2021 Annual Report

Camp Fire Heart of Iowa – FY21 Annual Report

A letter from the Executive Director:

Dear Community Partners, Supporters and Friends,

I am honored to have been given the opportunity to be a part of Camp Fire Heart of Iowa as their Executive Director since April 2020. Who could have known what my first year during a pandemic would hold?

First, I am thrilled to be writing this after our first summer season post shut down, having once again provided our signature summer programs to families across central Iowa. Programs that we couldn’t have made happen without your generosity. Thank you for investing in the young people and families of our community with your time, effort, and financial support. Camp Fire Heart of Iowa is indeed a place where young people can thrive!

This year, because of the amazing support we received we were able to pilot a tiered pricing structure for our Des Moines Day Camp programs which allowed even greater access to our safe and enriching spaces for youth. As well, we significantly increased our traditional scholarship funding allowing resulting in a total of 157 new campers and 171 scholarship recipients that were able to experience the positive impact of our programs.

Coming back from the pandemic was not without its challenges. The creativity, flexibility and dedication of the entire staff truly was inspiring. We are privileged to have such a talented team! As our team looks to the future, our plans are to be intentional in aligning our mission and programs to meet the needs of our community. To widen our reach and increase awareness within the community of the opportunities Camp Fire Heart of Iowa can provide to nurture young people to be the best version of themselves. It will take all of us to achieve this goal, I thank you for your continued support, and am confident that together, we can do it!

Work – Health – Love,

 

 

 

Kelly Peterson

Executive Director

 

Key Figures & Accomplishments:

• Summer camp programs, day and overnight, were reopened with new protocols in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19

• Tiered pricing structure implemented in Des Moines Day Camp programs

• More than 1,000 unique youth participated in a Camp Fire Heart of Iowa program between September 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021.

• 2,873 camper weeks provided to central Iowa youth in summer 2021 (2,425 day camp, 448 overnight camp).

• Both Camp Fire Day Camps and Camp Hantesa have been reaccredited by the American Camp Association (ACA).

• More than $245,000 invested into maintenance and improvement of Camp Fire facilities.

• $81,000 in financial assistance provided to central Iowa families to attend Camp Fire programs benefitting 171 youth.

 

Financial Summary:

*Unaudited abbreviated statements for 9/1/2020-8/31/2021

Revenue

Contributions	$64,581.36
Grants	$496,250.06
Program Fees	$553,564.13
Camp Store & Rental Groups	$16,021.62
TOTAL	$1,130,417.17

Expenses

Bank Charges	$21,930.91
Fundraising	$2,472.24
Program Expenses	$17,017.81
Field Trips	$19,745.20
Food	$42,390.21
Store	$7,106.53
Professional Fees	$38,143.14
Insurance	$65,506.73
Utilities	$81,982.11
Transportation	$48,592.71
Administration	$16,707.10
Marketing	$44,289.75
Facilities & Grounds	$63,305.72
Personnel	$554,540
Benefits	$78,928.96
Miscellaneous	$25,000.00
TOTAL	$1,127,659.12

Partners & Sponsors:

Thank you to all of our generous individual donors, corporate and institutional partners, alumni, campers, and family members that have donated their time, energy, and dollars to help create life-changing experiences for central Iowa youth! All of our successes this year would not have been possible without your support! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bankers Trust

Boone County FORCE

Camp Fire National Office

Casey’s

Central Iowa Tree Care

City of Ames

City of Boone

City of Des Moines

Community Choice Credit Union

Department of Justice, Crime Victims Assistance Division

Future Leaders In Action (FLIA)

Iowa State University

ITA Group Foundation

Kiwanis Club of Ames

Leonard A. Good Trust

Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies

Midland National

Molitor Construction

Patriot Home Services of Iowa

State of Iowa

Story County ASSET

Trees Forever

United Way of Boone County