Groups drop their grant bids

GLENDALE — Administrators for two nonprofit programs long-funded through the city’s federal block grant system said Monday that they would not reapply for assistance next year — freeing up precious-few dollars for other organizations struggling to make ends meet in a down economy.

Glendale Healthy Kids is turning its back on what has historically been about $23,400 in Community Development Block Grant funds for its once-a-year USC Mobile Dental Clinic, and Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Chapter is declining another chance at $12,319 for its summer basketball program. Administrators said they were pursuing other avenues so as to give struggling, even “desperate,” nonprofits a chance at a larger slice of an ever-dwindling pot of federal funds.

“Considering this year there’s less money, and looking at the overall picture, there are probably more programs out there that could better use it,” said Armond Gorgorian, executive director for Homenetmen Glendale Ararat.

Glendale Healthy Kids board members also took into consideration a new focus on tapping the organization’s base of 250 healthcare providers to monitor and care for low-income clients on a more continuous basis, rather than at a once-a-year mobile clinic, board President Brian Bergh said.

The move away from acute care means the money, which can be spent only on program-specifics in the application, is less needed this time around, Bergh said.

“We want the money to be most effective, and there are other groups out there who need it,” he said.

Glendale Healthy Kids and Homenetmen Glendale Ararat also have established donors, robust boards and high-profile fundraisers.

This year, administrators of many nonprofits who are striving to hold on to their programs in the face of decreased donations and limited government assistance will have to compete for just $480,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The amount is $23,000 less than it was last year, when requests from dozens of programs outstripped available funds by roughly 2 to 1. And that was before the economy nose-dived, constricting fundraising while at the same time stoking increased demand for social services.