May 20, 2013 | Read Time: 1 minute
The American Lung Association has eliminated about one third of the jobs in its national offices in Washington and New York as part of an effort to stem a $4-million operating deficit and bolster the charity’s ability to compete in a crowded nonprofit landscape, a spokeswoman said on Monday.
“Changes in operations will help the American Lung Association to reduce its operational overhead costs and employ a more efficient infrastructure,” said Mary Havell McGinty, assistant vice president for communications and marketing.
She said the charity informed its staff last week that it was cutting 24 out of 71 national positions.
The decision follows an internal assessment that the organization undertook to identify strategies to help it increase its impact and its financial strength, Ms. McGinty said.
She said the organization is looking for other ways to cut expenses, including reviewing all current contracts and limiting travel. It also plans to reorganize its fundraising department and share some finance functions with its 10 affiliated organizations across the country, she said.
Ms. McGinty said fundraising revenues have fallen several years in a row, due in part to the economic downturn, contributing to the $4-million deficit that the organization is running in its $56-million budget for the 2013 fiscal year.
The lung association appointed a new chief executive, Harold Wimmer, in December. He previously was chief executive of the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest.
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