Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☐ Department: Human Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All
Awarding of the 2025 Human Services Grants to Local Non-Profits- At a Cost of $559,609.00 to the County
Body
Information Contact: Damon Scott
Phone Number: 404-270-1178
PURPOSE
To approve the award of fifty (50) Human Services Grants for 2025 in an amount not to exceed $559,609.00. The grant period for all awards will be one year from the date of BOC approval.
NEED/IMPACT:
In the County’s 2025 Adopted Budget, $559,609.00 was approved for Human Services Grants to support the work of local non-profits. This year marks the 21st consecutive year that Human Services Grants Program has presented recommendations for grant awards. The service areas designated for awards include youth, family/human services, food insecurity, public health, elderly, disability, and homeless prevention. The entire grant application process is electronic.
There were 256 people in attendance at the virtual Grant Program Orientation Meeting on May 22, 2025. All attendees received an electronic copy of the grant application instructions and program guidelines. The Human Services Department received one hundred-thirty-four (134) grant applications during the 2025 grant application intake period, which ended on June 23, 2025. Fifty-nine (59) applications were incomplete (electronic folder created, but no information within the folder) and therefore were not evaluated. A minimum threshold review was conducted, and seven (7) grant applications did not meet the minimum threshold requirements. A notification letter was sent to these organizations on July 9, 2025.
The Human Services Coordinating Committee (HSCC) reviewed the remaining sixty-eight (68) applications between July 15, 2025, and August 29, 2025. The Human Services Grant Program evaluation policy states that “grant applications must have a composite score of 80 to be recommended for funding.” Each application is read and scored independently by 3 different members of the committee and the composite score is obtained by averaging these scores. At the conclusion of the evaluation period, which was six weeks, the HSCC recommended fifty (50) non-profits to be awarded with General Funds. These applicants had composite scores of 80 or more. These Human Services Grant Awards, once approved, will assist individuals and families living in DeKalb with needed services and supports.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Transfer funds from the General Fund to the Human Services Grant Fund-250 Cost Center 67510 to avoid the delay of payments. There is no fiscal impact, as this action only transfers already appropriated funds.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To consider awarding the Human Services Grants for 2025 in the amount not to exceed $559,609. Authorize disbursements under the terms of the grant agreement and authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute all necessary documents.