Section 1. The ANC shall at the end of the first quarter of each calendar year review its grant policy, including funding priorities for the year.
Section 2. All priorities, requirements and guidelines must meet those requirements of D.C. law as outlined in Attachment A. The program will be run by a paid grants manager whose impartiality is supported by being neither a 1D commissioner nor a current resident, nor an officer or board member of any established Mount Pleasant organization. The main purpose of the grants is to seed the search for outside grants based on small initial funding from ANC1D and the implicit commendation implicit in the receipt of the ANC grant. To this end, this purpose of maximum leverage, along with benefit to a maximum number of ANC1D residents, is to be used in selection. Grant requests may be received only from organizations proposing to provide services that are public in nature and benefit persons who reside or work within the Commission area. The services proposed may not duplicate those that are already performed by the District government.
Section 3. The dollar amount in grants awarded during any one year shall not exceed 10 percent of the annual ANC allotment plus 20% of any carryover of funds at the start of the fiscal year. This amount shall be included as an expense item in the annual budget if grants are to be awarded. Grants exceeding $500 require approval by a minimum of five commissioners. Grants of less than $500, but of $100 or more, require the approval of at least four commissioners. Grant requests shall be in electronic form, and shall include a description of the proposed project for which the grant is requested; a statement of expected public benefits; and the total cost of the proposed project, including other sources of funding, if any.
Section 4. The Commission shall issue requests for proposals once a year. Proposals will only be considered in response to this request and at the indicated time only. The grant announcement must be at least two months prior to the selection date. Proposals shall be received at least four weeks prior to the selection date, and shall be distributed to all commissioners at least two weeks prior to the selection date.
Section 5. Grants are made upon the condition that all receipts and a final report (acceptable by the grants manager) be submitted within 60 days of the announcement of the award.
Section 6. No member of a grants committee may apply for a grant, and each must recuse himself or herself from any consideration of a proposal in which he or she has a tangible interest.
Section 7. Upon adoption of this grant policy by a minimum of four commissioners, the commission may issue a one time request for proposals, notwithstanding other requirements of this article.
Passed 5-1
ANC1D authorizes up to $8000 for a grants program to implement ANC1D Bylaws article XVI "Grants Policy". Up to $5000 is authorized for the actual grants, with the rest to support the establishment of the program that for the longer-term benefit of Mount Pleasant can continue to develop its effectiveness and outreach. This program is under the oversight of the ANC1D Executive Director or designates or successor. The proposals will be two pages, one for narrative and the second for entity data of the kind required by the joint form of most DC area foundations; unless specifically argued otherwise, one goal for all grants is to complete that joint form. No funds will be disbursed except upon approval of a final report and only for receipts in accordance with DC law, specifically those that can be approved by the DC auditor. ANC1D intends for this program to be announced with all due expedition, preferably before the end of September. The organizations making proposals need not be incorporated, but should demonstrate some minimum establishment, order or articulate purpose. A priority for engaging potential grantees will be outreach to groups in underserved populations or not usually active participants in local civic affairs. The grants will be reviewed by a disinterested panel, perhaps with reasonable but modest honoraria but certainly not including ANC1D commissioners or the officers or board members of any group making a proposal. The final slate of recommended grants, with reviews and rationale will be submitted for approval to ANC1D.
Passed, 6 to 0