When resources are scarce and funding structures are too rigid or short-term, communities struggle to participate fully and maintain long-term involvement.
View the details on what communities have shared with SLECC from across the state.
Limited and underfunded staff capacity across local governments and CBOs. Communities, smaller jurisdictions, and community-based organizations lack sufficient staff time and stable funding to engage consistently, respond to requests for input, and sustain long-term participation and partnerships.
Inflexible allowable costs in grant programs prevent equitable participation. State and local funding rules often prohibit using funds for essentials like childcare, food, transportation, translation, or resident stipends—directly excluding working parents, single mothers, and low-income households.
Community members are expected to participate without compensation, making engagement inaccessible and financially burdensome. Residents and CBO representatives often attend meetings, surveys, and steering committees without stipends, forcing them to absorb costs from personal or organizational budgets.
SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by local leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.
Build CBO capacity through training and flexible funding. Provide grant-writing, financial, and administrative training alongside flexible micro-grants that help CBOs sustain staff capacity and maintain ongoing feedback loops with community members.
Compensate participants and remove logistical barriers—such as childcare, transportation, and stipends—to make engagement accessible for frontline communities.
SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by state leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.
Provide flexible, multi-year funding to sustain community engagement. State programs should offer continuous, advance, and sub-grant funding—along with extended grant timelines—so CBOs can staff up, conduct early outreach, and maintain engagement without cash-flow barriers or short grant cycles.
Require a dedicated portion of all state grant budgets to fund community engagement. State programs should mandate that a defined percentage (e.g., 10–15%) of every grant be allocated to meaningful community engagement and participation to ensure these activities are consistently and adequately resourced.
Help us to expand our database. Either share new ideas, best practices or general feedback via this form, or click on a particular item to share additional feedback, information, examples of progress on that particular item.
Please share any additional resources you would like to include by emailing eecoordinator@civicwell.org.
