December 1, 2021
by
Maggie Annkel
<p>For the fiscal year (FY) ended September 30 2021 the DignityUSA (DUSA) <strong>Operating Fund</strong> reported a<strong> net operating income</strong> (before investment gains) of <strong>$76798</strong> compared to a <strong>budgeted loss</strong> of $50900. Total income of <strong>$389608 </strong>was <strong>$112158</strong> over budget. Specifically recorded income from the <strong>Leadership Stabilization Fund (LSF) </strong>amounted to<strong> $98038</strong>. This fund was not budgeted. The multi-year fund-raising campaign was initiated by the Board of Directors in October 2020 to address the budgeted deficit driven in large part by significantly reduced grant income in recent years. The <strong>income</strong> results were also boosted by <strong>bequests</strong> totaling <strong>$40000</strong> compared to the budgeted amount of <strong>$10000</strong>. On the negative side targeted grant income of <strong>$20000 </strong>was not achieved as grant-funding opportunities did not arise in this pandemic dominated period. </p><p>Total <strong>expenses</strong> of <strong>$312810 </strong>ran <strong>$15540</strong> under budget. The driving factors for these savings were the <strong>Leadership Academy</strong> - <strong>$12700</strong> (postponed to FY 2022); <strong>Caucus and Committee Initiatives - $8150; and Travel - $9004. </strong>These activities were also canceled or postponed as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions. </p><p>The organization experienced <strong>unrealized gains</strong> of <strong>$19516</strong> on its investment portfolio resulting in final <strong>net income</strong> of <strong>$96314</strong>. This was a consequence of securities markets boosted by a gradual economic recovery as the restrictions imposed from the pandemic began to ease. </p><p>During FY 2021 approximately <strong>$10200</strong> was spent from the <strong>Jubilee Initiatives Fund</strong> for the digital engagement strategy and website resource development. </p><p>During FY 2021 DUSA also received <strong>$4650</strong> in donations to the <strong>Nickie Valdez Scholarship Fund</strong> which will be utilized to support attendance at DUSAs National Conference. </p><p>Total <strong>equity</strong> at September 30 2021 rose to <strong>$497614</strong> of which about <strong>$290000 </strong>is <strong>unrestricted</strong> and $208000 is <strong>restricted</strong> or <strong>designated</strong>. In addition the entity has <strong>$285500</strong> in <strong>deferred income</strong> from the LSF that will be recorded as income over the next <strong>three</strong> years to support the Executive Director position. </p><p>The <strong>restricted</strong> or <strong>designated</strong> funds include the <strong>Jubilee Initiatives Fund</strong> at <strong>$111600</strong>; the <strong>Bequest Fund </strong>at<strong> $45400</strong>; the<strong> Leadership Fund</strong> at <strong>$20800</strong>; the <strong>Pax Nidorf Fund</strong> at <strong>$14500</strong> and various <strong>scholarship funds</strong> totaling <strong>$15700.</strong> </p><p>At year-end total funds were invested as follows: <br> Operating cash - <strong>$103000 </strong><br> Stock equities and bond funds - <strong>$356600 </strong><br> Broker-held deposits - <strong>$50500 </strong></p><p>The current dividend/interest yield on the equity/bond portfolio is <strong>4.82%</strong> versus our policy goal of <strong>3%</strong>. In addition the overall time-weighted annual return on the portfolio since inception (four years) is <strong>5.91%</strong> versus the goal of<strong> 5%.</strong> This includes realized and unrealized gains and losses. </p><p>The <strong>Leadership Stabilization Fund (LSF)</strong> that was launched a year ago to support the <strong>Executive Director</strong> position over a four-year period has been very successful. Pledges to date have totaled approximately <strong>$384000</strong> versus a goal of <strong>$400000</strong> (and a stretch goal of <strong>$500000</strong>). Of the total pledged to date <strong>$213000</strong> or <strong>55.5%</strong> has been committed or collected from chapters and <strong>$170600</strong> or<strong> 44.5%</strong> from member/donors. We are in the process of reaching out to the remaining chapters and members to encourage them to join in this campaign to the extent financially feasible to bring us closer to our respective goals. </p><p><strong>Fiscal Year 2022 Budget</strong> </p><p><br>The <strong>Operating Fund </strong>budget for FY 2022 projects a modest <strong>net income</strong> of <strong>$8355</strong> on <strong>total income</strong> of<strong> $388100</strong>. Note that this result includes income of <strong>$103500</strong> from the <strong>LSF</strong> mentioned above. Although total income is comparable to FY 2021 there are several key differences. Specifically in FY 2021 <strong>bequests</strong> totaled <strong>$40000</strong> but none are known nor budgeted for FY 2022. In addition ongoing donations and dues are forecast to be about $7000 lower than last year. Also the organization had $10000 in registration income for the <strong>Virtual Gathering</strong> held in September that will not be held in FY 2022. For FY 2022 there will be a <strong>National Conference</strong> which will be the subject of a separate budget that was approved by the Board in November. </p><p>Offsetting some of these lower revenues are projected <strong>grants</strong> of <strong>$20000</strong>; higher <strong>gifts-in-kind</strong> of <strong>$22500 </strong>(as in-person Board meetings are resumed); higher <strong>investment income</strong> -<strong> $17200</strong> versus <strong>$9000</strong> in FY 2021; and special event income of $6000 to be raised at the<strong> National Conference</strong> (e.g. raffle). </p><p>Budgeted <strong>expenses</strong> total approximately<strong> $380000 </strong>compared to<strong> $313000</strong> in FY 2021. <strong>Staff and contractor compensation</strong> is forecast to total <strong>$241000 </strong>or about $14500 higher than FY 2021 based on a full staffing complement of two full-time and two part-time staff. Travel expenses including Board travel expenses which are donated back to DUSA are budgeted to total<strong> $41000</strong> versus a pandemic caused low of<strong> $5000</strong> in FY 2021. The FY 2022 budget also includes <strong>$13650</strong> for the <strong>Leadership Academy</strong> to be held proximate to the <strong>National Conference</strong> (and which is funded from a grant from the Carpenter Foundation received in FY 2020). </p><p>In addition the Board decided to vote on projects to be funded from the <strong>Jubilee Initiatives Fund</strong> on a project-by-project basis as those are identified. </p><p>Linda Roberts </p><p>Treasurer </p><p>November 8 2021 </p>
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