| ITEM #: 10. DATE: 07/07/2025 AI #:2595 |
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CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | FY2025-2026 COMMUNITY FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Christina Panaitescu, Community Partnerships Program Manager |
SUMMARY
Non-profits that provide human or social services to benefit Goodyear residents are eligible to apply for grants from the city. The Goodyear Community Funding Subcommittee has received and reviewed 55 applications requesting more than $3,000,000 in Community Funding and is recommending the $214,400 available for competitive award in FY2025-2026 be distributed to 26 applicants.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
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RECOMMENDATION
Approve the recommended allocations for FY2025-2026 Community Funding. (Christina Panaitescu, Community Partnerships Program Manager)
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget includes $214,400 for the Community Funding program. This year, we received 55 applications requesting a total of $3,080,374. The subcommittee recommendation would disperse a total of $214,400 to fund 26 of the applicants.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS
The city of Goodyear provides Community Funding grants intended to support initiatives that align with the city Council’s priorities and serve the public interest. The purpose of this policy is to establish a transparent, fair, and accountable framework for grant awards to nonprofit organizations while ensuring the effective and equitable distribution of available public resources.
Policy number: CC-01-06, originally created in July 2001, was revised in April 2025. The policy articulates eligibility, including that an organization be a registered 501c3 or equivalent nonprofit entity demonstrating a direct benefit to the Goodyear community and alignment with city Council priorities. Priorities indicated in the policy include: basic needs, community spaces, improved delivery systems, expanded mental health services, regional solutions, promotion of economic stability and improved transportation access.
The policy also outlines an interest that one of the following populations be served: older adults and individuals with disabilities, individuals and families with low incomes, families with children, individuals with mental health concerns, individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, individuals with limited financial literacy, or young people who are disconnected; and, the criteria to be evaluated: community benefit, need, service uniqueness and delivery in Goodyear, established methods for tracking impact, clear goals and objectives, organizational longevity and reputation, past performance, and sustainability.
City staff solicited proposals from non-profits, reviewed them for completeness and prepared them for review by the City Council subcommittee. The subcommittee met to discuss the applications on June 3, 2025, and their recommendations are being advanced for consideration and approval by the full city Council.
Policy number: CC-01-06, originally created in July 2001, was revised in April 2025. The policy articulates eligibility, including that an organization be a registered 501c3 or equivalent nonprofit entity demonstrating a direct benefit to the Goodyear community and alignment with city Council priorities. Priorities indicated in the policy include: basic needs, community spaces, improved delivery systems, expanded mental health services, regional solutions, promotion of economic stability and improved transportation access.
The policy also outlines an interest that one of the following populations be served: older adults and individuals with disabilities, individuals and families with low incomes, families with children, individuals with mental health concerns, individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, individuals with limited financial literacy, or young people who are disconnected; and, the criteria to be evaluated: community benefit, need, service uniqueness and delivery in Goodyear, established methods for tracking impact, clear goals and objectives, organizational longevity and reputation, past performance, and sustainability.
City staff solicited proposals from non-profits, reviewed them for completeness and prepared them for review by the City Council subcommittee. The subcommittee met to discuss the applications on June 3, 2025, and their recommendations are being advanced for consideration and approval by the full city Council.
STAFF ANALYSIS
Multiple emails announcing the FY2026 application release and optional webinar were sent to past Community Funding applicants, members of the Goodyear Faith & Community Roundtable, and individuals who had contacted the city to request information about the grant opportunity. The application remained open from April 12 through May 11, 2025. Links to the application and a 30-minute, optional pre-application webinar recording were hosted on the city's Community Funding page throughout the application period. Information was also shared with local media contacts; however, no articles were published.
The application deadline was midnight on May 11, 2025.
There were a total of 55 applications received, including more than 20 first-time applicants.
Subcommittee members had the opportunity to use a rubric to score and rank applications for further discussion at the June 3 meeting. During the meeting, the following 26 recommendations for funding totaling $214,400 were established:
A summary of all applications received has been attached for reference (see Attachment A - FY26 Matrix).
The application deadline was midnight on May 11, 2025.
There were a total of 55 applications received, including more than 20 first-time applicants.
Subcommittee members had the opportunity to use a rubric to score and rank applications for further discussion at the June 3 meeting. During the meeting, the following 26 recommendations for funding totaling $214,400 were established:
| Organization | Project Title | Recommendation |
| A New Leaf | Coordinated Entry Services at the West Valley Housing Assistance Center | $7,500 |
| Agua Fria Food and Clothing Bank | Agua Fria Food and Clothing Bank | $25,000 |
| All Faith Community Services | Food Bank Programs | $30,000 |
| Angels on Patrol | Goodyear Police are Angels on Patrol | $11,000 |
| Area Agency on Aging, Region One, Inc | Seniors Living In Place | $15,000 |
| AZ Community Impact | The Maker's Warehouse | $15,000 |
| AZ Vineyard Church | I-HELP | $7,500 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona | Goodyear Community-Based Mentoring Program | $2,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley, Inc. | Boys & Girls Club for Goodyear Youth | $8,000 |
| Catitude Gallery & Studio, A Community Arts Center, DBA CATITUDE ARTS | Mural Mentor Training Program | $5,000 |
| Central Arizona Shelter Services Inc | Comprehensive Shelter and Support Services for Goodyear Residents | $7,500 |
| Dress for Success Phoenix | Career Services for Goodyear Women & Youth | $5,000 |
| Friends of Southwest Family Advocacy Center | Friends of Southwest Family Advocacy Center | $3,500 |
| Helping Families In Need | Access for Healthy Families | $6,000 |
| Meals of Joy | Feeding Vulnerable Goodyear Seniors | $4,000 |
| Mission of Mercy | Access to Healthcare for Uninsured Goodyear Residents | $3,000 |
| New Life Center | Trauma-Informed Emergency Shelter for Survivors of Domestic & Sexual Violence | $3,000 |
| Serving First Responders Foundation | Serving First Responders. One day retirement seminars for First Responders who either live or work in the city of Goodyear | $1,500 |
| Sleep in Heavenly Peace | Community Bed Build 2025 Phoenix | $5,000 |
| Sounds of Autism | Unified Responder Community | $9,250 |
| Southwest Lending Closet, Inc | Keep The Lights On | $18,000 |
| St. Mary's Food Bank | Food Distribution Program in Goodyear | $2,750 |
| Sun Health | Goodyear Memory Cafe | $2,000 |
| The Opportunity Tree | Supported Employment. Expect. Develop. Support (SEEDS) | $1,500 |
| The Salvation Army, a CA Corporation | Emergency Assistance Program | $2,500 |
| WHAM Art Association | Art: A Path to Healing | $13,900 |
A summary of all applications received has been attached for reference (see Attachment A - FY26 Matrix).