Separating fact from fiction on Audubon's oft-repeated claim that they operate without receiving substantial public funding.
"Without receiving any operational support from public money ...we have significantly improved park services ..." (Ron Forman, letter to the Times-Picayune, 8-14-01)
This quote, and many
variations thereof, are often seen in
ANI publications and statements and are reflected in media reporting, such as
in these two cases:
"...the bulk of the money for Forman's and all other Audubon employees' salaries
comes from the institute's self-generated revenue, including memberships in the
zoo and aquarium, admissions, gift shop sales, grants and other gifts, Audubon
Tea Room rentals and revenue from the park's golf course." (Bruce Eggler,
Times-Picayune, 9-2-02)
"...Forman has turned a
struggling enterprise into a sprawling empire,
with annual revenue of more than $20 million,
which comes largely through membership fees,
admissions and donations from the private
sector." (Stewart Yerton, Times-Picayune,
12-31-02)
While fond of touting
their "self-generated" income derived from
"operational" revenues, the ANI habitually
downplays the value of the land, the capital
improvements, even the animals-- all of which
belong to the public, have largely been paid for
through the years by public money, and through
whose possession and operation the ANI has
generated all of their so-called "self-generated"
income. Wouldn't one expect any competently-run
business to thrive under such largesse?
Revenue from city property
taxes, government grants and interest earnings
account for 30-35% of ANI income; revenues that
the ANI considers "self-generated" or
"operational" monies-- gate receipts, memberships,
rentals, concession sales, catering, promotions--
account for approximately 60-65% of all ANI
income.
Following article reprinted from 2004
1999 and
2000 are the most recent years for which we have been able to obtain financial information
on the ANI. We have not included figures on the Audubon Institute Foundation,
whose endowment of $23 million has also been derived in large part
from public funds. Reconciling the revenue figures on the ANI's IRS Form 990's with
those on their annual financial reports is difficult to accomplish, so we're
presenting them both...
From ANI Financial
Statements:
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
1999 |
2000 |
| Operating
Revenue | $ 23,313,138 | (57.4%) | $ 23,512,484 | (57%) |
Non-Operating
Revenue |
| - Dedicated
Tax Revenue | $ 6,623,553 | (16.4%) | $ 7,251,137 | (17.5%) |
| -
Intergovernmental Grants | $ 5,340,820 | (13%) | $ 5,878,027 | (14.2%) |
| - Interest
Income | $ 1,568,826 | (3.9%) | $ 804,584 | (2%) |
| - ANI
Transfers | $ 3,785,137 | (9.3%) | $ 3,817,720 | (9.3%) |
| -
Totals | $ 40,631,474 | | $ 41,263,952 | |
| |
| Net
Income | $ 3,896,969 | | $ 5,656,198 | |
| Retained
Earnings | $ 71,896,680 | | $ 77,552,878 | | |
From IRS Form 990:
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
1999 |
2000 |
| Program
Service Revenue | $ 14,394,045 | (65%) | $ 14,664,555 | (69%) |
| Public
Support | $ 7,704,652 | (35%) | $ 6,427,677 | (30.3%) |
| Dividends/Interest | $ 54,743 | (<1%) | $ 126,088 | (<1%) |
| Totals | $ 22,153,440 | | $ 21,218,320 | | |
