City of Wilmington
Hanifa Shabazz
City Council President

Louis L. Redding City/County Building
800 N. French Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801-3537
phone (302) 576-2140
fax (302) 571-4071
www.WilmingtonDE.gov

MEMORANDUM
TO:

Wilmington City Council Members

FROM:

Hanifa Shabazz, President

DATE:

June 12, 2017

RE:

Council Member Grant/Scholarship Funds Budget Guidelines

HS

Effective July 1, 2017, with the implementation of the FY 2018 budget, each City Council
Member will be allotted a budget of $10,000 per fiscal year. A minimum of $6000 must
be earmarked for college scholarships. Although $6,000 is the minimum for college
scholarships, you could choose to expend the entire $10,000 on scholarships, or expend
$4,000 for grant purposes.
Members of City Council seeking to use these funds must adhere to the following
guidelines:
1. A request form must be completed and signed by each Council member for each
instance in which funds are to be distributed. This will include a conflict of
interest certification.
2. The written request should be submitted to the Chief Financial Officer for
review at least ten days prior to the need for the check.
3. The President or Chief of Staff will discuss any questionable requests with the
individual Council Member for clarification.
4. The President will deny any request thought to be questionable in terms of
conflict of interest or inappropriate uses of public funds. Each member of
Council should avoid the appearance of impropriety.
5. All payments are to be made to organizations or events.
individuals are prohibited.
Updated 6/9/17

Payments to

 Council Members must keep in mind that the use of these funds will be under scrutiny by
the citizens of Wilmington as well as the media. I encourage you to use sound judgment
in the distribution of these public funds.
Recommended Uses of Funds
A. College Scholarships
 Can only be used for 2- year college, 4- year college, or trade school, with a
minimum of 9 credits required.
 No one student can collectively receive more than two thousand dollars
($2,000) in City Council scholarships in any fiscal year (July 1, __ to June 30,
___).
 Immediate family members of City Council members are ineligible to receive
City Council scholarships.
 Scholarship assistance is for City of Wilmington residents only. Proof of
residency is required.
 An official award letter is mailed and or emailed to the student and disbursed
with the check authorizing the scholarship amount approved by the Council
Member. The Council Member must provide the authorizing scholarship
amount to the Chief Financial Officer by email and or written notification prior
to any funds being disbursed.
 The City Council scholarship guidelines prohibit discrimination against
applicants based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin or disability.
 Students must submit information to validate proof of enrollment, which are
some of the following items: copy of current semester billing and or charges on
school letterhead, verification of address (i.e. driver’s license), student
identification number, acceptance letter, and or enrollment verification. City
Council will not provide full scholarships for students unless approved by the
President.
B. Support for Community Events and Organizations
 All requests must be on official stationary (and or email) from the organization
or event receiving funding from City Council.
 Contributions to organizations outside City must have a direct benefit to City
residents.
 Contributions will be made payable to nonprofit agencies with an established
501c status and a valid federal tax identification number must be provided; or a
not for profit corporation preferably with a 501c status. Some exceptions will
be made for entities that are non-profits.

Updated 6/9/17

 Samples of Events and Organization
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Baseball Little Leagues
Football Youth Leagues
Libraries
Skate Parks
Neighborhood Planning Councils
Sponsorships (promote benefit Community/Wilmington)
Civic Association activities
Non-profit social service agency activities (Proof of non-profit status must be
provided)

C. Professional Development Activities Related to City Council Responsibilities
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Seminars
Workshops
Conferences

The President has the final authorization for any request for funds that do not fit within the
parameters established above and to approve or disapprove any travel request regardless if
there are funds available in instances when non-essential travel is not permitted and or
questionable items or inappropriate uses of public funds for other intended purposes. The
City of Wilmington Travel Policy will be followed.
Inappropriate Uses of Funds
 Campaign literature, signs or campaign material of any kind, or any activities related
to a political campaign.
 Tickets for community events (Council President purchases tickets for these events).
 Emergency housing, clothing, rent, shoes.
 Awards for City Council members.
 Donations to organizations with which the Council member or a member of their
immediate family is a Board Member, or has a personal connection with, such as
employment.
 Advertisements for individual Council members.
 Purchase of media time (cable, regular TV, radio or print).
 Donations to profit making organizations.
 Donations to churches or religious groups/organizations for religious purposes.

Updated 6/9/17

 Updated 6/9/1 7