The Center of Anna Maria Island’s fiscal 2021-22 is off to a better start than the previous year.
The community center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, recorded $50,262 in net income through September, according to financial documents distributed after the nonprofit’s Nov. 15 board meeting.
The mark is a $139,635 improvement over the center’s results through the same point last year, when it was $85,642 in the red.
Despite recording $34,339 more in direct program costs than through the same point in fiscal 2020-21 — July-June — the nonprofit more than doubled program revenue — from $70,205 last year to $146,696 so far through September.
The resulting $60,248 in program income is almost five times the $12,965.79 program income it recorded through September 2020.
A similar trend can be found in fundraising revenues, which spiked 234%, from $61,632 last year to $205,585 this year.
At the same time, fundraising expenses only increased by 51%, from $40,927 last year to $61,716 this year.
The result is $143,869 in fundraising income — a far cry from last year, when the nonprofit recorded a $38,785.89 loss in fundraising through September.
The spikes in revenue more than make up for $150,124 in general and administrative costs through September, which was a $25,682 increase over last year.
The financial document attributes many of the increases to a return to form after the coronavirus pandemic suppressed membership and youth camp numbers in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
It does not, however, detail the results of an Aug. 21 benefit for lifetime Anna Maria Island resident and boating Capt. Aaron Lowman, who suffered from a severe brain aneurysm.
Also, the center has yet to release a spending plan for its current fiscal year despite a start date of July 1.
Nevertheless, the nonprofit is on better financial footing through three months than it has had in years — and a host of upcoming fundraising events could further pad the center’s coffers.
The center will host Lester Family Fun Day 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at its facility, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
The annual event is sponsored by Holmes Beach residents Chuck and Joey Lester and will feature a visit from Santa Claus, pony rides, crafts, food, activities and a drum line from Manatee High School.
Admission is free and activity tickets sell for 25 cents each.
The next event will be a Dec. 11 concert performed by The Wailers, a reggae band formed of friends and family of Bob Marley & the Wailers. The show is the first in the 2021-22 Bradenton Gulf Island Concert Series.
The annual concert series is a product of the center’s partnership with the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and was launched in 2019 as a way to boost tourism to the island and bolster local businesses during a year mired by red tide.