Chatham Needs Volunteers for Nonprofit Grant Review Panels

Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 14:33:19 +0000
From: Debra Henzey
Subject: Chatham Needs Volunteers for Nonprofit Grant Review Panels

January 24, 2014
Contact:  Lisa West:  919-545-8483

Chatham Needs Volunteers for Nonprofit Grant Review Panels

PITTSBORO–Chatham County needs interested citizens to serve on panels to review nonprofit funding requests. To broaden the opportunity for citizen input, the county is holding meetings during daytime and evening hours. The deadline to apply is Feb. 18, 2014.

The county especially needs panelists with expertise in human services, such as programs that serve seniors, children and families, low-income residents, disabled residents and others with special needs.
“These panels have a critical role in Chatham County,” said Renee Paschal, assistant county manager. “The grant process is very competitive, especially since we don’t have enough money to fund all nonprofit funding requests.  The panels provide a thorough review of nonprofits’ applications for grants from Chatham. The Chatham County Board of Commissioners greatly appreciates input from the panel members on the best use of the county’s nonprofit funding.”

Review panel volunteers will receive training in March, visit four to six agencies in early April (at the volunteers’ convenience), hear 30-minute presentations from four to six agencies, and recommend county funding for each agency. Volunteers also will be asked to provide a written description of their funding decision and the rationale for that decision.

Volunteers can select the four-hour time blocks that they wish to serve. Meetings will be scheduled to accommodate as many volunteers as possible as well as to accommodate the nonprofit agencies under review. Review panels will meet from April 21-25, 2014.

Volunteers must be residents of Chatham County. Employees of non-profit agencies that apply for county funds are not eligible to serve. Board members and volunteers of non-profit agencies that apply for county funds may serve on a panel that is unrelated to their non-profit agency or any similar agency.

Volunteers who served on review panels last year do not need to complete another application, but should email Lisa West () directly no later than Feb. 18, 2014 to update their contact information and any changes to their nonprofit affiliations.