Yellowstone Forever, which provided nearly $6 million for projects in Yellowstone National Park last year, is offering large discounts on summer programs in the park just weeks after reportedly laying off some staff.
Megan Boyle, the nonprofit's vice president for marketing and communications, did not return a phone call Thursday seeking information on the two moves, which seem to indicate revenue problems.
The discounts -- 30-40 percent off all Yellowstone Forever Institute field seminars -- were announced Thursday, less than three weeks before the first classes are to begin. The three-day Fly Fishing For Beginners course, for example, is being discounted from $468 to $281, and the three-day History of Bears and Humans course is being cut from $439 to $263.
The sale on courses comes in the wake of layoffs that claimed six employees last month, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. The newspaper cited unnamed employees who said the layoffs were related to internal problems with the organiziation.
Boyle told the newspaper that the layoffs were "for several reasons, primarily job redundancies." Yellowstone Forever employs 68 year-round, and hires another 77 seasonal workers and volunteers, she said.
The moves come less than three years after the Yellowstone Association and the Yellowstone Foundation merged to create Yellowstone Forever.
"I’m thrilled about what we’re creating together—a powerful force for education and philanthropy to protect this wonderland that we love so much," said Heather White, the entity's CEO and president, said at the time in announcing the merger. "We’ll connect the next generation to Yellowstone National Park and all its grandeur and majesty, and ultimately help people connect with something larger than themselves.
According to Yellowstone Forever's latest available financial disclosures, the organization reported net assets of $20,194,417 and liabilities of $1.52 million. The documents also point to losses incurred in both FY2017 and FY2018 in the organization's operating budget, of $185,432 and $269,762, respectively. Forever Yellowstone's board of directors had authorized budget deficits of $250,000 for each year, and the organization ended up with a cumulative deficit of $455,194 by the end of FY2018.
Going into FY2019, the organization's president (White) and chief financial officer (Roger Keaton) planned on ending with a surplus of $100,000.
"Strategically, FY2019 is forecasted to see the beginning of the replenishment of operating reserves and the beginning of a long-term intentional plan to build out the organization's endowments to provide for the future operations of Yellowstone Forever," they wrote in their FY2017-2018 financial statements and audit.
White is the highest paid employee for Yellowstone Forever, with a salary and other compensation, such as retirement and deferred compensation, totalling more than $286,000, according to the nonprofit's 2017 990 form. Total compensation for "officers, directors, trustees, key employees, and highest compensated employees" for that period was $1,037,385. Other salaries for Fiscal 2017 totaled $5.42 million.
Comments
The most recent article by the Bozeman Chronicle is very disturbing for several reasons, chief among them being the apparent unwillingness of the YF Board to make changes in the Board's membership. It is incomprhensible that the current Board would think it is qualified to move the YF forward in view of the current fiasco. Heather White,the former CEO, abused her office, but this would not have been possible without the implicit acquiescence of the Board. Some of the Board had actual knowledge of what she was doing and what was happening, and said and did nothing. Other Board members just simply never bothered to get involved. You really have to wonder if they were getting monthly financial statements or, if they were, whether they were reading them. There was a breakdown everywhere.
I agree with others who have suggested that YF must deconstruct. Bring back the old Association and the old Foundation. Restore the dignity, the trust, the pride, and the fun.
Its ashame to see what is happening since the merger. You read all the time the top people in places making outragious salaries and included benefits. THe true patriots in the groups are the regular employee and or volunteers, who are there because they truly believe in something . Same reason I give money to to keep places like YNP operating.
Maybe its time for donors and the like to contact all the major corperate spomcers and relay to them what you feel is wrong, and if they feel its alright, maybe then they need to see their supports wane.