PORT TOWNSEND — For the first time in its 52-year history, United Good Neighbors will reduce its fundraising goal from that of the year before.
As a result, it must plan to provide the 38 East Jefferson County agencies that it funds with less money than the year before.
“This is the first time in UGN history that we have had to reduce the amount of dollars previously committed to an agency program,” said executive director Bob Peden.
“We hope this will be the one and only time a reduction will be necessary.
The organization, which started collecting money for local agencies in 1957 as a United Way affiliate, will drop its fundraising goal from $275,000 in 2008-2009 to $250,000 for the 2009-2010 campaign.
The fundraising campaign year runs from today to June 30, 2010, with the major fundraising effort between Sept. 1 and Nov. 15.
United Good Neighbors has not finalized a budget allocating its goal among its agencies. It isn’t the first time that service agencies have received less than expected.
In the 2008-2009 campaign, United Good Neighbors raised $231,000 — some 16 percent short of its goal of $275,000.
As a result, each organization received approximately 16 percent less than was budgeted.
The story was the same for the 2007-2008 campaign, when the total raised was $261,360, also falling short of the $275,000 goal.
The difference is that, this year, the agency is planning to raise less.
Planning for less
Peden said donations are down because of the downturn in the economy.
He noted that a number of United Good Neighbor agencies also are getting fewer donations than in the past.
“The decrease comes at an unwelcome time, with needs increasing in time of economic uncertainty,” Peden said.
Tim Hockett, executive director for Olympic Peninsula Action Programs, said the agency would struggle to provide services with less funding.
“We’re already under pressure because of the economy and the growing demand for our services,” Hockett said.
“The lowered fundraising also puts pressure on us.”
Olympic Community Action Programs is one of the top recipients of donations from United Good Neighbors. This year, it will receive $38,220, but next year, that number is likely to shrink.
“It’s not unexpected, because that’s the way the economy works,” Hockett said.
“The resources diminish, and the need goes up.
“Everyone is at kind of a loss at what to do right now, but we are trying to find the most efficient way to run our programs.”
United Good Neighbors says it places the highest priority on programs that represent a “community safety net” and which provide the most basic services – food, shelter and health care.
Among other agencies funded in part by United Good Neighbors are food banks, the local homeless shelter and Jefferson AIDS Services.
Goal possible
Bonnie Hupf Ruidl, campaign director for United Good Neighbors, said she believes the organization can reach the $250,000 goal in the coming year.
“We plan to use different fundraising tactics this year,” Ruidl said.
“We won’t be as event-oriented, and we plan to get the board of directors more engaged in the fundraising activities.”
Former Port Townsend Mayor John Clise has joined the group and will serve as the head campaign volunteer and spokesman in the fall, Ruidl said.
“He’s a long-time donor and supporter of ours, and we will be sitting down with him to see what ideas he has to bring to the table.”
Money can be donated into the organization’s general fund or designated by the donor for specific programs supported by the organization.
For more information, phone UGN at 360-385-3797.
________
Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
