• Release ID: 09-127
• Release Date: 9/22/2009
• Contact: Linda McMillan 240-777-7933 or Justina Ferber240-777-7938
• From: Council Office

 Montgomery County Council Seeks Applicants for Grants Advisory Group
Application Deadline is 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4

ROCKVILLE, Md., September 22, 2009—The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants for positions on its Fiscal Year 2011 Grants Advisory Group. The Council will appoint the community panel to review grant applications and advise it on proposals received from the non-profit community.

Letters of interest from applicants must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

The Council believes that a strong partnership with non-profit organizations is critical in meeting the County’s needs. The Council has established a grants process in which the Council accepts applications from non-profit organizations seeking funds, forwards proposals to the Grants Advisory Group for advice and comments and then makes funding decisions during its spring budget deliberations.

It is anticipated that the Grants Advisory Group will be appointed by Dec. 8 and will be asked to report to the Council by the end of April 2010. Panel members will need to attend training sessions and review relevant materials during late January and February. The applications review will take place between March 1 and April 15, with a report due to the Council by the end of April.

The Grants Advisory Group, which will consist of 25 to 30 members, will be asked to provide the Council with comments on each of the grant proposals. The workload will vary based on the number of applications received and panel members appointed; however, it is expected that each member would review 20-to-30 applications. Panel members should anticipate approximately six-to-eight meetings between the beginning of February and mid-April, with the potential for weekly meetings in March.

The Grants Advisory Group will be appointed by the County Council and will represent a balance of different points of view and diversity in the County. Volunteers for the Grants Advisory Group can come from panels reviewing Community Development Block Grants or Community Service Grants, as well as from other advisory boards or community groups. Applicants for the Advisory Group cannot be employees of, or member of, a board of a nonprofit group applying for grant funding. The Council will designate the chair and vice-chair of the Advisory Group.

Interested applicants living or working in the County should submit their letter of interest with a resume to: Council President Phil Andrews, Montgomery County Council Office, Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850.

Letters of interest must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Questions regarding the Grants Advisory Group may be directed to Council staff members Linda McMillan at 240-777-7933 or Justina Ferber at 240-777-7938.