HOLLISTER
The board of Supervisors this week approved the application from Community Foundation of San Benito County to use county funds already set aside for community-based social service programs.
The county’s contributions will be added to the foundation’s funds to make a greater impact on local social service programs, officials said. The board will be in charge of delegating money to the foundation.
“It is quite important to have the input of broad community collaboration as possible, to get the best bang for your buck,” County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson said. “This is an alternative way for putting county taxpayer dollars into different nonprofit programs.”
She said instead of associated organizations competing for $80,000 from the county, the funds would be put into the nonprofit’s “collaborative funding stream” and that amount could reach more than $400,000.
“So we’re leveraging dollars in this community,” Thompson said.
Community Foundation Director Gary Byrne said the group has been working with the Packard Foundation, the United Way and other private donors to “bring like-minded organizations together.”
“What the Community Foundation is trying to do is, if we work with (the county), is to consolidate the funding sources from the county,” Byrne said. “The nonprofits can come to one community foundation and receive grants from different areas.”
