To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
From: Trish Muller, CPA, Finance Director
Title
Discussion/Direction of Applications for the 2025 First Quarter Council Community Grant Program, Seven Applications
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
The Council Community Grant Program (CCGP) has an annual budget of $16,000 funded by the Town Council Non-profit Grants account in the General Fund. The Town disburses funds for the grants quarterly in $4,000 increments to non-profit organizations within the Castle Rock community. Individual grants cap at $1,000 per request. The Town of Castle Rock Finance Department receives the applications, reviews them for eligibility, and presents the grant requests to Town Council.
The Town received seven (7) qualified applications for the First Quarter CCGP (Attachment A).
This memo intends to present these applications to Council for consideration and approval.
Discussion
The General Fund acts as the source of monies for the Council Community Grant Program. Specific non-profit organizations for community-based projects receive CCGP funds. Organizations may apply on an as-needed basis, and staff reviews applications quarterly.
Eligible project areas for CCGP include projects that contribute to Castle Rock’s “quality of life” with special emphasis on programs and activities for:
• Youth
• Seniors
• Community based environment and sustainability
• Community based performing and visual arts
Attachment B lists the amounts awarded for the 2023-2025 Council Community Grant Program.
Brief Overview of Application:
Sunday Salmon Inc - Sunday Salmon is a delicious, NO-COST, organic, gluten and seed-oil-free community restaurant on Wolfensberger & Park Street in Castle Rock, CO. The restaurant is community-style, with tables seating 10-12 guests. Our goal? To foster connections by seating neighbors together to share family-style wholesome organic meals, good conversation, and a sense of belonging. No strings, no costs-just good food, great people, and open hearts.
Castle Rock Pirates Rugby Club - Castle Rock Pirates Rugby Football Club is a 501 c (3) organization. Our club supports youth development, physical activity, and education through the sport of Rugby. Our programs are offered to children in elementary, middle school, and high school and we serve Castle Rock and the broader Douglas County community. Our team plays locally and regionally.
Aging Resources of Douglas County - Aging Resources (Neighbor Network) began in 1998 through a small county grant providing transportation services to older adults in Castle Rock. Through the years our outreach and programming have grown to include the entire county with a variety of wrap-around services. In 2018 we became an independent 501 c3 and changed our name to Aging Resources of Douglas County. We currently provide services to thousands of older adults throughout Douglas County to help them age independently and on their terms. Our mission is to empower older adults to age with independence.
Paul’s Mystery Ship to End ALS - Honoring the memories of those who have lost their battle with ALS, promoting advocacy through awareness of ALS, and offering support for families facing ALS together: keeping Hope, Kindness & Love alive. Our nonprofit has become the Castle Rock/Douglas County connection for families who have lost loved ones to ALS, or families traveling the journey with ALS now. Our annual walk along Plum Creek Trail offers people newly diagnosed a chance to come meet their community of support; allow families who are facing the end or have lost someone the chance to honor their loved one together as a community, as well as provide a community that continues throughout the year including annual Star lighting event, PicklePalooza pickleball tournament, summer pig roast event, annual walk, sponsoring tree @ Festival Park & other events in the planning stages for 2025. We are a member of the CR Chamber of Commerce and are a 2024 nominee for Nonprofit of the year award. We are also a member of the DCCF. We strive to be active in the community & provide support and community connection for those with ALS and all neuro-muscular diseases.
Castle Rock Band - The Castle Rock Community Band is a regularly-performing concert band maintaining the tradition of Castle Rock Bands from the past while introducing new musical challenges for its many members. The band is open to all without auditions or fees and regularly performs across the town of Castle Rock for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Christmas, and other events. Members of the band are predominantly from Castle Rock and include people as young as high-school students and many members who are at an age where we do not ask.
Castle Rock Chorale - The Castle Rock Chorale began in 2011, and includes members from Castle Rock and the communities in and surrounding Douglas County.
Best Buddies - Founded in 1989, Best Buddies is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Best Buddies in Colorado has 32 chapters at elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and colleges across the state. For the current 2024-2025 school year, we serve 626 Colorado participants with and without IDD.
Best Buddies establishes, supports, and rigorously oversees school-based programs that pair youth with IDD in one-to-one mutually beneficial friendships with their typical peers
Budget Considerations
The 2025 budget includes $16,000, $4,000 available for each quarter, in the Town Council Non-profit Grants account in the General Fund for the 2025 Council Community Grant Program.
Staff Recommendation
Staff defers to council decisions on awards to applicants. Traditionally Council approves a $1,000 award to each of the non-profit organizations presented in this grant cycle, assuming consideration of a maximum of 4 applications per quarter. However, for the 1st quarter of 2025, there are seven applicants that qualify for the grant program and have asked for funding. It is council’s discretion to augment current guidelines of this grant program, or keep them the same.
Proposed Motion
“I move to award funding to the following organizations:
Alternative Motions
“I move to award funding to the following organization(s) for a different amount:
Organization (New Amount)
“I move to continue this item to the Town Council meeting on _____ date to allow additional time to (list information needed).”
Attachments
Attachment A: Applications
Attachment B: Award History