By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati Community Action Now (CAN) wants to bring local and national corporations and foundations together in a funding collaborative that would invest money in the race commission's proposed programs and also oversee how funds are spent.

CAN leaders envision forming a board of directors to supervise the distribution of grants that would fund initiatives the commission believes can help bridge the city's racial gap.

The board would be made up of businesses, foundations and individuals who make "meaningful financial contributions" toward Cincinnati CAN programs.

Co-chairman Ross Love said the race panel has made progress over the past year in defining initiatives that would improve the quality of life for disadvantaged citizens.

He said CAN leaders are comfortable enough now that they are examining ways to raise the millions of dollars needed to support them.

Mr. Love said he believes the funding collaborative concept will work because it gives potential investors control over the money they donate.

Under the concept, those who make contributions to CAN programs will receive a seat and a vote on the funding collaborative board.

The money they donate will be pooled into an account from which the board will distribute grants to CAN initiatives that create educational and employment opportunities, improve police-community relations and increase the number of minority-owned businesses.

Mr. Love said CAN wants to raise enough money to fund the grant program for five years. Programs that receive funding are guaranteed money for only one year.

"Programs will need to earn continued funding by achieving the targeted results every year," Mr. Love said.

The concept surfaced last month during a meeting of potential investors sponsored by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

Those in attendance at the meeting included Fifth Third Bank and national foundations such as the New York-based Ford Foundation and the Mathile Family Foundation of Dayton, Mr. Love said.

CAN leaders submitted no formal proposals or requests for funding at the meeting.

E-mail: kaldridge@enquirer.com