SR-106-025-02
F:\CMANAGER\Staff Reports\SMMEFgra.doc
Council Meeting: December 19, 2000 Santa Monica, CA
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Authorize City Manager to Negotiate a Grantee
Agreement in the amount of $200,000 with the Santa Monica-Malibu
Education Foundation for the Purpose of Conducting an Endowment
Campaign for Music and Art Programs in the Public Schools
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate
an agreement with the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation (SMMEF) in the
amount of $200,000 for the purpose of conducting an endowment campaign for music
and art programs in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD).
Background
At the City Council meeting of May 23, 2000, the City Council authorized a grant of
$25,000 to SMMEF for the purpose of conducting a study to determine the feasibility of
a $10 million dollar campaign to endow music and arts programs in the public schools.
In adopting the City budget for Fiscal Year 2000/01, the City Council made provision for
an additional grant to SMMEF of $200,000 should the feasibility study encourage
conduct of such a campaign.
SMMEF engaged a qualified fundraising consultant to conduct the feasibility study. The
consultant reviewed the history of SMMEF, conducted interviews with community
leaders and has advised the Board of Directors of SMMEF that there is good potential
for a successful campaign.
Discussion
In recent years SMMUSD has repeatedly faced funding constraints that threatened the
art and music programs that enrich basic education. SMMEF is a long- standing local
non-profit organization with the purpose of fundraising for the public schools. While
individual school parents and PTA’s have tended to fundraise for their particular
campuses, SMMEF attempts to distribute funds equally across the SMMUSD.
SMMEF’s fundraising efforts have been successful at a modest level and their Board
believes that the organization is prepared to conduct a campaign to develop a
significant endowment. If successful, this campaign in support of music and arts
programming could be replicated for athletic, science, technology and other enrichment
programs.
In addition to facilitating the foundations fundraising efforts, this grant will also help
effectuate the City's commitment to promoting the arts in Santa Monica by nurturing a
new generation of Santa Monica artists. The development of their talents will enrich
City residents lives in the years to come. The City Council can stimulate private support
for SMMUSD art and music programs by providing SMMEF with funds to conduct a
professionally guided endowment campaign and has made provision in the budget to do
so.
The grantee agreement between the City and SMMEF will include the following general
terms:
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The contract term will begin January 2001 and terminate no later than June
2003.
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City funds, totaling $200,000, will be used to support a campaign consultant,
campaign coordinator, support staff and related supplies and expenses. SMMEF
will contribute a minimum of $115,000 for a total campaign budget of
approximately $315,000.
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Funds will be dispensed on a quarterly payment schedule; the City and SMMEF
will review campaign progress every 6 months to determine disbursements for
the next six-month period.
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SMMEF will be required to provide all necessary insurance coverage as required
by the City and comply with other standard provisions included in the City’s
Community Development Program Grantee Agreement.
Budget/Financial Impact
Funds for this purpose are available in the amount of $200,000 at account number
01274.544390.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a grantee agreement with SMMEF in the amount of $200,000 for the purpose
of conducting a campaign to endow music and art programs for SMMUSD.
Prepared by: Susan E. McCarthy, City Manager
Barbara Stinchfield, Director of Community and Cultural Services