Annual Report March 2014 | Page 14

A COUNCIL TRANSFORMATION FOR A BRIGHT FINANCIAL FUTURE It has been a year of change at Girl Scouts of Colorado, and we hope that you are as pleased as we are to see that the smart management steps we’ve taken to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our organization are paying off. The audited financial report presented shows an increase in contributions and grants of 27 percent and a more than $1.1 million decrease in total expenses. The difficult decisions of decreasing staffing, reducing office space as we get staff out into the community, moving most Girl Scout shops to an online store and resting some resident camp properties were all geared toward creating a leaner, grassroots organization focused on serving girls and supporting volunteers. We are lowering our bricks and mortar property costs and investing more in people, especially the girls who are our future leaders. We’re excited about the progress we’re making toward a sound financial future. We have increased our fund raising efficiency, spending 20 cents less for every dollar we raised over last year. The changes we are making now will continue to have a positive effect on financial statements in the current fiscal year, so we expect next year’s report to be even brighter as we continue down the road of fiscal responsibility. This summer, the corporate headquarters will move to a smaller and more efficient home office for Girl Scouts of Colorado, and we’ve made similar moves around the state. Girl Scouts of Colorado’s endowment at the Rose Community Foundation is a source of long-term strength and stability to fund our needs for today and tomorrow and keep Girl Scouts thriving for generations of girls. The endowment began with a $25,000 lead gift from Rae Ann and Richard Dougherty of Golden and is now open to general operating gifts of any size. This endowment makes investing in Girl Scouts of Colorado a safe and savvy choice. Look for an announcement soon of our Endowment Challenge Campaign: A Legacy of Leadership. Through this campaign, concluding in October, we hope to fund the future stability of our organization so we can focus on building our leadership experience for girls. 14 GSCO ANNUAL REPORT OCT 2012-SEPT 2013