The Nevada Foundation, in partnership with the City of Nevada, recently awarded $33,450 in human services grant funding for this year.
These funds, awarded to seven nonprofit missions, will provide necessities in the areas of food, shelter, and clothing for Nevada citizens with these basic needs.
Sandy Ehrig, a City Council representative on the four-member funding committee, gave some background about recent changes regarding the process of this funding program during the Sept. 23 City Council meeting.
Ehrig has been on the committee for around three years and explained that as she came onto the committee, the group was looking at how to maintain this funding for Nevada nonprofits.
“It had been an issue of the auditors for the State of Iowa,” she said. The way it had been given previously by the City Council “was not a favorable way (in the eyes of the auditors) for the City to participate with our nonprofits.”
Therefore, the committee was looking for what would be a “favorable way,” and it was about that time that the Nevada Foundation was taking on several projects.
“So, it made sense, where [the Foundation] already has an accountability machine with an application process, and with the opportunity to have an application workshop,” Ehrig said. The workshop has been important, Ehrig noted, because not only does it allow the committee to help nonprofits receive money, but “it’s also a chance for [nonprofits’ leaders] to learn about what other resources are out there.”
Ehrig said she feels the funding committee has made big strides in improving human service funding, as well as big strides in cleaning up the process and outlining that groups must be focused on meeting people’s basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing to qualify for these grants.
Ehrig is also proud of the “accountability” that is now a big part of the process. “They don’t just get the money. They have to report back to us,” she said.
The organizations selected to receive funding this year include:
- St. Patrick Catholic Church/Good Samaritan Fund – $6,000, they help with rent and utility assistance
- Boys & Girls Club of Story County – $4,000, to help with the agency’s food support
- Nevada Community School District’s Cubbie’s Cupboard – $7,500, offering food support
- Nevada Community School District’s Safe and Stable Housing – $7,500, for rent and utility assistance
- Nevada First United Methodist Church and Kiwanis of Nevada – $1,600, for Free Little Food Pantries
- Nevada Food at First – $3,850, for additional quantities of food
- Nevada Community School District’s Nevada Community Resource Center – $3,000, for additional outerwear needs/Angel Tree
If you have questions regarding this year’s awards, please contact Brenda Dryer, Nevada Foundation Board member, at brenda@amesalliance.com.
