Nonprofit groups seeking funding from the city of Warrenton from now on will have to pass a screening process before elected officials consider their request.The city’s board of aldermen on May 15 approved a list of criteria organizations must meet prior to a request for funding. Warrenton currently has agreements to provide financial support for organizations such as AGAPE or Jordan’s Place, which provide beneficial services at little to no cost.“The city is experiencing more and more requests for funding for different entities,” said City Administrator Terri Thorn. She said the board previously has discussed the need to put guidelines in place due to the number of requests.Going forward, applications will be screened by the city administrator to determine if they meet the qualifications to come before the board of aldermen.The new qualifications include five years of prior operations serving Warrenton residents, with a stable financial history. Organizations must be able to document the number of city residents served, and provide services for free or at reduced cost.Several new rules focus on financial transparency and independence on the part of the organization requesting funds. The entity must already be receiving funds from other government programs, and money from the city can’t make up more than 10 percent of the organization’s operating revenue.The organization would also be required to provide a financial audit for each year the city provides funds, or else be prohibited from receiving future funding.No politically affiliated entities will be considered for funding requests.Warrenton city hall sign