This year, 41 local nonprofit organizations applied for general fund grants from the City of Malibu, but most likely only 22 are getting any money, based on recent reviews and approvals by Malibu City Council and the Administrative & Finance Subcommittee. The city usually budgets $100,000 to $200,000 per year for the grants—from a general fund of just over $31.36 million. That makes the grant allocations about .005 percent of the money.
Originally, $150,000 was budgeted for 2018-19 grants, but the May 1 meeting of the Administrative & Finance Subcommittee (made up of Council Member Skylar Peak and Mayor Rick Mullen) recommended awarding $100,000 of it to the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, per the recommendation of the council, and creating a line item in the City Council budget for it. The subcommittee then recommended adding $50,000 to the remaining $50,000 for a total of $100,000 in grants to disburse to the remaining 40 organizations that applied—with $80,000 given out now and the other $20,000 disbursed later.
In a phone interview, Peak was asked why so much money was given to the Boys & Girls Club—especially in light of the fact the club will now be hosting a large-scale event in lieu of the Kiwanis Club’s annual Chili Cook-Off and Carnival, which generates six-figure returns every year.
“I think many other communities contribute even more to their Boys & Girls Clubs,” Peak said. “It provides the resources to people that really need it, like youth counseling at nominal fees. I think council would like the community to support the Boys & Girls Club even more. Just because we’re Malibu doesn’t mean everyone is extremely wealthy. There’s a lot of pressure on the youth of today and I think the city needs to help.”
The executive director of the club told TMT a couple of weeks ago that their annual budget is now $1 million and they have greatly expanded over the past few years, going from just the Middle/High School location to all of the elementary schools, plus opening a wellness center.
Some nonprofits need more help than others; it’s not clear how much council or committee members had researched some of the groups. The last time TMT spoke to the local Meals on Wheels representative, it was reported only a handful of Malibu people receive services, yet the city has given them $3,000 each of the past couple years. The California Wildlife Center is now supported largely by billionaire Larry Ellison, but the city still gives them about $5,000 a year.
When Peak was asked how he finds out about the nonprofits that apply for grants, he suggested it was an informal process.
“We talk with people, and as elected officials, I think we’re in tune with the organizations in the community,” Peak said. “Some of us have gone out to California Wildlife Center, et cetera.”
The stated policy of the city’s General Fund Grant Program is that it “provides funding to nonprofit organizations located within the City of Malibu that benefit residents of the community.” Exceptions to this policy have become the norm. Some groups that typically receive money are not technically based in Malibu, including Children’s Lifesaving Foundation, Nature of Wildworks and others.
The groups that asked for money this year and are not expected to receive any are: Crayon Collection, Creative Visions, Jr. Lifeguards, Malibu Aquatics, Malibu Arts, CART, Malibu Chamber of Commerce, Malibu Coast Surf Lifesaving, Malibu Community Alliance, Malibu Film Festival, Malibu Film Society, Malibu Youth Cheer, MHS Environmental Club, New Directions for Veterans, Sea Save Foundation, Tales by the Sea, Artifac Tree and White Heart Ride to the Flags.
Kay Gabbard, head of the Malibu Community Labor Exchange, said, “I assume it gets tougher and tougher every year because more folks are submitting grant proposals.” The labor exchange asked the City for $36,000, were approved by the A&F Subcommittee for $20,000; and then upped to $25,000 by City Council on May 29. Last year, they received $30,000.
Ann Buxie, whose “Tales by the Sea” organization puts on quarterly shows that are attended by up to 200 people, asked for $3,000, but didn’t get anything. Last year, the city gave her $1,000.
“There are so many worthy projects; I can understand the city needing to give it elsewhere,” Buxie said. “I trust, as they represent the community as a whole, that they are making good, timely decisions.”
Assistant City Manager Lisa Soghor said the amount allotted for grants is not based on anything other than precedent, tradition and the preferences of City Council.