State Budget Delays Impact Cayuga Nature Center
TO: All Press
FROM: Cayuga Nature Center
DATE: September 5, 2001
RE: State Budget Delays Impact Cayuga Nature Center
CONTACT: Mary Elizabeth Livers, Executive Director,
or Ellen Reuben, Director of Development and Community Relations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In 2001, more than 30,000 children and adults came to Cayuga Nature Center for natural history and environmental education, a number that has been steadily growing for the past 25 years. The Cayuga Nature Center has become a vital part of the Tompkins County tourism industry. The Nature Center has been especially fortunate to have this support from the community and this year will rely even more on community support to help bridge the funding gap that the state budget process has created. Fully 25% of Cayuga Nature Center's 2001 budget is currently delayed because of the New York State budget process. Therefore, the Nature Center is kicking off this year's annual campaign on September 5.
Unlike other nature centers across the United States, Cayuga Nature Center is an independent not-for-profit educational organization that receives no annually mandated state, federal or local government funds. Furthermore, it is not privately endowed, nor does it have an affiliation with any university or collegiate entity. The Cayuga Nature Center obtains its income primarily from program fees and donations (50%), general grants (25%) and NYS grants (25%). (See pie chart A)
Over the past year, Cayuga Nature Center's board of directors has been charting a 5-year plan designed to minimize the Nature Center's vulnerability to political vagaries and to the administrative burden that often results from a high percentage of restricted grants in an operating budget. The plan has four goals. (See pie chart B)
1. Diversify the sources of funding to achieve less dependence on government and restricted grants.
2. Strengthen the level of support from the community, through increased membership, annual fundraising and major giving.
3. Increase program revenues by revising fee structures.
4. Reduce operating expenses
The Cayuga Nature Center is proud to report significant progress towards these goals. In 2001, overall expenses have decreased by 25%. Program revenues have increased by 13.5%. Our membership has grown by 33%, and we have tapped into the tourism market. These changes are contributing to the Nature Center's fiscal well being and lay the groundwork for preserving and strengthening this important community asset.
The Cayuga Nature Center offers unique programs to the community with nature trails, educational programs, camps, a ropes course, and compost program. We have become one of Tompkins County's major tourist attractions with TreeTops, the butterfly house and our new animal exhibits. This September we are launching an innovative program called E-Naturalist, an on-line environmental educational program available to everyone. The Tompkins County community depends upon the Nature Center for these services and activities.
The Cayuga Nature Center is now turning to local individuals, families and businesses to help grow the Nature Center's annual fund for unrestricted monies. We are depending on the community to raise these unrestricted dollars to offset our budget shortfall primarily because of the pending grants that are delayed from New York State.
The directors and staff of the Cayuga Nature Center would like to thank those of you who have supported our beloved Nature Center in the past. We want to encourage continued community support at this time of state funding delays. Please respond generously when called by a Cayuga Nature Center volunteer. The Cayuga Nature Center is committed to continue their mission to facilitate awareness, appreciation and responsibility for the natural world through recreation and environmental, agricultural and outdoor education. For more information on how you can make a difference, call Cayuga Nature Center at 273-6260.
Text and photographs are available on our website at http://www.cayuganaturecenter.org (click on Press Kit).