Grant period open for nonprofits

Rick Monroe

Special to the Village News

The window is open for area organizations to apply for funding grants from the Fallbrook Regional Health District. Applicants must turn in paperwork by Feb. 28 and announcement of the grant recipients will be in April.

Last year, 15 organizations – of the 23 formal requests – shared more than the half million dollars budgeted for from the Community Health Contract grants. Organizations are required to meet the health and wellness needs of the community and be consistent with the district’s mission, all spelled out on the district’s web site: https://www.fallbrookhealth.org/community-health-contract-grants.

Community Health Contract funds must benefit the residents of the communities served by the district – Fallbrook, Bonsall, Rainbow and De Luz. The service area and sphere of influence covers 110.57 square miles and an estimated population of 50,985 (US Census, 2020).

Applicants must have a nonprofit, tax-exempt status or be a public/governmental agency, program or institution.

All CHC funding requests are reviewed by the district CEO and board directors. During the review process, the district may require additional information from applicants. This information may include oral or written clarification of a requested detail. The district may also appoint a panel of community stakeholders to review the completeness and merit of the applicants and provide feedback to the district. Final funding decisions will be made by the board of directors at a public meeting.

While not a required element of proposals, programs that demonstrate collaborations with other agencies in the provision of the services will be viewed favorably in the reviewing process, said CEO Rachel Mason.

The board of directors may call a special meeting or announce the awards sometime within the month of April. The date and location for this meeting will be announced publicly and all applicants will be notified.

Last year, $541,106.35 was awarded, considerably less than the $717,254 requested by applicants.

The Fallbrook Food Pantry received the largest grants totaling $140,000 for two programs.

The board decided to fund six other organizations for the full amount they requested: $60,000 to Palomar Family Counseling Services, $17,844 to Hospice of the Valleys, $47,148 to D’Vine Path, $40,679.10 to Fallbrook Senior Center, $55,624 to Boys & Girls Club, and $47,406 to Michelle’s Place.

The other partial grants were to the Foundation for Senior Care for multiple program requests, totaling $122,004.82 .

This year’s grant application period opened Feb. 1.