EMAN to seek grants to help reduce deficit

The board of the East Mount Airy Neighbors (EMAN) met on Tuesday evening to discuss the current financial issues the group has been facing. The group is dealing with an $18,000 deficit in 2010 and was in danger of facing a $1900 fine for a late filing of its 2009 Federal tax form, 990.

Treasurer Dutch Klugman laid out the state of finances in a report for the group. He said at this point the IRS would agree to forgo a late penalty following EMAN’s accountant’s request for an extension of filing for the 2009 fiscal year ending in May. Klugman went on to explain that the expenses for the full year included those of one employee’s salary and subsequent taxes, rent, telephone, and miscellaneous expenses that included supplies, accountant cost, among other charges.

How to raise more money

In an effort to sustain the group, Executive Director Elayne Bender laid out a multi-pronged fundraising program. The first strategy would involve applying for grants, several possibilities of which were laid out for Bender to further investigate.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

The next strategy would be to increase membership numbers by participating in more community events that would increase community awareness of the group. Bender spoke on the importance of bringing in new faces to EMAN.

“Getting more board members would help us tap into different areas of the community,” Bender said during the meeting.

Bender went on to talk about fundraising efforts that would increase revenue, and later spoke of reaching out to other organizations in the community for possible partnerships in events.

EMAN President Dan Muroff spoke on the need to keep the group present in the community in its efforts to gain membership.

“We don’t have a strong history but we’re developing it,” he said.

Other business

Before the closing of the meeting, Dana Garnett of the Germantown Restoration CDC addressed the group on a food services training program being developed in the area. The primary focus would be in the Chew St. and Chelten Ave. business corridor. Funding for the 12-week program is derived from elected officials in the Northwest. Additionally, a partnership with the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation has been formed. Garnett feels confident in the services provided to participants, saying that internships are set up and usually lead to permanent jobs.

While the program is new to the CDC, individual funders are looking into a permanent building from which to operate. The Germantown Restoration CDC, like EMAN, shares the goal of community bridging.

“We all come with one goal of making a difference,” Garnett said.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal