City Non-Profit Review Committee Accepts Funding Applications

(February 6, 2013), JACKSON, TENNESSEE  – The City of Jackson Non-Profit Review Committee is currently accepting applications for the 2014 funding cycle. The committee, appointed by Mayor Jerry Gist, is chaired by Councilman Ernest Brooks II, and composed of mayoral assistant, Sam Dawson, and Councilmen Charles “Pepper” Bray and Randy Wallace.  The committee will host its first meeting on February 19, 2013, at City Hall.

The committee has been charged with reviewing the 2013 funding for non-profit agencies in order to measure which agencies will be funded in 2014. Also, the state of the economy has forced many federal and state officials to allocate fewer dollars forcing many agencies to turn to local government officials for funding. Thus, the committee was formed, in part, in anticipation of an increase in funding requests from new agencies.

According to Councilman Brooks, “As our city budget has become tighter, we depend, now more than ever, on the work of non-profit organizations.” There will be a rating system for the evaluation of agencies and a request form that requires them to submit their 990 Income Tax form and budgeted expenses and revenues from all sources.

After review of the request and Income Tax forms and interviews with agency representatives, the committee will make recommendations to the full council. Last year, three new non-profit agencies were funded.  All non-profit organizations in the city are invited to apply.  Applications can be obtained from the Mayor’s Office or the City Council Office.  Applications will be accepted until March 11, 2013.  “At the end of the day, the funding process should be transparent, objective and fair,” said Councilman Brooks.