Focus laying off more workers as recession cuts into donations
Layoffs hit Focus on the Family Friday, but no public announcement was made about how many employees are losing their jobs and from what departments.
“Today is family time,” Focus spokesman Gary Schneeberger said. “We’ll have more to say publicly about our reduction in force on Monday.”
Throughout the day, Focus held department meetings to inform those affected by the layoffs, which have been rumored for days.
Since 2002, Focus’ work force has been reduced from 1,400 to 860. Over the past two years, Focus cut 295 jobs. Friday’s layoffs are the first for the ministry since September 2009, when it laid off 75 workers.
Focus officials have said the economic recession has caused a drop in donations from small- to medium-sized businesses. Donations from families have remained strong, the ministry maintains.
In recent years Focus has struggled to meet its budget. Even though Focus cut its budget from $160 million in fiscal 2008-09 to $138 million in fiscal 2009-10, it still suffered a $6 million shortfall.
Focus’ fiscal 2010-11 budget is about $100 million, a Focus source said, a 25.5 percent reduction from fiscal 2009-10.
Some observers contend that Focus’ staff reductions are due in part to its softer approach toward controversial issues such as gay marriage and abortion under the leadership of Focus president and CEO Jim Daly, causing a decrease in donations.
“People are kind of bored by the gay marriage issue,” said David Weddle, professor of Christianity and American religions at Colorado College.
Others contend that Focus and its political arm, CitizenLink, has squandered large sums on controversial political campaigns:
• Between December 2007 and July 2008, Focus donated $448,406 to support California’s Prop 8, a ballot measure approved by voters by overturned a California Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage.
• In 2009, Focus donated nearly $100,000 to Stand for Marriage Maine, a coalition supporting a ballot initiative to overturn the state Legislature’s legalization of gay marriage.
• Focus used special donations of about $2.5 million to buy a 30-second Super Bowl ad with an anti-abortion message that starred former University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who signed with the Denver Broncos.
Schneeberger would not comment Friday on the reasons for the budget cuts. But following other cuts, the Colorado Springs-based family ministry has pointed out that many other U.S. ministries are also struggling financially during the recession.
Focus has defended spending money on ballot measures and the Super Bowl ad as part of its mission, and the high-profile role it plays draws donors who support its views to the ministry.
Around noon Friday, the Rosenbaum family of Falcon stood outside the Focus on the Family Welcome Center, which was closed at times due to the all-day staff meetings on the layoffs.
Nearly once a week during summer, Angela Rosenbaum brings her three children ages, 6, 10 and 13 to the center to play at its playground, which includes a three-story slide.
She was sad to hear about the new round of layoffs.
“I hope they rebound from this,” she said. “The workers here are so kind. They’d give you the shirt off their back.”
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