I've been thinking with this BC/EFA is "losing" money thing...

When a non profit makes a budget each year, which includes salary for staff, operating costs (like paying rent etc.), they set a fundraising goal for themselves which is based on money raised in years past. They basically assume they will have a certain amount of money because they have worked out some way that they will raise it during their fiscal year and operate with the assumption that they will raise that money (which is why they never choose a goal that is too far out of reach).

Since a big chunk of their budget comes from the fundraising they do during this time of year, a big chunk of the money they were counting on is now not there. And now that's happened, they are going to start to have problems and may have to start letting their staff go.

(edited for spelling)

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Updated On: 11/28/07 at 03:34 PM

I don't think BC/EFA has ever said that they were losing money. I think other posters have said that they're losing money because they can't fundraise like they normally do, which would be a loss for them monetarily. Much like the producers who are losing money, from the strike, there was no guarantee that people would buy tickets to the performances, but they were going on the assumption that tickets would be sold, based on past sales. I've looked over their website and the only mention of the strike or their funding is found here:

http://www.broadwaycares.org/news/strike.pdf

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Most non-profits have some sort of a set income and then their donations, while figured into things, are on top of that. But it's different to depend solely on random donations at the end of shows than it is to have full-out fundraising drives with memberships, mailings and so forth. THAT should be the majority of any non-profit's donations income. I worked in churches for 5 years and my father has worked in them for more than 40, and while there is a bit that's "loose monies collected in the plate", if their finance committee is smart, they put that amount far under the previous year's actual collections and almost NEVER apply that money to anything until they know it will flesh out.

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I had a question regarding their statements concerning 'loss' as well. Why can't they simply alter their collection schedule? Collect for the same number of shows and I would think that they will lose nothing. Am I missing something?

I've been to several of their events, so I know about those. I think they would be better served trying something resembling a solid fund-raising thing like memberships, etc. rather than depending on tourists giving after shows. That money is never a guarantee...or it should never be.

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For non-profits, no money is "guaranteed." That's why when their funding is cut, some nonprofits are forced to close their doors. Perhaps you could do some research on 501(c)(3)s to understand how it works.

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My pleasure, JustaGuy. :)

They have extended the fundraising campaign by 2 weeks. The Gypsy of the Year Event is being held on the 17th now instead of this coming Monday, but that still doesn't make up for 20 days of missed opportunity. It is a shame that this year might be the first in BC/EFA history that the collection has not exceeded the previous years. The nice thing is that the touring companies have still been able to collect and add an additional 2 weeks of time to do so.

Oh well. I've already given them over $200 this year (probably closer to $500 when I add everything up) ~ which is more than just as and even much more deserving charities I support have gotten, so sorry, for Christmas giving, I've got to give elsewhere.

Maybe I'm just tired of them acting like they're the ONLY charity that needs money. Anyway. Enough of a discussion.

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Updated On: 11/29/07 at 05:52 AM

"Maybe I'm just tired of them acting like they're the ONLY charity that needs money. Anyway. Enough of a discussion."

You're on a B'way message board. BC/EFA is a charity that was started by members of the theatrical community and has been supported for 20 years by that community and the theatre going audience. Why wouldn't they make an appeal to the people who have supported them in the past, to give more, since their usual fund raising efforts were stymied by the strike. I don't believe they've ever stated that they that they are the only charity that needs money, you've come to that conclusion yourself. How you've drawn that conclusion is anyone's guess, but I don't believe that you can support you're statement that they're acting like they are the only charity that needs money. You may disagree with their fund raising strategy, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't work.

Once again if you go to their website you'll see that they not only give grants to HIV/AIDS related programs, but also to a host of other organizations, and charities including those involved in women's health issues.

If you feel like you've given all you can to BC/EFA, fine. No one is going to begrudge you for that. But why denigrate the organization?

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Updated On: 11/29/07 at 09:30 AM

jordan--Churches often set a budget based on pledges made by members, as well as on past income. They can never be fully assured that the money will be forthcoming, but they do have to set a budget based on PROJECTED income. "Loose monies" are a separate category because you never know how much a visitor or non-pledging member is going to give, but unless the church also has a business side (bookstore, restaurant, etc.), the budget is based on projected income, at least in my experience as a PK. :)