Advocacy

Nonprofit Montgomery is part of The Community Roundtable initiative which is co-convened by: Primary Care Coalition, WorkSource Montgomery, Montgomery County Food Council, and Nonprofit Montgomery.

Over the last 18 months we have convened four community roundtable meetings and engaged nearly 100 nonprofit and community leaders to discuss priorities for creating a more collaborative nonprofit sector. With the input gained during these convenings we have developed a vision statement for how the local government and nonprofit sector can continue to partner effectively to meet the needs of our rapidly changing community.

The Community Roundtable encourages you to sign on and endorse this vision, which highlights the need for joint projects that improve the lives of Montgomery County residents through effective collaborations among nonprofits and government agencies to achieve social and economic equity, prosperity, and healthy ecosystems.

As part of the County Executive leadership transition, Marc Elrich (County Executive-Elect) has created a transition team that will work toward the goals championed during his campaign. His team is holding “listening sessions” that will allow residents and stakeholders of the County an opportunity to have their voices heard. There is also an opportunity to submit comments online.

The County Executive-Elect’s initial goals are outlined by his Priority Outcomes and Key Indicators which are the “starting point for shared work to make life in our county better in measurable ways.” The transition team will also be tasked with creating the initial drafts of “strategic plans to make progress on each Key Indicator over the next five years.”

As Executive Director of Nonprofit Montgomery, I have been invited to be part of the transition team and will advocate and represent the nonprofit sector. I encourage all Nonprofit Montgomery members and the communities we serve to attend a listening session, and share with the County Executive-Elect your priorities and suggestions.

With thanks,
Lesley MacDonald
Executive Director

PS. View the official press release with the transition team list.

The October 9 Public Hearing on the OLO Report on Montgomery County Council Community Grants was well attended. Representatives of 25 nonprofits signed up to provide testimony on the report.  A special thanks to Nonprofit Montgomery members who provided testimony:

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Represent our sector and learn more at County Council committee sessions.Click here for the current committee schedule.

October 11 – HHS/GO, 9:30am 
Community Grants Program

October 15 – HHS/PS, 9:30am
Special Appropriation to HHS FY19 Operating Budget; $70,799 for Behavioral Health and Crisis Services for Adult Drug Court

October 22, HHS, 8:30am   
Meeting with HHS boards and commissions

October 24, 7pm – Special Event  
Youth Town Hall for Students of Montgomery County

October 29 – HHS/GO – 2pm      
Community Grants Program (continued)

November 15, HHS, 9:30am 

• Discussion – Workgroup on People with Developmental Differences
• Update – Youth Drop-In Center and Youth Homelessness
• Inside (Not Outside) Update on Chronically Homeless Adults

Dear Members,

We’ve just received word from the County Council that there is still space for nonprofits to sign up and testify at the Community Grants Public Forum on Tuesday, October 9 at 7:30pm. I will be there to testify on behalf of Nonprofit Montgomery, but we need additional people to testify to show the importance of these grants to the nonprofit sector.

I strongly urge you to read the Office of Legislative Oversight report on the Community Grants process and sign up to speak on October 9.

After reading the report, we appreciate the stated intent to improve the accountability, transparency, fairness and accessibility of the grants process. However we do want to include the reminder that nonprofits would like to help in the process of defining the future of community grants.

We ask that any and all members submit testimony and attend the forum if possible. It is critical that the voices of the nonprofit sector are represented at this forum. Please share your story on the importance of community grants is to your organization and the people you serve.

Public Forum on Community Grants
Tuesday, October 9, 7:30pm
100 Maryland Avenue, 3rd floor Hearing Room
Rockville, MD 20850

How to Testify: 
To testify at a Council public hearing, please sign up here or call 240-777-7803. You must bring 15 copies of their testimony to the hearing and to email a written copy 48 hours in advance of the hearing.

Let’s send a strong message about our sector’s interest in the community grants process. I look forward to seeing you on October 9.

With thanks,
Lesley MacDonald
Executive Director, Nonprofit Montgomery