Bahá’í News/Inserts/Issue 459/National Baha’i Fund Budget Message 1969-70/Text
| National Baha’i Fund Budget Message 1969-70 Nine Year Plan Sixth Year |
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THE NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í FUND — Budget Message 1969-1970[edit]
Nine Year Plan — Sixth Year[edit]
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
The fiscal year 1968-1969 (B.E. 125) has been one of encouraging financial progress. For the first time in history, receipts by the National Bahá’í Fund have exceeded $1,000,000 in a one-year period. And yet, significant as has been this progress, it has lagged behind the accelerating needs of the Nine Year Plan. Never before has it been necessary to spend so much in excess of receipts in order to carry on the vital teaching and consolidation needs of our Faith. To state it very simply, the generosity of the American Bahá’í Community and the deficit of the National Bahá’í Fund have both reached an all-time high in the past year.
The progress that has been made, as well as the challenges that must be faced, can be illustrated by the comparative figures immediately following this message. Your particular attention is directed to the fact that receipts increased 10 percent while expenditures increased 14 percent and membership increased 17 percent. In reviewing these figures, we should note our vital position in the world-wide expansion of the Bahá’í Faith, as illustrated by the fact that 44 percent of the expenditures have been for international activities. The importance of these global activities, as well as the rising momentum of our homefront efforts, should motivate the American Bahá’í Community to consider carefully the implications of a lesser increase in contributions than in enrollments. Active pursuance of the goals of our Nine Year Plan makes it imperative that growth in the support of our Fund equal or surpass the growth in our numbers.
The National Spiritual Assembly has decided to appropriate estate funds that had been earmarked for contingencies or emergencies so as to eliminate the deficit that has been such a drain on the spirit of the American Bahá’í Community. We are compelled, however, to meet the financial needs of the future because it will be impossible to continue solving future deficits in the manner that has been employed this time. About one-half of our capital investment has been required for this purpose. This move has been made with the hope that the individual believers will recognize the deep and solemn significance of it as well as feel an exultant sense of relief from this recurrent burden.
The highlights of the operation of the Treasurer’s Office for the past year include the assistance of the Coordinating Committee for the Fund. One of its primary functions is keeping the individual believers informed on just what is done with their sacrificial contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund. This function has been fulfilled in part by a series of articles in the NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í REVIEW explaining the operations of the various administrative units at the National Bahá’í Center. In addition, a slide program entitled, “Your National Fund: Gateway to Success,” was produced for showing at the Conferences for Proclamation, Expansion and Consolidation held in October, 1968.
During the past year, Dr. Dwight W. Allen assumed the responsibilities of National Treasurer. He succeeded Mr. Arthur L. Dahl who served devotedly as National Treasurer for ten years.
The expansion of the Faith and, with it, the activities of the Treasurer’s Office, prompted the National Spiritual Assembly to establish the position of Comptroller at the National Bahá’í Center. The comptroller is responsible for the direction and coordination of the day-to-day activities of the Treasurer’s Office and reports to the National Treasurer. This new position has been filled by a devoted Bahá’í, Mr. Darrell W. Anderson, who is a certified public accountant. Miss Lauretta Voelz continues to serve as Treasurer’s Assistant with increasing responsibilities for handling international financial transactions for both the National Spiritual Assembly and the Bahá’í World Community.
In order to handle the ever-increasing volume of receipts and other transactions in the Treasurer’s Office, a study is in process to determine ways to deal more systematically with this volume. Occasionally, it has been necessary to employ some part-time help to keep abreast of the work load. By revising and systematizing the procedures in the Treasurer’s Office, it is hoped that increasing volume can be handled without adding to the staff.
The newly adopted budget for the year 1969-1970 is an unprecedented $1,500,000. This budget, as proposed by the National Spiritual Assembly, was resoundingly endorsed by the National Convention. The responses to the Treasurer’s letter which originally announced the new budget were equally encouraging, pledging the fullest support of the friends in this country. But it is necessary that the American Bahá’í Community contribute this amount and more in order
INSERT, NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í REVIEW, June 1969.
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to provide adequately for the teaching and consolidation needs that simply cannot be left unfulfilled. We need to face frankly the need for a greater awareness of the financial obligations of Bahá’í membership. The education of the friends in this sacred duty should be open, frank, thorough and continuous — but without a trace of individual coercion. We must recognize and indeed cherish the ever-increasing diversity in our Bahá’í Community. This means quite simply that no longer can we rely on techniques which are agreed upon by all — rather we must ask how we can actively extend the diversity of our efforts — teaching, fellowship, deepening or contributing to the Fund. We should find and use the approaches which are comfortable — but encourage others to use whatever techniques they find useful, subject only to the test of consistency with basic Bahá’í principles and not our personal taste or preferences.
We have entered a critical period in which large-scale conversion is a distinct and imminent expectation. We must accept the challenge before us; we must arise and make the sacrifice of which we are capable. Our new budget is minimal in relation to our needs. Historically, one reason we have had difficulty is that we wait until we are already well behind our needs before we mobilize our energies and resources. Let us make a concerted effort to avoid even the beginnings of the deficit that has unfortunately become traditional and proceed vigorously to anticipate the needs of the Cause of God!
Faithfully, NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY Dwight W. Allen, Treasurer
Statement of Comparative Income[edit]
| 1967-68 | 1968-69 | Percent Increase or (Decrease) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Contributions | $657,815 | $ 750,640 | 14 |
| Special Contributions | 154,517 | 139,156 | (10) |
| Estate Bequests | 96,372 | 102,752 | 7 |
| Other Income | 22,965 | 31,163 | 36 |
| Total Income | $931,669 | $1,023,711 | 10 |
| Expenditures | 999,584 | 1,137,481 | 14 |
| Net Deficit | $ 67,915 | $ 113,770 | 68 |
| Increase in membership | 17 |
1969 NATIONAL CONVENTION[edit]
Treasurer’s Report[edit]
April 1, 1968 - March 31, 1969
| 1968-69 Budget | 1968-69 Expenditures | Unexpended Budget | 1969-70 Budget | Percent Total Budget | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Objectives | |||||
| World Center Fund | $ 300,000 | $ 300,000 | $ — | $ 400,000 | |
| Continental Fund — North America | 15,000 | 15,000 | — | 15,000 | |
| International Deputization Fund | 15,000 | 15,000 | — | 15,000 | |
| Panama Temple Fund | 10,000 | 10,000 | — | 10,000 | |
| Nine Year Plan Properties Abroad | 25,000 | 25,000 | — | 30,000 | |
| Pioneers and International Goals Committee | 140,000 | 128,806 | 11,194 | 200,000 | |
| United Nations Committee | 5,000 | 250 | 4,750 | 1,000 | |
| $ 510,000 | $ 494,056 | $ 15,944 | $ 671,000 | 44.7 | |
| National Teaching, Consolidation and Proclamation | |||||
| National Teaching Committee | 115,000 | 116,426 | (1,426) | 125,000 | |
| National Teaching Committee — Youth¹ | — | — | — | 25,000 | |
| House of Worship Committee | 21,000 | 23,657 | (2,657) | 32,000 | |
| Public Information Committee | 42,500 | 43,020 | (520) | 56,000 | |
| Bahá’í News and National Bahá’í Review | 53,000 | 52,946 | 54 | 58,000 | |
| World Order Magazine | 3,500 | 4,189 | (689) | 4,000 | |
| Child’s Way Magazine | — | — | — | 2,000 | |
| Audio-Visual Committee | — | — | — | 35,000 | |
| Archives Committee | 2,500 | 1,598 | 902 | 4,500 | |
| Advisory Committee on Education | 500 | 850 | (350) | 500 | |
| Music Committee | 250 | 57 | 193 | 300 | |
| Reference Library Committee | 250 | 31 | 219 | 1,000 | |
| Service to the Blind Committee | 700 | 700 | — | 700 | |
| Bahá’í Distribution and Service | — | (2,197) | 2,197 | — | |
| $ 239,200 | $ 241,277 | $ (2,077) | $ 344,000 | 22.9 | |
| National Administration | |||||
| Office of the Secretary | 75,000 | 82,892 | (7,892) | 85,000 | |
| Office of the Treasurer | 25,000 | 31,096 | (6,096) | 37,000 | |
| Legal Services | 1,500 | 923 | 577 | 1,000 | |
| National Spiritual Assembly | 18,600 | 41,245 | (22,645) | 25,000 | |
| Communications² | — | — | — | 20,000 | |
| Conventions² | — | — | — | 5,000 | |
| Insurance² | — | — | — | 5,000 | |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 9,500 | 13,391 | (3,891) | 10,000 | |
| $ 129,600 | $ 169,547 | $(39,947) | $ 188,000 | 12.5 | |
| National Properties | |||||
| incl. National Properties Comm. | 101,500 | 108,246 | (6,746) | 160,000 | |
| Green Acre Trustees | 8,100 | 2,250 | 5,850 | 7,000 | |
| Eggleston Trustees (Davison) | 4,500 | 4,898 | (398) | 3,000 | |
| Bosch Trustees (Geyserville) | — | — | — | — | |
| Wilhelm Trustees | 2,200 | 2,229 | (29) | 3,000 | |
| Wilson Trustees | — | 80 | (80) | 1,000 | |
| Bahá’í Home, Inc. | — | 12,605 | (12,605) | 10,000 | |
| $ 116,300 | $ 130,308 | $(14,008) | $ 184,000 | 12.3 | |
| Special Projects | |||||
| Proclamation Film Project | 20,000 | 24,827 | (4,827) | — | |
| North American Bahá’í Office for Human Rights (NABOHR) | 30,000 | 31,394 | (1,394) | — | |
| $ 50,000 | $ 56,221 | $ (6,221) | — | — | |
| Contingency Fund | 4,900 | 5,759 | (859) | 13,000 | 0.9 |
| Total Operating Budget and Expenditures | $1,050,000 | $1,097,168 | $(47,168) | $1,400,000 | 93.3 |
| Capital Improvements | 40,000 | 40,313 | (313) | 100,000 | 6.7 |
| Replacement of Deficits | 128,000 | — | 128,000 | — | — |
| Total Budget and Expenditures | $1,218,000 | $1,137,481 | $ 80,519 | $1,500,000 | 100.0 |
¹Included in National Teaching Committee figures for 1968-69.
²Included in National Spiritual Assembly figures for 1968-69.
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Basic Principles of Giving[edit]
We must never lose sight of those basic principles given to us by Shoghi Effendi, which are eternally applicable:
1. The Fund is the bedrock of all the institutions we are laboring so hard to construct. 2. Contributions to the Fund are completely and totally voluntary. 3. Contributions are a sacred obligation of each Bahá’í. 4. Every single Bahá’í should participate by giving to the Fund, no matter how small the amount. 5. Regularity of giving is an essential consideration. 6. To be truly meritorious, contributions to the Fund should involve some element of sacrifice. 7. The Fund should be a regular subject of consultation at Feasts and assembly meetings.
Contributing to the Fund[edit]
Individuals, groups and local assemblies may contribute to each of the following funds:
THE INTERNATIONAL BAHÁ’Í FUND: For support of the work of The Universal House of Justice at the World Center and elsewhere. Send check or draft payable to "International Bahá’í Fund." Address: International Bahá’í Fund The Universal House of Justice Bahá’í World Center P.O. Box 155 Haifa, Israel
The Continental Bahá’í Fund: For support of the work of The Continental Board of Counsellors for North America. Make check or draft payable to "Continental Bahá’í Fund." Address: Continental Bahá’í Fund 112 Linden Avenue Wilmette, Illinois 60091
The National Bahá’í Fund: For support of the budget of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. Send check or money order payable to "National Bahá’í Fund." Address: National Bahá’í Fund 112 Linden Avenue Wilmette, Illinois 60091
The Local Bahá’í Fund: For support of the budgets of each local spiritual assembly or group as established by each community and handled by each local treasurer as "The Bahá’í Fund of ________." Such contributions are in addition to and do not take the place of contributions made directly to the other funds listed above, although a portion of all local funds is normally sent to the National Bahá’í Fund and optionally to the other funds.