The Shreveport City Council has doled out over $1.2 million dollars to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) since 2022 including a recent grant this year of $40,000 to three NGOs. Many of these organizations are well known and many or not.
The Council does NOT have an established methodology or protocol for disbursing these public funds. Furthermore, the Council does NOT have a process to ensure that these funds are properly utilized by the NGOs. (See "What Criteria Followed by Shreveport City Council for Funding NGOs" below.)
The Caddo Commission wrangled for many years over an orderly process to distribute grants to NGOs. After extended discussions , the Commission has NGO appropriation legislation. Subsequently, the Caddo Parish administration has adopted a 7-page Grant Management Policy & Procedures manual.
The stated purpose of these policies and procedures is to develop, implement, and maintain meaningful NGO grant oversight and coordination for the Parish in order to improve the efficiency and impact of programs and services funded through grants.
To ensure consistency and accountability in managing grant funds, all grant applications must be submitted through the parish Finance Office, which oversees all requests, application submissions, acceptances and closeout requirements.
Here are some of the highlights of the manual:
1. The product funded must be provided for and accessible to parish residents
2. Here are the eligibility criteria:
a. provide services to unskilled poor, low-income persons, unemployed persons or students from those families; OR
b. provide measurable means of economic development for Caddo Parish;
c. funds are appropriated for specific programs that an organization sponsors and CANNOT be used for the day-to-day operating expenses (salaries, office expenses, etc.) for an organization;
d. the organization is currently active and has conducted programming consistently for at least two years.
3. The applications must have several items including a budget, audited financials, proof of IRS nonprofit statues, proof of good standing with the Louisiana Secretary of State and staff names
4. The Commission makes the final decisions on NGO grants at its adoption of its budget in early December, and awards are only made once a year.
5. Applications must be completed before submission to the Commission.
6. The Commission scores the application on organizational capacity, program design, outcomes, and influence and impact with a range of 50 on each of the criteria.
7. Those who obtain grants must attend a grant workshop hosted by the Parish.
8. The Parish of Caddo reserves the right to adjust the amount of the grant approved by the Commission. THE GRANTS AWARDED BY THE PARISH OF CADDO MUST NOT EXCEET 50% OF THE NGO'S BUDGET FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS.
9. A Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) spelling out the scope of the services covered by the grant must be accepted by the NGO as a condition of funding.
10. Payment of the grant is in two payments. The first is within 30 days of invoice receipt from the NGO and the remaining balance in the second payment is made at the end of the program AFTER the final report is received and approved by the Parish.
11. The manual contains detailed reporting requirements of NGOs receiving grant money.
12. The Parish staff will prepare an NGO Outcome Report evaluating the project/program achievements against the proposed and expected results.
13. The Parish Administration has the right to review the files, activities, equipment and facilities and to interview relevant personnel and contracted entities of nay NGO project or program.
The Shreveport City Council should adopt legislation detailing the criteria and application process for funding NGOs. The Commission's manual is certainly a good starting point. The Commission has staff dedicated to the NGO process and the Council would need the same if meaningful application review and follow up on expenditures of grant funds is to be implemented.
Currently, the Council Clerk office has an employee who seemingly has no real duties other than preparing press releases who draws a salary in excess of $90,000. It’s doubtful this person could manage a grant program, although his salary and possible savings on money doled out by the Council could certainly underwrite personnel needed to manage a program similar to the Caddo Commission.
I am not holding my breath--is anyone?
WHAT CRITERIA FOLLOWED BY SHREVEPORT CITY COUNCIL FOR FUNDING GOS
Non governmental organizations are referred to as NGOs.
Presumably the NGOs that receive funding from the City of Shreveport are non-profit organization.
Unlike the common understanding, a non-profit entity is not regulated on the amounts of money paid to its staff, which often is a very large portion of the NGOs budget. Contributions to non-profits are tax deductible to the donor.
Records provided by the Shreveport City Council Clerk's Office show the following NGO funding by the City of Shreveport from the Riverfront Development Fund:
- 2022 $150,000 for NGOs listed in Ex. A
- 2023 $150,000 for NGOs listed in EX. B
- 2023 $100,000 for Food Bank of Northwest La. listed in Ex. C
- 2024 $150,000 for NGOs listed in Ex. D
- 2024 $25,000 for NGOS listed in Ex. E
- 2024 $32,000 for Project Celebration listed in Ex. F
- 2024 $622,500 for NGOs listed in Ex. G-1,G-2 2025 $40,000 for Best 13, Rho Omega and Friends, and MLK Neighborhood Association
The following email (Ex. F) was sent to Shreveport Chief Administrative Officer Tom Dark and Shreveport City Council Assistant Clerk Jacqueline White. When responsive answers) are received Settle Talk will publish the same.