Community Grant Program

Community Grant Program is sponsored by Memphis Area CRA Association. Awards community-driven donations to local nonprofits and schools making a difference in the Greater Memphis Area.

RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH THE MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM FOR FY25 WHEREAS, the Memphis City Council desires to promote community programming and improve neighborhoods; and WHEREAS, Tenn.

Code Annotated § 6-64-111, empowers the Memphis City Council to appropriate funds for the financial aid of nonprofit organizations working to promote the general welfare of Memphis residents; and WHEREAS, nonprofit organizations and citizens work together to meet the needs of Memphians in need by extending the reach of City of Memphis Services; and WHEREAS, The Memphis City Council recognizes nonprofit agencies as valued partners in the continuing efforts to improve the lives of Memphians; and WHEREAS, it is important to the members of the Memphis City Council to prioritize funding specialized programs congruent with the needs of the City, the Memphis City Council will be cognizant of financial requests that exceed more than thirty percent of their total operating budget; and WHEREAS, the Memphis City Council seeks to create a transparent process for the publication, application, and selection process for deserving nonprofit organizations within our City; and WHEREAS, government grants are funded by tax dollars, so stringent compliance and reporting measures will be in place to ensure the money is well-spent.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Memphis City Council does hereby create the Memphis City Council Community Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2025 (“FY25”) (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025), establishing a policy for meeting the needs of citizens and nonprofit requests for financial assistance as set forth below: Nonprofit Organizations and Agencies working to improve the general welfare of citizens will have the opportunity to apply to the Memphis City Council Community Grant Program.

The funding decisions of the Memphis City Council are final and subject to the availability of funds. All applicants shall be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, with an official address listed within the City of Memphis, that has been in operation under its tax-exempt status for two years prior to the application.

The organization must provide proof of current programming and successful track record in providing the services for which they are requesting funding within the City of Memphis. The nonprofit organization’s program should address one of the following City of Memphis priorities: Crime and Drug Prevention, Youth Empowerment, Economic Development, and Poverty.

The organizations must be in compliance with State requirements and show proof of current certification status. The funds shall only be used for public use and cannot be used for political activities, to support any election or campaign or political party; or to support any group or activity that discriminates based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age.

The Memphis City Council will not award funding in an amount that exceeds more than thirty (30%) percent of an organization’s expenses or revenues, whichever amount is higher, as reported on the most recently filed and accepted IRS form 990EZ, 990-N, and 990. Application All agencies requesting funding shall submit a complete application and presentation.

Proof of nonprofit status and financial information must be submitted with an application along with a presentation that further clarifies the goals the organization intends to accomplish with their requested funds. Only applications submitted during the application period will be considered for a Memphis City Council Community Grant for FY25.

Applications and presentations shall be submitted online using a link on the Memphis City Council website. Applications will be available July 15-August 19, 2024 . All completed applications must be submitted and received by Monday, August 19, 2024, at 11:59 p.

m. Late or incomplete applications will not be submitted to Council Members for consideration for an FY25 grant. Organizations that submit a late or incomplete application must wait until the start of the FY26 Memphis City Council Community Grant Program to submit a new application to receive funding.

All applications will be reviewed by the Memphis City Council staff following the application deadline. The staff will review applications to ensure all eligibility criteria are met. The staff shall then submit the list of qualified agencies for City Council Review for grants during FY25.

All applicants must submit either an IRS 501(c)(3) Determination Letter or a Certificate of Existence from the Tennessee Secretary of State, the organization’s most recently filed and accepted IRS Form 990EZ, 990-N, or 990, the IRS Form W-9, and a complete presentation, using the template provided by the City Council at the time of application submission.

The IRS filing submitted must be from tax year(s) 2021 to the most recent tax year in order to be accepted. The name of the organization listed on all documents and IRS filings must match the applicant’s name.

If the applicant’s name does not match the organization identified on the Charitable Organizations filing, including all IRS documentation and/or any documentation from the Secretary of State, the application will not be considered.

The staff will evaluate applications and presentations to ensure all applications are complete, address a public need, show proof of current nonprofit status, and a demonstrated history of community involvement. Priority will be given to first-time applicants. All documentation will be reviewed and verified through the IRS website https://www.

irs. gov/charities-non-profits/annual-filing-and-forms If any information contained in the application does not match the information provided to the IRS, the application will be null and void, and the applicant may not re-apply until the next fiscal year (FY2026). If any application information is found to be fraudulent or inaccurate, the organization will be ineligible to receive funding.

Budget Presentation Upon request, applicants may be asked to present before Council Members. First-time applicants are required to conduct a presentation before the Memphis City Council upon request by a Council Member in order to be eligible for a grant award. All agencies presenting before the Budget & Audit Committee during FY25 will have an allotted time to make a budget presentation.

The completed presentation template, submitted with the application, shall be used during the presentation. The template will include space to provide current contact information, how the requested funds will be used to enhance the quality of life for citizens, and financial reporting documents. All grant award recipients must submit a final grant report to the Memphis City Council and City of Memphis Finance Division by May 1, 2025.

This report shall include an accounting of funds spent, proof of public use, and current nonprofit status. Failure to submit a final grant report that is approved by the City of Memphis Finance Division will disqualify an organization from submitting an application for a City Council grant for the next 3 fiscal years (FY26, FY27, and FY28).

The City of Memphis Finance Division may also request that the funds awarded to the recipient be returned to the City of Memphis. Any approved applications for grant funds will be included in the FY25 Budget. All grant recipients are required to comply with the guidelines set forth by the City of Memphis Finance Office.

Failure to comply with the guidelines required by the Finance Division may result in forfeiture of the grant award . Every grant recipient must accept the funds and complete an agreement with the City of Memphis Finance Division.

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Memphis City Council, as a whole, will distribute the $3,250,000 in grant funding during FY25 from the Community Initiatives Grants line item included in the Administration FY25 Budget Proposal, and each Council Member shall allocate at least seventy-five (75%) percent of his or her allotted funds by September 10 th , 2024; the remaining twenty-five (25%) percent must be allocated by November 12, 2024, to ensure adequate time for disbursement before the end of the calendar year and submission of the final grant report before the end of the fiscal year.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all allocations must take place by resolution on the following meeting dates: September 10 th , October 15 th , and November 12 th of 2024, to reduce the quantity of resolutions over the course of the year.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in the event there is a City Council vacancy, the interim Council Member may only allocate one-twelfth (1/12) per month of the funding balance that is available for that specific district, to be allocated based upon the time the individual will be filling the vacancy.