The San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee reported positive financial figures for this year at Tuesday's board meeting.
SF Pride board President Gary Virginia optimistically told members of the board of directors in his report that "our financial position is stronger than our budget projections."
Summarizing SF Pride's balance sheet as of July 31, Executive Director George Ridgely said, "I could tell you in very broad terms that things are looking quite positive financially – and you'll see that in the cash flow."
According to the organization's July 31 balance sheet, total current assets are at $765,333.48, including $648,833.48 for checking/savings, and $116,500 for total accounts receivable.
"The bottom line is that our available cash balance is just over $600,000," Ridgely said. "And broadly speaking about the forecast and the finances, our revenue was up over expectations, and most of our expenses were either at budget or under budget. So that is having a positive impact on the bottom line."
According to Ridgely's report to the board, cash reserves (as of August 4) include $769,403.03 cash on hand with restricted funds at $14,648.93 and outstanding checks at $154,021.67. The organization has an available balance of $600,732.43.
Ridgely also announced that the organization's economic impact study for the Pride celebration has been submitted to the city controller's office, which intends to measure the impact of public events on the city for the purpose of supporting these events in San Francisco.
"The controller's office actually sent us back these numbers based on the surveys we turned in," Ridgely reported. "We collected just over 800 surveys ... 348 on Saturday and 458 on Sunday."
According to the results, 38 percent of Pride attendees used BART to reach the festivities, 36 percent drove, and 12 percent used Muni. The study also showed that 75 percent of attendees came from outside San Francisco, and 90 percent indicated that Pride was the main reason they had visited San Francisco over the June 28-29 weekend.
The economic impact study also revealed that the average gate donation was just over $5, while the average amount spent on food and drinks (at the festival site) was $33.97 – along with an average of $26.15 on shopping. The average spent that weekend on hotels was $153, transportation $69, restaurants $91, and nightlife $52.
Ridgely's report also reminded board members to mark their calendars for the check granting party, to be held August 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Beatbox, 314 11th Street in San Francisco; and the Annual General Membership meeting on September 14 from 2 to 5 p.m., which will meet in the auditorium at the Women's Building at 3543 18th Street in San Francisco.
Vice President Marsha Levine informed the group that she was still "monitoring the Overall Best Parade Contingent Award." Voting will remain active until 11:59 p.m. August 17, and the public is encouraged to cast their vote on the SF Pride website at www.sfpride.org/parade/parade-awards.html.
2015 theme suggestions
Board member Jesse Oliver Sanford submitted his nomination for the 2015 SF Pride theme, suggesting "Queer for Life." Other suggestions so far include "The Other End of the Rainbow" by Dolores Carruthers, "Pride Everlasting" by Jokie Wilson, and "Peace, Love and Pride" by Austin Worden. Theme submissions may be sent to [email protected] until September 12.
The SF Pride board meetings are open to the public and take place the first Tuesday of every month at the San Francisco Pride Office, 1841 Market Street, Fourth Floor, unless noted otherwise.