Foundation for Youth gave its annual report to the community with a mix of pride and concern, noting that along with 2018’s achievements, the organization’s expenses exceeded its income for the first time since 2013.
About 130 local residents and 150 young people attended the annual meeting Tuesday at the FFY gym, hearing a message from FFY leaders.
There are currently 70 families on a waiting list to be served by the Boys and Girls Club and the non-profit agency saw a 35 percent drop in volunteers last year compared to 2017.
“It’s the only year that anyone can remember where we have a waiting list for kids getting into our club,” said executive director Chuck Kime during the event. “On the one hand, we’re a little bit proud that people are flocking here and wanting our services. But on the other hand, we’re a little distressed that there are kids who want service and we got to find a way to get it to them.”
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Last year, FFY received $1.73 million in revenue, compared to $1.84 million in expenses — a loss of $111,542, according to the non-profit agency’s 2018 annual report.
Revenue had exceeded expenses each year from 2013 to 2017, according to FFY annual reports. In 2017, the FFY pulled in $14,328 more than it spent. In 2013, revenue exceeded expenses by $112,914.
Kime said the loss was primarily due to lower-than-expected revenue, particularly from outside groups renting FFY facilities.
Additionally, the average number of children served each weekday by the Boys and Girls Club has increased to approximately 200, prompting FFY to hire two additional year-round staff members to keep pace with the uptick in children served, Kime said.
In 2015, about 130 children on average were served each weekday. Typically, FFY needs one staff member for every 15 to 20 children it serves, Kime said.
In 2014, 12,751 children were served by FFY, according to the FFY’s 2015 annual report. In 2017, the number of children served had jumped to 22,610, said Kime, who added that the numbers for 2018 “are still being assembled.”
Revenue dipped slightly in 2018 compared to the year before, while expenses increased from $1.73 million to $1.84 million, or $109,390, over the same period, according to the FFY’s annual reports from 2017 and 2018. Expenses in 2018, however, were in line with what FFY officials projected at the beginning of the year, Kime said.
“Expenses are completely in line with our budgeted expenses,” said Kime, who said he does not expect the non-profit agency to operate at a loss in 2019. “It’s a need to grow revenue,” he said.
Additionally, FFY saw a decrease in volunteers last year. In 2017, there were more than 4,500 volunteers who logged a combined 34,734 volunteer hours, generating an economic value of $812,080, according to its 2017 annual report.
Last year, there were 2,922 volunteers who contributed a combined 26,917 hours, resulting in an estimated economic value of $664,580.
Kime said FFY will be stepping up efforts to attract volunteers this year. “Having someone to commit to the volunteer work is difficult for our organization,” he said. “We recognize that.”
Kime, as well as Karina Willats, FFY’s chief development officer, said FFY officials are currently looking at what the non-profit agency’s next steps are so they serve more children.
“At some point, we’re going to have to look at our facilities, look at our partners and see whether there’s any space or capacity anywhere else,” Willats said. “We’re not a the point of knowing how we fix this because Columbus is a collaborative community. We’re just working out how we get there because we definitely have to get there. We can’t have kids that need somewhere after school and need the program we have and the community not be able to serve them.”
Kime said that while FFY is “in a strong financial position,” the organization’s biggest opportunity for growth is through corporate and individual contributions.
“For our organization, the bulk of the money comes in three ways — service delivery, local organizations, such as United Way, and contributions from individuals and corporations, and our biggest opportunity is through individual contributions and corporations,” Kime said. “You can’t make a living off of charging children $8 to come play basketball. You’ve got to have your community step forward.”
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FFY presented the following awards at its annual meeting:
It Takes A Village award: Safe Place
Cornerstones: NTN, Faurecia, Ream Asset Management and Toyota Material Handling
Leadership: Dorel, First Financial, German American Bank, Family Chiropractic & Wellness and Cummins Inc.
Volunteer of the Year: Jessica Wylie, GAP Inc.
Bowl for Kids Sake Top fundraiser – Bob Langdon
Bowl for Kids Sake Top corporate team – Cummins HORSEpower
Friend of Camp: Kelli Hoeflinger
Coach of the Year: Anne Young
Employee of the Year: Tim Green
Hollenbeck Sportsmanship Award Male: Bladen Petro
Hollenbeck Sportsmanship Award Female: Ellie Combs
Camper of the Year: Andrew Streeval
Carlin Lucas Scholarship Girl: Kameron Harman
Carlin Lucas Scholarship Boy: Raymen J Miller
Youth of the Year – Keller McNear
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Visit foundationforyouth.com/volunteer for more information or to volunteer.
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