Fy ‘25-’26 Community Sponsorships
September 23, 2025
City Council
Community Sponsorship Policy
On April 9, 2024, the Council approved the Community Sponsorship Policy.
The purpose is to establish a standardized process for city sponsorship awards to qualifying non-profit, community organizations, youth athletic groups, educational groups or individuals that provide a public benefit to City residents.
Community Sponsorship Fiscal Impact
In FY 2024-2025 Council appropriated and awarded $150,000 in community sponsorships For FY 2025-2026 Council appropriated $150,000 for Community Sponsorships
This is a competitive award program that agencies, groups and individuals can apply to with a max award of $50,000.
This year City received 37 applications for a total request of $1,062,263.
Applicants are scored and ranked using a rubric that gauges the Community Impact and the Intrinsic Cultural, Athletic Educational or Entertainment Value.
FY 25-26 Application & Scoring Process
FY 25-26 Application & Scoring Process
With requests outpacing fund availability, staff balanced community impact and number of awards in the recommendations.
Most of the applications requested the max award of $50,000.
To maximize impact and total number of awards the ratings team reduced the requested awarded amount from some of the agencies’ original asks.
The recommendation is to fund the top 7 rated applicants FY 25-26 Application & Scoring Process
Recommended Slate of Funded Projects
Program/Event Name
Organization
Funds Requested
Funding Recommendation
Asian Cultural Fair
Asian Cultural Experience
of Salinas
$6,000
$6,000
Empowering Community Wellness through Positive Youth Development and Accessible Healthy Lifestyles Salinas Regional Sports Authority
$50,000
$45,000
First Friday Salinas
Arts Council for Monterey County (Arts4MC)
$50,000
$40,000
The 15th Annual
Salinas Pride
Salinas Pride
$5,000
$5,000
Mexican- Tradiciones y Costumbres
Tonatiuh DQS
$14,000
$14,000
Dia de los Muertos
Hospice Giving foundation
$50,000
$20,000
CHISPA Folklorico, Art, Guitar & Teen Leadership Council Programs: First Friday CHISPA
$50,000
$20,000
Recommended Motion
A motion to approve a resolution awarding community sponsorships for FY 2025-2026, pursuant to the City’s Community Sponsorship Policy, to those Applicants recommended by the City’s rating team.
Questions?