Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Besa Community, Inc., a non-profit entity, in support of their capacity building.
Besa is a not-for-profit organization that coordinates community-wide service projects, manages citywide drives to educate and connect people to community resources, and partners with businesses and other not-for-profits to connect volunteers to communities in need.
Besa has responded to community needs perpetuated by a global pandemic and its aftermath. They expanded non-profit collaborations, fought inequities, and empowered community members to come together to overcome crises. Over the past three years Besa has:
• Mobilized 15,000 volunteers
• Committed 30,000 volunteer hours
• Completed 1,400 community service projects
• Made an impact of $1,554,000
Funding would specifically support capacity building through an anticipated 1,200 service projects at under-resourced non-profits within city limits. This goal is nearly double the 700 community projects in 2023. Each project provides efficiency and exposure to the missions of our non-profit partners through access to our diverse base of volunteers. In addition to volunteers, Besa will build the capacity of non-profits by hosting supply drives in times of need and making connections to corporate partners and influential community leaders.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Besa Community, Inc. in support of their capacity building; and to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund. ($300,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Besa is a not-for-profit organization that coordinates community-wide service projects, manages citywide drives to educate and connect people to community resources, and partners with businesses and other not-for-profits to connect volunteers to communities in need; and
WHEREAS, Besa has responded to community needs perpetuated by a global pandemic and its aftermath; and
WHEREAS, Funding would specifically support capacity building through an anticipated 1,200 service projects at under-resourced non-profits within city limits; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the not-for-profit Besa Community, Inc. in support of their capacity building.
SECTION 2. That the appropriation and expenditure of $300,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance will take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.