Commerce City says Quality Community Foundation must change by 2027

Commerce City staff say the city’s current arrangement with the private Quality Community Foundation cannot continue past Dec. 31, 2027. The foundation would either separate from the city or transfer its grant work to the city, according to a city presentation.

The presentation says the foundation is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit and that public resources cannot be used to benefit a private entity. If the foundation remains independent, the city’s direct support would end by the deadline. The presentation does not specify the amount or forms of that support.

The Quality Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships. Its May 26 meeting minutes show the foundation was handling scholarship requests, soliciting donations for a golf tournament silent auction and preparing for a scholarship ceremony.

Under one option, the foundation would remain independent and amend its articles of incorporation to remove its ties to the city. Any future city funding would have to go through the city’s standard competitive grant processes.

Under the other, the foundation would disband and the city would assume responsibility for grants. Scholarship funds would have to be transferred to another nonprofit because the city cannot directly administer scholarships that benefit individuals. The presentation does not identify that nonprofit.

A city board or commission could recommend grant recipients under the city-run option, but City Council would approve the awards, and city staff would distribute the money. Current foundation members could potentially serve on an ad hoc committee overseeing grants.

The foundation’s Sept. 22 agenda schedules a presentation by the City Clerk’s Office titled “Future of QCF.” The agenda lists it as a discussion item and does not record a vote or selected path. As of Sept. 16, available records do not show that the foundation’s board had chosen between the two options.