By Jaden Perry, The Monitor<\/p>\n\n\n\n
National Association of Black Journalists former Executive Director Drew Berry said the organization will likely face a \u201crevenue shortfall\u201d of $600,000\u2013$800,000 following the Cleveland, Ohio, convention. However, Berry remains confident in NABJ\u2019s nest egg as it is in the \u201cbest financial shape in the organization\u2019s history.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have the specifics of the revenue shortfall,\u201d Berry said during Tuesday\u2019s board meeting, adding concrete numbers won\u2019t be available until the fall season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
NABJ leadership cited the decrease in funding for the year after presidential elections and President Donald Trump\u2019s attack on organizations supporting diversity, equity and inclusion (D.E.I) programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo it’s important that you have that dialogue and that you don’t put the organization at risk by not providing context,\u201d Berry said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Berry stepped into his interim executive director role in 2018, the organization was coming off of a much rougher financial situation \u2014 a situation that Lemon said would not have been ideal for dealing with the financial hurdles of today. The organization has closed the year in debt eight times, according to data from tax documents filed from 1997 to 2013.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think that we’re in a better shape to weather any storm than we’ve ever been,\u201d Lemon said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since then, the organization has worked to secure a stable budget, which includes a $2 million operating budget and $5 million in back-up savings, called the \u201crainy day fund.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the possibly $800,000 deficit likely looming , Berry and his successor, Elise Dunham, remain confident in the organization\u2019s ability to attract donors, even during challenging financial circumstances circulating through the nation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Berry declined to provide strategies, citing the competition to secure funding, \u2014 and only hinted at a vague and broad plan called the \u201cwin, win, win.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you don’t get a win, if there’s no value, why would you even engage with us? So everybody we engage with, we talk about win, win, win,\u201d Berry said. \u201cWhat is it in for them? We punctuate that. That’s why we’re so successful, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Berry mentioned NABJ receiving \u201chundreds of thousands\u201d of dollars of revenue from organizations, which are constantly sought out by the executive director. On Wednesday, Berry mentioned a recent meeting with Deborah O\u2019Connell, ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks, as a prospective funder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That same day, Lemon mentioned meetings with \u201ca couple\u201d of philanthropic organizations to discuss funding throughout the week. He declined to provide details, citing confidentiality concerns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Durham, who was confirmed as NABJ\u2019s new executive director in a Tuesday press conference, believes there\u2019s more revenue streams to tap into \u2014 the first being NABJ members. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur brand equity is so high, yet we’ve never asked our members to give back to the organization that’s given so much to them,\u201d she said. \u201cI think we need to change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Durham proposed creating an annual fund, which is a one-year campaign in which an organization asks their membership to donate. Acknowledging the heavy preparation required for such a campaign, Durham said such a strategy couldn\u2019t be implemented by 2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond financial contributions, Durham proposed encouraging members to give in other ways to the NABJ community such as service, support and mentorship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt’s important for us to invest in the very organization that continues to keep our history thriving. So they can do more in that regard,\u201d Durham said. \u201cAnd I’m gonna ask them to do more, you can print that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the confidence of the current and previous executive director, Rodney Brooks, a former NABJ treasurer and current financial committee member of the NABJ, disagrees with the lax attitude of the two directors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a finance guy, if you have a deficit, then you have concerns,\u201d Brooks said, confirming the financial blow that anti-DEI sentiment has dealt to organizations nationwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s too late to reduce the deficit, my recommendation was next year, that we have to start thinking about next year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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