Community Fund Drive falls short of goal
by Kristin Pazulski
The budget and finance committee of the Chestnut Hill Community Association
is prepared to make recommendations at the CHCA board meeting March 23
for the three budgets: the Chestnut Hill Local, the Association and the
Community Fund.
The Local’s budget recommendation was decided at the March 2 meeting,
ending with a proposed $34,000 revenue.
The Association’s budget was revisited at a meeting on Monday,
March 13. Mark Keintz, committee chair, was “very uncomfortable”
with the suggestion of asking board members to provide personal donations
to compensate for the Association’s expected deficit in the tentative
budget. The concern was voiced that members were not likely to give to
the Association when many have not yet given to the Community Fund, a
tax-deductible donation.
After the addition of a Wine Tasting fundraiser and a cut to personnel
expense, the committee decided to present a tenative budget with a deficit
of $11,000 to the board next Thursday.
The Community Fund’s tentative budget will also be presented to
the board with a deficit, this one of $5,400. The committee recognized
there is a problem that needs to be fixed long-term with the two budgets,
and wanted to present it to the board for ideas.
Financing for the Community Fund involves two entities. Operations expenses
are funded by events such as the Black and White Gala. The program grants
are funded fully by the Fund Drive.
This year, the Fund Drive fell dramatically short of the $60,000 goal.
Brien Tilley, Fund Drive chair and other board members are still planning
ways to actively seek donations. As more donations are turned in, the
grant allocations could be reconsidered.
In the past five years, the Fund Drive has collected total funds from
community businesses and individuals ranging from $97,345 in 2002 to $66,250
this past year.
Interestingly, a majority of board members haven’t donated to the
Fund, though some have said they just haven’t gotten around to it
yet. Board and community members are pointing to the faltering economy
and the tension within the CHCA this past year for the short fall.
Because of the Drive’s decreased support, the budget and finance
committee had to be strict with the recommended allocation of funding.
There was $76,425 worth of grant applications, and $30,150 to give from
the Drive.
According to the committee’s recommendation:
Green Space Maintenance and Jenks School were given no funding for their
applications.
The CHCA Physical Division Committees and the Blood Drive were given
their full requested amounts.
Teenagers Inc, the Senior Services Center and Pastorius Park Concerts
rely heavily on the Community Fund Drive for their yearly budgets, but
were given only about half of their requested amounts.
Other programs to receive funding, though it was much smaller amounts
than requested, were: the 14th District Holiday event, Meals on Wheels,
Bach Festival, Chestnut Hill Youth Sports, Friends of Children’s
Park and Friends of Wyndmoor Station.
Town Watch and utilities for Winston Park are granted $2,200 from a Public
Safety Endowment Fund established years ago, so their funding did not
come from this year’s Drive.
The board is expected to vote on all three budgets at the Thursday, March
23 meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Hiram Lodge.
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