District of Columbia Clinic Reevaluates AIDS Walk; Revenue Down Sharply for Fundraising Event

After expenses, the D.C.-based Whitman-Walker Clinic will net $100,000 from its 16th annual AIDS Walk, and the nonprofit has formed a task force to consider whether to continue with the annual fundraising event, according to clinic officials. The post-expense proceeds amount to less than 20 percent of the revenue raised. "We are disappointed that this year's walk did not meet even its modest minimum financial projections," said Executive Director A. Cornelius Baker. Contributions to the walk continue to come in, but the total is expected to be less than $600,000, said clinic spokesperson Michael Cover. Expenses ran about $490,000.

Whitman-Walker shaved $2 million from its operating expenses this year to reduce its budget to $26 million, and clinic officials were counting on revenue from the walk.

Despite the reduced expenses, the take fell far short of the charity's goal of $840,000. Several factors may be responsible for the declining revenue, Cover said. Among them are the faltering economy and increased competition for donor dollars from other charitable institutions and causes that hold athletic fundraisers such as walks and runs. "Other cities have also experienced a decreased level of support for their AIDS Walk events," said WWC Development Director Tim Turnham.

After two years of the walk's substantial decline in net income, Whitman-Walker has appointed 20 people to a task force to discuss how, or whether, to go ahead with the event. The panel, which includes walk participants and fund-raisers, is expected to make its report at December's board of directors meeting. "All options are on the table now," said Cover, adding that he doubted that the task force would recommend eliminating the walk. Among the issues the task force will examine are the experiences of charities in other cities.

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