Community Meeting to Discuss FIMC’s Finances
Where: Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation 510 N Leroux St Ste 101, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
OR Online via Zoom at – Zoom Meeting ID#: 246 725 464 Password: 306049 or Click Here
When: Wednesday, October 18 from 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Snacks will be provided
Dear Friends,
The FIMC Board of Directors is inviting you to a community meeting to share our current financial status which includes a deficit in donations (dana) in relation to our current expenses. This has been occurring during the last couple of years.
Brief History:
Prior to the pandemic, FIMC was in a growth phase in terms of offering services such as retreats, multiple weekly teachings and gatherings. We were renting a space on Fourth St. that accommodated many of these events. During the pandemic when we could not meet in person, the FIMC Board took action to decrease our spending for fixed costs such as rent. We negotiated for the rent to be halved and then dropped the physical space because it was not cost-effective. We then embarked on renting space from Beacon Universalist Unitarian Church at a relatively low cost. We are now hosting hybrid meetings in person and on Zoom every week which does require special equipment and volunteer help. We see that we are now gaining momentum in attendance and community with in-person and hybrid gatherings. However, our collections (dana) have gradually dropped off over the past 2-3 years and we are not breaking even on our expenses. We had accumulated some savings that we are relying on to make the difference currently. Our current expenses amount to $1500 per month.
What we do now:
We value our FIMC Community and feel this is our greatest asset. We are asking you, our community to step up in supporting our services for each other. And we invite you to a Community meeting where we can discuss our finances and any future steps. During this meeting we would like to give more information about our financial status and to invite questions and discussion so that we can move forward together.
If you cannot make the meeting or if you want to offer thoughts ahead of time, please comment via this online form. If you would like your comments to remain anonymous, feel free to leave the Name, E-mail, and Phone Number boxes blank.
If this information moves you in a way to make a donation to FIMC (a non-profit 501.3.c), we also accept online donations (which can also be setup as monthly reoccurring). Checks or automated Bill Pay (recurring automated checks sent via bank) can also be mailed to “PO Box 3212 Flagstaff, AZ 86003”. Please note, donations to FIMC are tax deductible if you itemize your tax deductions.
FIMC is committed to serve the community in the spirit of dana (generosity), which includes this value of welcoming everyone regardless of whether they can contribute. In light of this, if you do not have sufficient financial resources at this time to give, thank you for your continuing participation in our community.
We thank you for all that you do for FIMC and one another, and we look forward to being able to continue to be in community with all of you as we explore the Dharma togther.
With Metta,
The FIMC Board of Directors