As often happens at this time of the year, the sun can be shining warmly on your face while a cold wind chills you at the same time. This is exactly the case at MORE right now. Our warm sunny news to share is that we have a brand new MORE video! This wonderful tool will enable all of us to share the mission of MORE with our networks in order to build support for the organization. The timing couldn’t be more perfect as our more chilly announcement is that we are projecting a significant budget shortfall for this fiscal year ending on June 30th. Why this deficit is occurring and the amount is detailed below. We hope that after seeing the great impact illustrated in the video, you will be inspired to make a contribution to MORE today!
A New MORE Video from Minnesota Philanthropy Partners
Below you will find a link to view a wonderful new video featuring MORE. Last summer, MORE was chosen as a Nonprofit to Know by Minnesota Philanthropy Partners (formerly The St. Paul Foundation). From Minnesota Philanthropy Partners: “The Nonprofits to KnowTM program seeks to increase nonprofits’ digital marketing capabilities and raise public awareness of selected 501(c)3 organizations that are doing extraordinary work. The Foundation’s program officers select a limited number of nonprofits for the Nonprofits to KnowTM program after concluding each of the three annual grant rounds for The Saint Paul Foundation, F. R. Bigelow Foundation and Mardag Foundation.”
One of the benefits of being chosen as a Nonprofit to Know is that the foundation produced a video on our behalf and are highlighting it on their website. The video showcases some familiar faces and shows the impact that MORE has on our community through one person’s story. Click below to watch the video.
MORE – Nonprofits to Know Video
A Budget Shortfall
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” – Anne Bradstreet
MORE is in need of your help as we are currently facing some adversity of our own in the form of a budget shortfall. As we look at the budget projections through the rest of this fiscal year, ending on June 30th, we find ourselves facing a budget deficit of approximately $40,000. Areas that were severely underbudgeted for last year are related to the increased number of people we are currently serving. We have approximately 50-65 people in and out of MORE on a daily basis. This amount of traffic can cause quite a bit of wear and tear on our beloved house. MORE’s house is the foundation of the organization and without it being safe and in good repair, operations could very easily come to a halt. By the end of the fiscal year, we will have had to spend nearly double what we had originally budgeted on unexpected house expenses like pest control, repairing and adding outdoor lighting, etc. We also have overspent in areas like house and office supplies on things such as toilet paper, napkins, copier costs, etc. All are related to the volume of people coming in the door this past year.
Another piece of the budget deficit is that for the first time in MORE’s history, we are looking to put in place health benefits for all eligible staff members. As you might guess, this is a very expensive endeavor. The feeling held by many within MORE is that providing this sort of security and peace of mind to the employees, the people within MORE that provide the love and care on a daily basis to our participants, simply must happen, and soon. The earliest we would be able to get the paperwork completed and have benefits in place would be June, adding close to $3,000 to this year’s deficit amount and increasing next year’s budget by $35,000. But there is no question that we have to make this happen in order to care for the people that care for the people.
“No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.” – Proverb
With your help, we can make it through this challenge. If you would like to make an online donation to MORE, click here to go to MORE’s page on GiveMN.org. Thank you for your support of MORE at every time of the year. All of us at MORE wish you many spring days of warm sun shining on your faces.
