In an earlier post I suggested, that CISV would be hit by the global financial crisis.
This upcoming weekend representatives of all German chapters will meet in the CISV house in Hamburg to discuss how to reduce their national budget. Two chapters have suggested a list of measures that involve almost all areas of the organisation from national meetings through AIM participation to leadership training.
It's a common problem in any non- or for-profit organization when expenditures keep rising, but the income fails to cover. In CISV there are usually two solutions to this problem: Raise the fees or cut the costs. Usually somebody says, that the only costs that can be reduced are those of innovative projects, because we can't cut administration or fixed costs. Then somebody says, that CISV is still pretty cheap compared to other exchange organizations. At the end of the day, fees are increased.
Let's see how CISV Germany deals with this.
This upcoming weekend representatives of all German chapters will meet in the CISV house in Hamburg to discuss how to reduce their national budget. Two chapters have suggested a list of measures that involve almost all areas of the organisation from national meetings through AIM participation to leadership training.
It's a common problem in any non- or for-profit organization when expenditures keep rising, but the income fails to cover. In CISV there are usually two solutions to this problem: Raise the fees or cut the costs. Usually somebody says, that the only costs that can be reduced are those of innovative projects, because we can't cut administration or fixed costs. Then somebody says, that CISV is still pretty cheap compared to other exchange organizations. At the end of the day, fees are increased.
Let's see how CISV Germany deals with this.
I have attended the previous weekend of this sort in November where the big financial problems where discussed already. If I recall correctly, CISV Germany's administration spend 30,000+ Euros on travelling last year. This again is the administration ONLY travelling through Germany to organise programs. The commitess that make the programs possible definitely deserve this type of funding. But does it have to be so much?
The costs could be cut so easily just by booking in advance! But for example in my chapter it took forever to establish who would travel to that above meeting in the fall resulting that plane tickets were bought about three-four weeks prior to the event. I thought that that was crap and just booked my ticket in September already on my own and got reimbursed later, but I saved the organization some money! So should everyone where possible! As an additional measure I reduced the size of our local quaterly CISV magazine from A4 to A5. That'll save about 1700 € per year. You just got to look everywhere!
About two weeks ago I visited another NA's JB (doesn't matter which). The NJRs were planning their trip to EJBM which takes place at Easter. I asked why they had not booked the plane ticket earlier than five weeks prior though they knew who would go. The answer was that "they had just not gotten around to do it" and that "it was CISV's money anyway". I completely disagree with this attitude and I think it is very wrong. Even if it is not your wallet, why not plan ahead?
I notice I could go with this forever, so I cut here. :-P
So what was the outcome? Increased fees, reduced admin spend or slashing of cool projects?
Slight fees increase (to include leadership training), a ceiling on travel expenses and more transparent budgeting. A good compromise - at least that is my impression.