Enrollment slightly down; fundraising up
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Yavapai College – Sedona-Verde Valley (OLLI at Sedona-Verde Valley) reported on enrollment and fundraising efforts to its members in its December 19, 2019 newsletter. The data showed a slight decline in enrollment and an increase in fundraising.
OLLI Sedona/Verde Valley offers most of its academic, not-for-credit programming designed for adults 50 years old or better, primarily at the Verde Valley Campus, Sedona Center, and Camp Verde Library. It is a program of the Division of Lifelong Learning at Yavapai College.
OLLI receives funding from several sources. There is an endowment grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation, fees charged for the classes, and donations. It also receives in-kind services from Yavapai Community College.
The last estimate (2014) from OLLI indicated that it operated based on annual interest from the endowment, which at that time supported about 40% of the expenses. The rest, an estimated 60% of the expenses, was covered by the fees charged for classes and workshops.
There was an estimated (2014) $170,000 “in-kind” services given from Yavapai College to OLLI for use of its facilities, but no money was actually exchanged. Of these services most are unseen expenditures. The faculty is comprised mostly of volunteers. In the 2019-20 budget, the Community College estimated it would receive $111,000 in revenue from OLLI. (It is not clear exactly how this is handled.)
The Newsletter stated that “for your information, the following is an updated report of the OLLI Sedona Verde Valley (1) By the Numbers; (2) Fundraising Outcomes from 2014-2019; and (3) Report on Each Campaign.”
Sedona Verde Valley By The Numbers
Founded: 2003
Staff:
Two permanent employees: 1 full-time and 1 ¾ time (30 hours per week) + 3 part-time (19.75 hours per week).
Committee Volunteers: 21
Facilitators: 170
Number of classes 2019:
Summer (46) Fall (111) Winter (114) Spring (79)
Annual Budget: $172,935
Students over the past four years:
2015-16: 1030
2016-17: 959
2017-18: 971
2018-19: 919
Fundraising Outcomes 2014-2019
Total annual support for last 6 years:
2014: $275 from 11 donors (Ave. $25)
2015: $150 from 6 donors (Ave. $25)
2016: $450 from 9 donors (Ave. $50)
2017: $2,825 from 26 donors (Ave. $108)
2018: $5,625 from 31 donors (Ave. $181)
2019: $12,225 from 113 donors (Ave. $108)
Reporting on Each Campaign
100% of OLLI Leadership Council contributed.
Contributions have ranged from $25 to $1,500.
113 Members contributed; 80 first time donors.
20 first-year OLLI members contributed.
16 persons are OLLI 300 Club members ( giving $25 per month for a total of $300)
1 OLLI member contributed 401K earnings
2 OLLI members joined Leave A Legacy for Life Long Learning: Pledged $80,000