County sets stricter guidelines for nonprofits

Now any nonprofit organization seeking Cobb County funds must meet stricter guidelines.

Specifically, the nonprofit needs to demonstrate that the mission of its program meets a community need that is not being addressed by county departments delivering similar services.

“Now people can come directly to the staff and the commissioners outside of the two traditional sources,” Commission Chairman Mike Boyce said during the Dec. 12 meeting of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners when the commissioners voted their unanimous approval.

Those sources have been the Cobb Collaborative since 1997 and the Cobb Community Foundation since 2015.

“The perception has been we’re giving money to charitable organizations. Instead the money is given to help do what the county can’t,” Boyce said.

“Just because we approve the priorities does not mean we have to fund them,” Boyce added. Those new priorities include:

■ homelessness for veterans housing, short-term housing for individuals and families, emergency housing and one-call/onestop central services.

■ family stability/poverty for employment opportunity and training, adult literacy, financial literacy and youth programs.

■ ex-offender re-entry/workforce development for assessment and work plan, financial literacy, employment opportunity and training and veterans assistance and

■ health and wellness for mental health and stability, substance abuse and prevention and coordination with accountability courts - Veterans, MentalHealth and DUI.

Boyce clarified these funds are not the same as federal Community Development Block Grants.