With about two months left in its fiscal year, the Center of Anna Maria Island is more than $11,000 in the black.
But with low results projected for fundraising in the period ahead and low expectations, center board members indicated April 23 they are counting on the Giving Challenge and government donations to boost their numbers.
The center’s net income, year-to-date, was $11,308 at the end of March, board treasurer Christine Hicks reported April 23. Program revenue was $12,000 below budget at $399,069, but program costs were $24,000 below budget.
The biggest gap, Hicks said, was in fundraising. Fundraising revenue for the year sits at $397,124, more than $87,000 below the projected amount in the budget.
Donations from the three island cities are expected to cover a notable portion of that, board chair David Zaccagnino said.
Hicks said the Giving Challenge also would be a major source of fundraising revenue for the center.
The Giving Challenge, scheduled for a 24-hour period from noon, Tuesday, May 1, to noon, Wednesday, May 2, is a Sarasota-Manatee event hosted by the Community Foundation of Sarasota.
Nonprofits across the area participate in the challenge. Unique donations — from new donors — between $25 to $100 are matched by the Patterson Foundation of Sarasota.
At least 1,800 letters were sent asking people to donate to the center in the Giving Challenge, operations director Christopher Culhane said.
Search for new director narrows
Board member Karen Harllee said in a report on the search for a new executive director that the center has three finalists.
Harllee said candidate interviews took place in April.
Interim director Carl Weeks said he expects to serve one more month before the center makes a hiring decision.
“It’s been an interesting two months on the job,” he said.
Weeks said one of his actions as interim director was to hire grant writer Yvette Little.
“She comes highly recommended,” he said.
Weeks said board and staff members also attended fundraising seminars and have learned about more efficient ways to use the center facilities.
Although the leaner summer months are ahead, Zaccagnino said he anticipates one of the busiest summers on Anna Maria Island.
“We’re trying to prepare for that,” he said. “Word’s getting out about the center.”
He said the center arranged for teachers from Anna Maria Elementary to work as camp counselors over the summer.
He also said the center is focusing on making each week of camp unique.
Summer camp for kindergarten to 10th-grade kids will run Monday, June 11, through Friday, Aug. 3.
The next board meeting will be 7 p.m. Monday, May 28, at the center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.