TO:City Council
FROM:Community Funding Review Committee
DATE:May 12, 2026
SUBJECT: FY 2026-27 Community Events Grants Recommendations RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve Community Events Grants totaling $89,954.
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute Community Events Grant agreements with grantees.
3. Authorize expenditure in the amount of $89,954 in FY 2026-27 from A/C #001- 0970-646-5920 (CF2027, General Fund - Grants/Donations) for Community Events Grants.
4. Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Minimal administrative staff costs associated with executing contracts and compliance monitoring, and grant funding in the amount of $100,000 are included in the Adopted FY 2026-27 General Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
The Community Events Grants (CEG) provide financial support for community arts, cultural activities, and events occurring within City boundaries, as well as for school performance groups representing the City at competition events located outside of the city. The program seeks to benefit a wide cross-section of the community and is available to local, non-profit community, and school groups.
FY 2026-27 Community Events Grants Recommendations
May 12, 2026
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City Council renewed its support to the program by budgeting $100,000 in the Adopted FY 2026-27 General Fund Budget for CEG, allocated as follows:
$90,000 available through the annual grant funding cycle application process.
$10,000 reserved for City Council consideration of unanticipated, off-cycle funding requests that may arise throughout the fiscal year.
CEG provides grantees a maximum grant award of $9,000 and a minimum award of $500. Grants to organizations seeking funds to support team events are limited to a maximum of $100 per individual team member. Grant applications must demonstrate that the requested CEG funds will be matched through other sources.
CEG grant applications for FY 2026-27 were accepted from January 26, 2026, through February 26, 2026. Public outreach for the grant program took place in January and February and included news postings on the City’s website, social media channels, and the January and February issues of the CityScene. The FY 2026-27 Community Grant Program Application Workshop was held on February 3, 2026, which was recorded and made available for viewing on the City’s website.
In addition, emails were sent to previous CEG recipients, the Conejo Valley Unified School District, and a press release was sent to local media outlets. Complete program information can be found on the dedicated City Grant Opportunities webpage (www.toaks.gov/grants) on the City website.
A history of CEG awards, previously known as the Community Events Endowment Fund and renamed by City Council on September 14, 2021, is provided in Attachment #1.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
The City received 33 CEG applications for the FY 2026-27 CEG cycle. Staff conducted an initial eligibility review and determined that three applications did not meet program requirements. One application was submitted after the deadline and one proposed ineligible fundraising activities. An additional application did not align with eligible program activities and was referred to an alternative Community Grant Program. The remaining 30 eligible applications requested a combined total of $188,344 in grant funding.
Members of the City Council-appointed Community Funding Review Committee (CFRC) independently evaluated and scored each application based on grant- specific criteria, including the organization’s mission and background, activity or event goals and objectives, and benefit to City residents.
FY 2026-27 Community Events Grants Recommendations
May 12, 2026
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On April 8, 2026, the CFRC convened to discuss the collated scores and develop funding recommendations.
Allocation Scoring Method
Applications were initially ranked based on total scores, with a preliminary allocation framework tied to scoring tiers. Given that total funding requests exceeded the available $90,000 budget, the CFRC reviewed the rankings and finalized an equitable allocation methodology.
Under the FY 2026–27 CEG allocation method, funding recommendations are as follows:
Applications scoring 85 to 100 points: 63 percent of requested funding (1 applicant)
Applications scoring 74 to 84 points: 50 percent of requested funding (24 applicants)
Applications scoring 73 points: 41 percent of requested funding (2 applicants)
Applications scoring 72 points or below: not recommended for funding (3 applicants)
The CFRC unanimously (5-0, with four members absent) recommends awarding grants in the amount of $89,954 to 27 applicants, as detailed in Attachment #2.
Next Steps
Upon City Council approval, selected CEG grantees will enter into standard one- year community grant agreements with the City, effective July 1, 2026. The agreements stipulate that staff may request reimbursement of all or part of the grant funds if they are not used for the program as described in the contract.
Grantees will receive funding upfront and will be required to submit a Final Performance Report demonstrating how the City's funds were expended to benefit the community.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
C. Operate City government in a fiscally and managerially responsible and prudent manner to ensure that the City of Thousand Oaks remains one of California's most desirable places to live, work, visit, recreate, and raise a family.
FY 2026-27 Community Events Grants Recommendations
May 12, 2026
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G. Continue City's commitment to community and cultural programs and services (such as Performing Arts/Theatres, Libraries, TOTV, Visual Arts, Youth and Senior Programs).
PREPARED BY: Kyle Rohrbach, CFRC Chair
Sarah Mailes, Community Services Analyst
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – Award History for Community Events Grants Attachment #2 – FY 2026-27 Community Events Grants Award Recommendations
CCS: 481-10/SM/z:\common\community services\city council items\2026 staff reports\05122026 cfrc ceg staff report.docx