2004-2005
Financial
Reports
at Four Quarters
From
the January 2006 Members Muse
It Was a very good year!
“More than any other year since our founding,
2004 has been a time ripe with potential. Financially we have done well and resumed
our steady growth. But what we have done with those funds is fertilize the future.”
That is a quote from the beginning of my 2004 financial report, and while not
claiming to read the future I can claim that this statement has been made fact.
2005 was indeed, a pivotal year for Four Quarters.
We began 2005 by successfully
qualifying for the commercial bank loan that allowed the purchase of the final
35 acres of the camp proper, bringing all of the camp under church stewardship.
Here the steadfast support of our Members enrolled in the Pledge Program made
all the difference. And as spring approached we finally received the go-ahead
from the Department of Environmental Regulation for our new sewer system. In just
nine weeks we built the system, laid in 2500 feet of water line and built the
North Crook shower house. Just in time for our new event “Fires Rising,”
an outstanding success.
The land purchase and creation of the new sewer
system were projects that took years to plan; and they will now provide for years
of growth leading to even more possibilities. I believe that in another decade
we will look back at 2006 as the year we “turned the corner.”
There is much more in this issue, so I won’t spoil the story here. So with
no further adoo,
Lets Do the Numbers! Income
Memberships are always the purest form of support and
are the most genuine indicator of the health of any Church or nonprofit. Our 2005
Membership revenue shows a strong increase due to a number of factors. We raised
membership fees about 20% for 2005 and the number of Promoting Members has increased
by 30%. Also more people are purchasing fire, tent and automotive permits; enough
to really make a difference.
Donations and Pledges,
have increased from 2004 as well. The ePledge program is beginning to grow and
all those 5 and 15 dollar a month pledges really do add up. We continue to show
the strongest charitable support of any Earth Religious-NeoPagan organization…
simply unprecedented. And more about ePledge further down!
Church Ward Gifts
are those funds earned in outside work by the Church Wards or financial gifts
given to the Wards, usually from their families, that are in turn given over to
the Church.
Four Quarters Fund-Raiser attendance
grew nicely, primarily from Fires Rising and steady growth with Drum n` Splash.
We will be adding Embers and Sustainability to our roster for 2006, so I hope
this trend will continue.
Grounds Fees are principally fees from our outside
groups, but also include individual weekend camping fees. Revenue from outside
groups dropped a bit with The Mens Gathering and Lumensgate having moved to smaller
venues; I want to wish them both the very best. Members should always keep in
mind that the fees paid by outside groups are in fact a direct subsidy for their
own use of Four Quarters.
Our financial growth in 2005 was spread out among
all of our income streams and when combined gives a whopping 25% growth rate.
Now for where we spent all that money! Expenses
Church Ward Support are all of those funds that
go towards the support of the Church Wards, Live-in staff, weekend guests and
summer interns. Food, health care, cash stipends. We supported 5 adults and 2
children throughout 2005 and through the summer months we had up to four summer
interns living on the property. It works out to about $8 a day. Pretty amazing,
I think.
Agriculture represents the monies
that are going into the orchard, garden fencing and pasture improvement. This
will increase in the years to come
Community Support
are those funds that go to individuals in need, the recurring outside obligations
of the church wards and to other nonprofit groups, especially ceremonial organizations.
Some of this support is now carried in Ward support or as donations associated
with our events, but frankly I am not sure why this form of giving has dropped
as much as it has. We need to do better in 2006.
Capital
Equipment, Repairs and Improvements are hard nonperishable assets that
have been acquired through the year. New kitchen gear, construction and other
camp equipment. Our purchase of new equipment has held steady.
Land
purchase are those costs of principal, interest and taxes that go towards
land to which the Church holds title. Which as of this year is the entire camp!
And please notice that $8,000 was paid down on the principle of the mortgage,
monies that came from the ePledge program.
The Leasehold
are those funds that (used to) go towards leasing the Barnes Tract. No more lease!
Communications are directly related to our internet
service, print publishing programs and mailing costs. This grew again as we increased
the page count and print run of the Calendar.
Program
Content are the direct costs of providing content at Four Quarters.
Altar decorations, Moon Service food, meal plans, fire wood, sanitation, and of
course the Standing Stones; are all part of delivering the religious events that
are part of Four Quarters’ Mission.
Outside Event
Costs are primarily food, and supplies directly required to host these
events. As our outside events have grown, so have our costs.
Professional
Services, Financial Fees and Office Supplies form the hidden costs that are necessary
to operate Four Quarters.
Utilities increased
significantly in 2005, largely due to the increased use of the farmhouse facilities,
the increased run time of our camp generator and the larger number of port-o-lets
used for events. We believe that we will be able to reduce this number in 2006.
As you read this commentary, glance across the page at the line item listings,
and in particular their changes over the past three years. This will give a good
picture of just how the dollars flow.
And feel free to stop in the Church
office if you would like to see a detailed breakdown of our financials. I believe
that our policy of open financials is one of the very best reasons why we all
choose to support Four Quarters. Orren Whiddon
Fiscal 2005
Financial Report
Four Quarters Interfaith Sanctuary of EarthReligion Note:
I have combined some categories and added others to give what I hope is an easier
to understand picture of our financials. Four
Quarters InterFaith Sanctuary
Financial Report for Fiscal 2005
Income and Expense by Category INCOME
2003
2004 2005
4QF MEMBSHP
27,993 26,909
39,937
CONTRIBUTIONS 20,264
23,643 29,320
WARD INCOME-GIFTS
2,502 2,337 9,616
BELTAINE SPRING 5,885 4,281
6,003
BODY TRIBAL
3,310 4,717
2,073
DRUM AND SPLASH 26,040
26,101 31,298
Fires Rising
15,309
STONES RISING 19,736 24,566
23,056
YULE SAMHAIN
1,845
1735
All 4QF Events
[56,551] [62,050] [80,255]
GROUNDS
FEES 48,207 58,350
53,255
OTHER INCOME 5,791
1,638 3,547
CREDIT
CARD CHRG 2,463 2,171
3,545
Operating Income 165,043
178,508 223,540
Equity
Loan Income
16,164
Total 239,704 EXPENSES
2003
2004 2005
WARD SUPPORT
15,309 19,597
24,544
Agriculture . . . . . .
3,588
COMNTY SUPRT
4,585 1,981
539
IMPROVEMENTS 13,571
14,729 53,759
CAP EQUIPMENT
13,679 19,453
19,537
Mortgages
10,272 11,699
14,744
Principal . . . . . .
8,000
Property Taxes
. . . . . .
984
LEASEHOLD
12,720
12,719 0 (yea!)
COMMUNICATIONS
15,555 15,895
18,576
PROGRAM COSTS 22,361
24,596 26,872
OUTSIDE
EVENT 10,327 14,257
11,304
PROFES’NL SERVICES
6,775 9,944
6,954
Financial Fees . . . . . .
1,753
REPAIRS+MAINT 8,203
8,547 .
. .
OFFICE SUPPLIES 2,045
5,562 4,387
TRANSPORTATION
4,379 6,142
9,910
UTILITIES
15,739 16,217
24,997
CREDIT CARD COSTS 2,902
2,671 4,828
EVENT REFUND
572
2,885 3,175
OTHER EXPENSE
1,234 0
5,023
Operating Expenses
160,229 183,694 243,474
Summation 2003
2004
2005
Operating Income 165,043 178,508
223,540
Operating Expenses -160,229
-183,694 (243,474)
Borrowing
Credit Line
Borrowed 8,500 3,000
18,000
Credit Line Paid
(6,500) (8,000) (13,000)
Outstanding
Debt (-5,000) 0
(-5,000) Service,
Ceremony and Celebration
Joining the World of Spirit and the World of Today
a Work of Years... Stone by Stone
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