For years, the Sedona City Council has doled out funds as part of its small grants program to encourage and fund activities, programs or events developed by 501(c) nonprofits.

In 2019 the city gave $166,500 to more than 20 organizations, about on par with previous years. While funding is never guaranteed, there are several of the same names on the recipient list year after year.

But 2020 was different and the city slashed grant funding for these nonprofits.

But with a new year comes new opportunities for those organiza­tions to seek a little assistance as the grant application process is now underway. Applications are due by noon on Thursday, April 29, with awards finalized by council in July.

“Yes, last year there were some hard feelings,” City Manager Justin Clifton said. “But keep in mind that many of the applicants were responding to the pandemic just as the city was. Some had creative ideas on how to adjust programming but many of those adjustments did not reflect the core programming associated with their original grant request or were seeking funds for activities that would not have been allowed anyway due to limitations on gatherings.”

Grant applications are available for programs, activities or events developed by 501(c) nonprofits that provide a public service or benefit and are consistent with the city’s funding priorities. Individual grant amounts have typically ranged from $2,000 to $20,000.

The sting of the economic down­turn as a result of COVID-19 was not only felt by the city of Sedona last year, but it had a trickle-down effect on several area nonprofit organizations as well.

In late July of last year council was joined by the small grants committee, which consisted of Stephanie Giesbrecht, Bill Cammock, Dean Gain, Christine Siddoway and Patty Reski.

The committee, which received requests totaling $263,860, recom­mended sticking with 2019’s budget of $166,500 and adjusted the requests to fit that budget. But in the end, Sedona City Council members approved just $45,200.

“This year we will supplement the pool of funds to include the amount not allocated last year in hopes of augmenting some of the impact of short funding last year, or just the pandemic in general,” Clifton said. “The grant committee is able to review applications with the knowledge of who didn’t receive funding last year. Beyond this year, council will likely continue to consider the overall funding levels for the small grant program annually during the budget process.”

Council members who were in favor of slashing the funding said they felt bad for doing so but with the city looking at millions of dollars in sales and bed tax losses over the next year — as well as positions and programs currently frozen — it was necessary. Council also brought up the fact that due to restrictions related to COVID- 19, some of these programs and events, which applied prior to the pandemic, may not come to frui­tion over the next 12 months.

While the full $166,500 was listed in the city’s budget, council members said at that meeting that many things in the budget existed as line items but it was unclear if the funding would be there as the year progressed.

“In light of continued concern about significant revenue losses and consistent with freezing all discretionary spending internally at the city, council opted to fund those requests that represent critical needs but not to fund other requests that, while valuable, don’t rise to the same level of priority,” Clifton said following that July meeting.

A city report stated that during the Fiscal Year 2020- 21 budget meetings, council directed the committee to prioritize requests that addressed health and human services needs and/ or fundamental organizational capacity — meaning the organization may not survive if not for funding from the city.

Unlike prior years, the committee’s goal was not to balance grant awards to a specific budget target, but instead assess the needs and make recommenda­tions to council on what is critical.

A city report last year stated that council noted during the budget work sessions that if health and human services and/or fundamental organization capacity grants totaled more than $166,500, the committee could recommend a greater funding amount. However, committee members said they felt that only $30,700 reflected health and human service or fundamental capacity needs.

Council approved six requests that fell into the modified health and human services category as well as two from the contingency list — Sedona Toys for Tots and Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters. Another 19 applicants received no funding.

Like prior years, grant applications will be distributed by request only. To receive an application, fill out the request form located at www.sedonaaz.gov/ grants. More information regarding the application process can also be found on that webpage.

An optional applicant workshop will be held virtually on Wednesday, March 10, from 10 a.m. to noon. New grant applicants are highly encouraged to attend this workshop. RSVP no later than Thursday, March 4, to city of Sedona Administration Assistant Teresah Arthur at tarthur@sedonaaz.gov to receive an invitation.

For additional information, contact Arthur via the email above or at 203-5198.