q&A series, question 4 of 7 Imagine that Area D has $100,000 in discretionary funding available. The funding can either be distributed to eligible non-profit organizations this year or saved toward a larger future project. If you were asked to recommend one of the following approaches, given your existing knowledge of Area D, which of these would be your first instinct to pursue? A) Divide the $100,000 among all eligible non-profit organizations. B) Review financial information from each organization and distribute the funding among those with the greatest financial need. C) Invite organizations to submit proposals explaining how they would use the funding and award it to the three proposals expected to have the greatest positive impact on Area D. D) Save the $100,000 and begin planning for a larger future project that would benefit Area D. Please choose the option that most closely reflects your approach and explain your reasoning. You may also identify any information or safeguards you would want before making a final recommendation.
Responses
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Dennis LaPierre
Several years ago, a fellow from this community named Gillis bequeathed part of his estate to the Falkland community. I recall there being careful discussion by the community association on how and for what it should be spent. The Gillis Memorial Park at the Stampede Grounds is, at least in part, a product of that bequeathment. Were the Electoral Area be given $100,000.00 in discretionary spending, I would be inclined to distribute it evenly among the Area existing community associations to consider for themselves how best to use it. Why? Because local community associations comprise interested and engaged community residents who would be willing to give careful thought to using the funds for community benefit.
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Jon KozuskaI myself would go with option B. The reality is funding like that should be divided up among the non profits who need it most in my opinion. Though holding on for a bigger project could help in the future, there are non profits who need it now. Part of a directors job is helping, which is the most rewarding part in my view. Holding out could mean a closeur of that non profit, and that in itself is a negative for the community as it generally benefits communities in some way. Communities deserve to flourish and those non profits get people together ! Review and revitalize!
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Melanie BeckettMy approach would be basically "C" then "B" and then possibly "D". I would invite interested organizations to submit proposals so I could review how they intended to use the funding. After that was done, then I would want to review the financial information from each organization, when they last received funding, what they did with it etc. Based on urgency and priorities for the communities, I would decide whether it would go to three, maybe more depending on what everyone is asking for. And if I see a proposal for a larger future project, that could be a viable option but I would also want to look and see if there were any other options for financing for a larger project. Perhaps other grants or financial aid that it could qualify for. That sounds convoluted, but if it were up to me to make a decision about who did and did not receive funding, I would really want to make sure that I was thorough and spent time consulting with those affected.