Message form IFCC Board
Statement from the Board of Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, Inc.
It is with deep regret that we must announce that IFCC, Inc. will be ceasing operations at the IFCC building on May 1st, 2010.
Despite a successful run of arts programming as part of our mission, it has come to the Board’s attention that our financial circumstances are not as solid as we had hoped. The last few years have been a struggle for everyone, and support for the arts is harder and harder to secure. Our last fundraising process had a slow beginning and stalled during the mid-2009. As we approach the end of our fiscal year, July 1st, we’ve had a difficult challenge to achieve financial success under these circumstances. Unfortunately we’ve been unable to achieve that goal on our own.
IFCC, Inc. has had to struggle without the guidance of a Managing Director for about a year. A leadership loss at that level is extremely pivotal to the financial management of an organization, especially a non-profit, arts organization. The real loss to the institution was the halt to our grant writing and fund raising activities and the Board’s lack of overall financial oversight of IFCC, Inc. during that time.
With limited Board oversight for months, Bill Hart was recruited to the Board as president in October 2009. An initial review of IFCC, Inc.‘s financials revealed a “troubled state” with limited future revenue-generating potential. “Now is not a good time for IFCC: cash reserves are being expended; Board membership and participation has fallen; financial records are mostly sound but a little incomplete,” said Bill Hart, current Board Chair. “We are not operating as a sustainable business model.”
The board would like to thank the City of Portland and Portland Parks & Recreation for their strong support, including providing IFCC, Inc. with the use of the building free of rent, including maintenance and utility costs, as well as annual grant support. Unfortunately, IFCC, Inc.‘s financial situation is unsustainable even with that support.
At this time we are moving forward with our internal process to initiate a “wind down” of the operations of the IFCC programs. This is a very difficult and emotional time for many people connected with the IFCC. Individuals and organizations who have previously scheduled programs and activities will continue to have access to the facility until June 30th.
Inquiries to IFCC Chair Bill Hart 503.823.4322 or Michelle Harper Parks and Rec 503.823.5180