John's usual excuses & apologies--
I really underestimated the proceeds from last Friday's cornhole event. It looks like CLI netted almost $600 after expenses. Not too shabby for Tourney #1. Our next cornhole tournament is next Friday, August 6. More teams means that CLI earns more money toward making Kenilee fully accessible AND more prize money for the winners. If we can get 20 teams, that means a payout of $200 to the winners. Good work if you can get it.
We were looking for fun friends videos this week in recognition of National Friendship Day on Sunday-- and found the "Turnover Problem" video below. Seemed appropriate given the recruiting problem that all businesses are having right now. This is unfortunate because providing direct services as part of CLI's team is a rewarding position with professional tools & respect-- and the freedom to do your best. Every CLI employee is assigned a smartphone and credit card. We pay quarterly bonuses if the company can generate net income-- and as we make changes, we try to incorporate everyone's ideas/feedback as much as possible. We still have a ways to go, but we're committed to increasing the quality of life for both people with DD AND for people who dedicate their working lives provide services to people with DD. CLI doesn't believe that one can happen without the other.
I would like to step up on a tangent/soapbox for a minute about net income and the public perception of whether 501(c)3's like CLI "need to make money". The concept of "non-profits" covers a pretty wide array of entities. Some are true charities that operate 100% on donations (think foundations). Others, like CLI, are real businesses that operate pretty much 100% on business revenues (think hospitals). All 501(c)3 non-profits are exempt from paying SOME taxes because of their "charitable mission" ONLY IF those revenues are spent DIRECTLY TOWARD that mission. One thing that all private businesses have in common whether they are non-profit or for-profit is that if they spend more money than they make, they will go out of business. Both types of business need to make more money than they spend. The only real difference is that a for-profit can give the extra money it makes back to owners or investors, who "profit" from their investment. Non-profits like CLI must reinvest all extra money back in our specific mission. BUT we have to generate more money than we spend or we can't replace equipment, increase staff pay, or even just keep up with inflation. It's surprising how many people don't understand that non-profits have a necessary "double bottom line". Our report card is always whether we're making progress toward our mission of increasing the earnings, status & quality of life of people with DD -- AND whether we are generating more money than we are spending. Like any business, if a non-profit spends more than it makes for too long, it goes out of business. As they say, "No Margin, No Mission."
Kudos to our friends, River View Industries (www.rviinc.org) for hosting a celebration of the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act last week. That's such an important milestone for people with disabilities that it should have definitely been a more prominent part of CLI's calendar this year too. We'll definitely step that up next year!
That's all I have. Stay safe, have a good week & keep those hands clean!
John