United Methodist Women Finances On the Right Track
by YVETTE MOORE*
Stamford, Conn., Oct. 8, 2007 – Modest increases in operating revenues and decreases in expenditures in 2006 show United Methodist Women is on the right financial track, Women’s Division Treasurer Andrea Hatcher reported to the organization’s directors meeting Oct. 4-8 in Stamford, Conn. The Women’s Division is the national administrative body of United Methodist Women, an organization of about 800,000 members.
Operating revenues increased to $26.68 million in 2006, up 3.6 percent from $25.73 million in 2005. At the same time, the division continued to reduce its deficit by lowering operating expenditures. Operating expenditures were down nearly $1 million in 2006, a trend continued in the first eight months of 2007, which saw operating expenditures down by $4.8 million.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” Ms. Hatcher said.
Mission Giving was $16.63 million in 2006, down from 16.84 in 2005; however, the basic channel of United Methodist Women financial giving increased in the first eight months of 2007 with $6.16 million in by Aug. 31, up from $6.03 for the same time period in 2005.
“The eight-month view looks promising,” Ms. Hatcher said. “Based on the last two years’ giving records, we would forecast total Mission Giving to meet or exceed giving in 2006.”
Ms. Hatcher said special offerings, gifts and bequests, and publications and rental income drove the operating revenue increase in 2006. She attributed the increase to:
- Designated giving – $390,000 primarily from the 2006 Assembly offering and the special Repairers of the Breach response to 2005 hurricanes;
- Bequests, gifts and contributions – $210,000; and
- Publications, rental income and other revenue – $720,000 primarily related to 2006 Assembly registrations.
Ms. Hatcher reported 58 percent of 2006 expenditures funded mission programs, including scholarships, summer camps, after-school programs, micro-credit initiatives, leadership development opportunities and more; 13 percent covered pension and health care benefits for the 245 retired missionaries sent by United Methodist Women and its predecessor organizations; 18 percent supported the Service Center, Church Center for the United Nations and Response magazine; and 11 percent covered administration and fundraising for United Methodist Women.
Total net assets for the organization increased by $3.3 million to $67.43 in 2006, up from $64.11 in 2005.
In other news, Ms. Hatcher announced Betty Letzig, a United Methodist deaconess and former United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries executive, will volunteer as fund development consultant while the Women’s Division seeks to fill the staff position. In this role, Ms. Letzig helped establish the new Dorothy Saul Endowment Fund, which will be used for deaconess training. Ms. Saul is the late mother of former division executive Jean Saul.
*Yvette Moore is an executive secretary for communications with the Women’s Division of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries.