The Center of Anna Maria Island has quite a lot of digging to do to recover from its losses.
The community center was $222,187.32 in the red through September, three months into the 2022-23 fiscal year, according to a financial report.
It was $50,262 in the black through the same point last year — a negative 542% swing.
The nonprofit finished last year $210,645.58 in the black, its fifth consecutive year in the black after recording a $282,749 loss in 2016-17.
The center has finished in the red all three months of this fiscal year, which began July 1.
The center operates on city property on a special lease at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
It was $76,765 in the red through July — before tacking on $49,578.47 in additional net losses in August. Then September topped July as its worst month thus far, as the nonprofit added $95,892.39 in net losses over that month alone.
Despite a 29% increase in program revenue over 2021-22 through September, from $146,696 last year to $189,855 this year, larger increases in spending have led to the early deficit.
Direct costs for programming have increased by 44% over last year, from $86,448 in FY2021-22 to $124,070 this year, while “general/indirect/admin expenses” increased by 33%, from $150,124 to $199,595.
The nonprofit also has spent $69,284 on capital overlay improvements, such as foyer and bathroom renovations.
“The work continues and we hope to finish these projects before the first of the year,” executive director Chris Culhane wrote in a Nov. 16 email to The Islander. “Once complete, we will work towards updating several other of our deferred capital projects.”
Additionally, the center’s fundraising efforts have gotten off to a slow start, racking up $19,092 in fundraising losses through September.
That’s due to a 64% decrease in fundraising revenue, from $205,585 last year to $73,928 this year to date, as well as a 51% increase in expenses, from $61,716 to $93,020.
However, the center’s loaded slate of upcoming events might reverse that trend, including two in December.
The 20th annual Lester Family Fun Day, a holiday event sponsored every year by Holmes Beach residents Chuck and Joey Lester, is first on the calendar, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the center.
The event will include a visit from Santa Claus, a performance by the Manatee High School Drum
Line, food and beverages, a golf ball drop with a 50/50 raffle prize, pony rides and other family-friendly activities.
People interested in volunteering for the event can visit centerami.org/events or contact customer service director Jillian Ptak at 941-778-1908 or customerservice@centerami.org.
Another fundraiser, the Bradenton Gulf Island Concert Series, will begin with a tribute to The Beatles — BeatleMania Now — Saturday, Dec. 10, and will be followed by more concerts in 2023.
Doors will open at 6 p.m., with an opening act on stage by 7 p.m. and the headliner’s performance at 8 p.m.
Tickets for the concert series can be found via the center’s website, centerami.org/events.