A Community Giving fund for Orange County, proposed last week by county commissioners, is a solid idea to streamline the process of giving back the community.
However, when designing the fund, the commissioners need to make sure the fund is as transparent as possible.
As it is now, the county does not have a framework for giving to county-specific projects. The giving fund would be a centralized effort in which community members can donate not just money — but also property, stocks and bonds.
The fund would allow people who want to give more money to the county a vehicle in which to do so. They can choose where their donations are going, providing a level of autonomy in giving.
In this way, the county does not have to depend solely on raising taxes to complete projects that would benefit the county.
Orange County Animal Services Director Bob Marotto, who has been working on the fund’s creation, said he thinks the community already has a significant interest in giving, and this new way would provide an opportunity to support public activities and services.
With this new way to donate, county programs and services such as the animal shelter and Project Connect, which provides services to the homeless, could be enhanced and expanded.
But there needs to be complete transparency in how the money is used so the public can be reassured of the donations’ good use. The money must be guaranteed to actually go to the purpose for which it’s given.
The commissioners should have a method, perhaps online, for people to see how their donations to the fund are being used.
