Welcome to the recap of the Allocation Committee meeting on April 18, 2023.

Fiscal year 2022 audit report

Bottom right: Craig Popp, audit manager from Merina + Co., presents the results of their annual compliance examination.

Craig, Popp, audit manager from Merina + Co., presented the results of the fiscal year 2022 audit report. The firm determined that the Portland Children’s Levy complied with the 5% administrative cap, and there were no significant findings or recommendations.

Revised policy change proposal for foster care grants

The Allocation Committee approved a policy change proposal for foster care programs that allows programs to provide foster care prevention services to some youth (up to 10% of youth served) whose families are involved with Oregon Department of Human Services-Child Welfare but still living with their birth family. At least 90% of youth served in PCL-funded foster care programs must be in, or previously in, substitute care when they enroll. The policy change was made in response to feedback from foster care grantee partners and ODHS staff.

Large grant renewal decisions

Bottom right: Allocation Committee member Traci Rossi shares insights into staffing challenges at nonprofits in recent years.

Allocation Committee members approved 2-year grant renewals for 79 large grants.

Current 3-year, large grants end June 30, 2023. Funding for the second year of the 2-year grant renewals depends on voter renewal of the levy before the current levy ends June 30, 2024.

In recent months, PCL staff members reviewed mid-year data, mid-year reports and met with grantee partners. Staff shared renewal recommendations with grantee partners in March, and grantee partners had the option to submit written responses, all of which were shared with Allocation Committee members.

The Allocation Committee’s grant decisions must be approved by City Council at an upcoming meeting, which has not yet been scheduled.

Community Council update

The Community Council held its second meeting March 15 at Portland Community College’s Southeast Portland campus, with all 12 members attending in person or via Zoom. Council members discussed their bylaws and voted 7-4 to conduct future votes via written ballot. The council will discuss how to handle tie votes at a future meeting.

Staff are currently holding optional small-group meetings with council members to identify an equity-driven approach for a potential community engagement process that would start later this year. Staff will analyze feedback from members about potential goals, topics and priority audiences for community engagement to present to the full council at its next meeting May 24. The council will develop recommendations that would be shared with the Allocation Committee at its June 13 meeting.

Event sponsorships

PCL expects to restart event sponsorships in July 2023 after being suspended three years ago.

Prior to the pandemic, PCL annually offered 20 event sponsorships of $500 each to organizations in the City of Portland that support children and families. The sponsorships support nonprofits that do not currently receive funding from PCL, and the sponsored event must relate to one of the levy’s program areas. Sponsorships were offered on a first-come, first-served basis twice a year.

More details on event sponsorships, including application instructions, will be provided in the coming months to PCL’s e-newsletter, on the website and on our social media accounts @pdxkidslevy.

Grantee partner video

Allocation Committee members enjoyed hearing from students about their experiences participating in BRAVO Youth Orchestras, an after school grantee partner. The BRAVO video is featured in the 2023 PCL Community Report.

Miss Tuesday’s meeting?

Watch it on YouTube or on CityNet Xfinity Channel 30 and 330 (HD) April 21 at 7 p.m. and April 23 at 9 a.m. You can also view the slide deck for the revised policy change proposal for foster care grants and the large grant renewal decisions, as well as the renewal grants by program area.

Join us for the next Allocation Committee meeting

Our next meeting will be 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Agendas will be sent to our email list, shared on our social media channels and posted on portlandchildrenslevy.org

We welcome your comment on agenda items or the work of the Portland Children’s Levy. If you would like to join the next meeting to participate, please join our email list stay tuned for the meeting invite.