Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Besa Community, Inc., a non-profit corporation, in support in support of its 2026 Sector Building Initiative, which assists in the areas of neighborhood revitalization, emergency response and relief, and nonprofit infrastructure and capacity building. This ordinance authorizes an upfront payment to Besa to support these efforts. Besa does not currently have sufficient funds on-hand to await reimbursement for expenses incurred.
In 2012, Columbus nonprofit Besa launched a mission to reinvent the volunteer experience, inspire service, and transform civic engagement by bringing the community together in meaningful, impactful ways. Besa is an Albanian term that means “to keep a promise.” Nonprofits are frequently understaffed and overwhelmed, while community members are eager for tangible ways to support neighbors in need. Besa bridges this gap by facilitating volunteer experiences on behalf of nonprofits and then providing an innovative, easy-to-use platform where people can find these opportunities and engage in a cause meaningful to them. From food pantries to homeless shelters and beyond, Besa’s platform offers as many as 100 volunteer opportunities a month. Since launching in 2012, Besa has rallied over 81,000 volunteers giving 210,000 hours through 13,600 service projects, which have facilitated over $97 million in community impact.
Council is proposing support of $95,000.00 for Besa’s volunteer efforts to address the new and emerging challenges facing Columbus nonprofit organizations and impacting entire communities. The requested city funding would be leveraged with additional funds to support Besa’s 2026 goal of completing more than 2,000 volunteer projects, engaging 15,000 volunteers, and delivering over 30,000 service hours, with a focus on under-resourced neighborhoods such as Linden, Franklinton, and the Southside. All city-fund...
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