Fiscal 2022-23 hasn’t been kind to the Center of Anna Maria Island.
With only two months to go in the fiscal year ending June 30, the community center was $269,143 in the red at the end of April, according to a financial report from the nonprofit organization.
The number was a far cry from last year when the center was $113,233 in the black through the same time frame — a $382,375 difference.
More than half of the nonprofit’s $269,143 deficit can be attributed to $163,777 in capital expenses for ongoing bathroom renovations and a new AC unit.
Another issue is a six-figure drop in fundraising revenue from last year.
In fiscal 2021-22, the center raised $942,467 and spent $629,635 on fundraising, which resulted in a profit of $312,832 in fundraising income.
This year, fundraising dropped 31% to $649,099, while expenses only dropped 25% to $473,107.
As a result, the center has collected $175,992 through April, a $136,840 decrease over last year.
Programming saw a small drop from last year.
The center took in $345,058 through April, $24,153 less than the same time span in 2021-22.
That drop can be attributed to a 52% increase in programming costs, from $266,336 last year to $403,945 this year.
Another contributing factor to the center’s fiscal issues is a 26% increase in general, indirect and administrative expenses over last year.
Last year, the nonprofit spent $495,714 on similar expense items through April 2022.
This year, the nonprofit has spent $626,416, or $130,702 more, on the same expenses through April.
The center launched a matching challenge campaign in May to chip away at its deficit.
“The current spring fundraising campaign has never been more critical than right now,” executive director Chris Culhane wrote in a June 9 email to The Islander. “Government contributions from COVID and major grants have dried up and we must look for alternative funds to operate or continue to serve our community.”
People can contribute to the campaign at https://bit.ly/amicac22.
Membership rate increase
This year’s financial struggles might have played a role in the center’s June 6 announcement that it will increase the cost of annual memberships and temporary passes in fiscal 2023-24.
Annual memberships currently cost $300 for kids age 4-17, $660 for adults age 18-59, $600 for seniors age 60 and up, or $1,440 for families.
Individual access passes to the center currently cost $20 for a day, $60 for a week and $120 for a month.
Family access passes cost $55 for a day and $175 for a week.
When fiscal 2023-24 begins July 1, annual memberships will cost $360 for kids, $720 for adults, $660 for seniors and $1,620 for families.
Individual access passes will rise to $25 for a day, $75 for a week and $125 for a month.
Family access passes will be $75 for a day and $220
The center is offering to lock in current rates for the upcoming year if paid by June 30.
People can arrange memberships by calling the center at 941-778-1908 or emailing customerservice@centerami.org.
The center is at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
Whoa! $300 for a child’s membership to play a the AMI Center? Some still remember the AMI “Youth Center”, where kids played for free, and fees if any were minimal. When did it become a private club, or is this just about keeping the unwashed riff-raff away?