CSC Leon announces small scale funding amid confusion over funding process

The Children's Services Council of Leon County is providing funding to support small nonprofits in wake of criticism from those who say they are concerned with how the agency determines and allocates funding.

"We want to be able to even the playing field as much as we can," CSC Executive Director Cecka Rose Green said of the new award.

The "Small Investment for Program Success" (SIPS) will give groups up to $15,000 to cover one of four categories; program funding for existing programs, developmental funding for new programs, match funding to leverage funds or sponsorships.

The allocated budget for each quarter of SIPS funding is $150,000, and eligible organizations must have an operating budget that does not exceed $100,000.

The funding was announced after applications were deemed ineligible for priority funding cycles, like the $1.7 million Summer Bridge funding announced in April and the $2.4 million Family Strengthening and Parent Education funding.

"SIPS funding is designed to help smaller nonprofits that do services for children, youth and families, and most of these organizations are not operating at a level that a larger provider or nonprofit would operate," Green told the Tallahassee Democrat.

The agency recently awarded $2.4 million to seven Family Strengthening and Parent Education programs for the Family Supports funding cycle.  Applications received from the request for proposals were ranked, evaluated and scored by a community investment panel made up of citizens varying in areas of expertise.

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For the nonprofit community, confusion set in with the evaluation and funding process.

During the Governing Council meeting on June 26, Big Bend Cares CEO Rob Renzi expressed his concern on the process.

"The nonprofit community is confused on who is getting what process and how that is being decided," Renzi told the panel.

Big Bend Cares is a nonprofit that provides support and services to those with HIV/AIDS. Renzi says he spoke with other nonprofit leaders who said they feel the process is distorted.

Green explained the volunteer evaluation team develops its own ranking system and score for each application and selects a spokesperson to present a recommendation to the board.

The Family Strengthening Request for Proposal community investment panel of 14 volunteers included educators, parents, nonprofit members and small business owners.

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Many, including board members, were confused by the panel's recommendation not to fund Boys Town North Florida Inc.'s request for $1,092,682.80, despite its high scoring application of 82 out of 100, yet approved funding totaling up to $1 million for two separate programs for the Oasis Center for Women & Girls Inc., one of which scored a 79 out of 100.

After the panel's recommendation was presented to the board at the meeting, CSC Treasurer Paul Mitchell told the panel's spokesperson he found the recommendation "funny" and asked for clarity on how the Boys Town North Florida application scored high but was denied funding.

Renzi says the best way to reduce confusion would be to leave the funding choices up to the CSC board, appointed by the governor, rather than a panel of citizens.

"If you can, please consider keeping all the funding decisions with you guys," Renzi said as a final request to the board members.

Green said the volunteer evaluation process is necessary to hold the CSC accountable for funding decisions and it gives community members the opportunity to share input on which nonprofits they want to see funded.

"We wanted the community to weigh in on where that money should go," Green told the Tallahassee Democrat.

Green said she understands the process can be confusing to the community, and the agency is still finding it's groove in allocating funds in an effective way after doling out two years of funding.

The CSC Leon was founded in 2021 and has released $7.9 million in funding since its inception. But it has come amid complaints about the pace of allocations and administrative expenses for the CSC.

In April the council gave $1.7 million to 17 programs, and in the summer of 2022, the council gave roughly $1.6 million to 30 programs. The current millage rate for the council is 0.375% which generates over $7 million for the agency's work this year.

"The way that we are trying to establish these programs is different from what the community is used to doing," Green said. "And so, we realize that there could be some confusion out there but that's why we try to be open and transparent about the way that we are evaluating applications.

The application portal for SIPS is open through August 1.

Tallahassee Democrat writer Alaijah Brown can be reached at ABrown1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: CSC Leon to 'even the playing field' in nonprofit funding