HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.GRB.20250313.RegularMeeting Minutes – Steering Committee Meeting
Date: March 13, 2025
Time: 10am
Location: Aspen Police Department, Community Room
Attendees In Person: Natalie Blumentritt (Presenter), John Barker, Robin Sturgeon, Judy
Clausson, Ann Mullins, Tracy Anderson
Not in Attendance: Morgan Fixel, Chris Menges
1. 2025 Grant Cycle – Budget and Final Numbers
Natalie presented the final recommended grant rewards for the 2025 grant cycle
• Community Non-Profit:
o Budget: $585,000 (2024: $560,000)
o Applications Submitted: 50 (2024: 49)
o Total Request Amount: $1,225,415 (2024: $1,145,440)
o Percent of Funds Requested: 209%
• Arts and Culture:
o Budget: $1,100,000 (2024: $900,000)
o Applications Submitted: 35 (2024: 39)
o Total Request Amount: $1,482,552 (2024: $1,344,069)
o Percent of Funds Requested: 136%
• Health and Human Services:
o Budget: $308,000 (2024: $225,000)
o Applications Submitted: 33 (2024: 30)
o Total Request Amount: $599,000 (2024: $885,846)
o Percent of Funds Requested: 194%
• In-Kind Assistance:
o Budget: $157,000 (no change from 2024)
o Applications Submitted: 20 (2024: 20)
o Total Request Amount: $206,446 (2024: $229,208)
o Percent of Funds Requested: 131%
Reminder that an in-kind budget was put in place by the steering
committee 2 years ago, and that Wheeler in-kind was limited in 2024
due to the construction closures
• All Applications – 2025 Grant Cycle Summary:
o Total Requests: 139 (2024: 138)
119 Cash Requests (2024: 118)
20 In-Kind Requests (2024: 20)
Total dollar amount requested was similar to 2024
2. 2025 Funding Recommendations
• Grant Evaluation Process and Funding Formula
Request from committee to better understand the funding formula
o Funding Formula Process
John discussed with committee the inputs to the formula and what is
done to balance budget and merit based on application scores
Funding methodology is also posted publicly on grant website
• Scoring and Funding Options
o Health & Human Services
Natalie presented three options to the steering committee with
different application score cutoffs points to be eligible for funding
Request from steering committee to adjust cutoff point between strict
and mid-option to allow for more funds to be distributed to higher
scoring applicants
All 3 committee members agreed on a recommendation a the new
cutoff point to move forward
o Community Non-Profit
Staff recommended that applications that scored below a 3 to not be
funded for this grant cycle
All 3 committee members approved moving forward with this
recommendation for the division
o Arts & Culture
Staff recommended funding all applications
The steering committee discussed and requested a change that only
applications that scored 3 and above be funded
Staff made the update and all 3 steering committee members agreed
to approve the new funding recommendations for this division
o Multi-year Grants
Natalie presented considerations for 2-year grants, only available for
applicants requesting small grants (less than $10,000)
The 3 members of the steering committee decided to not approve 2-
year grant requests for this cycle
o In-kind Grants
Natalie presented an overview of in-kind requests, and
communicated that the Executive Director’s of each facility
recommended funding all applicants at adjusted amounts
The recommended amount would exceed the current in-kind budget
Next year the committee would like to add specific rules for in-kind vs
cash requests
All members of the steering committee voted to request the
additional in-kind budget from council for approval
3. 2025 Grant Cycle - Timeline
Natalie highlighted the important upcoming dates for the 2025 Grant Cycle and the process
for award amount finalization
• City Council Finalizes Awards: April 8 City Council Meeting
• Checks Mailed to Grantees: Late April – Early May 2025
4. Next Steps:
• Steering Committee Meeting Date/Time:
o Steering committee will meet again in May, with April meeting cancelled due
to council meeting and award finalization
o Natalie notified steering committee that she will be transitioning to another
team within the City of Aspen
• Finalized Award Amounts
o Natalie and John to send updated award amounts to steering committee
based upon agreed upon adjustments to tiers
Meeting Adjourned: 11:30am