ICLF Annual End of Year Summary Report
Summary 2022 – Another Challenging and Optimistic Year!
Executive Summary: Operating income continued to be down, leveraged Events, Grants and Fundraising to avoid staff furlough and cover all operational costs, transitioned majority of programs and events back to in person under City of Phoenix COVID guidance, hosted the Irish Ambassador to the USA and anniversary celebrations, incurred significant legal costs to address internal compliance issues. Future plans are IT/Security infrastructure (started), the Community Space (continue), ESP (continue). “Hugely impressed with what has been done here…a reflection of the strength and devotion to their heritage among the Irish in Arizona” – Dan Mulhall, Irish Ambassador to the US
By the numbers:
• 3% decrease in membership (554->542 active members)
• 16% increase on Social Media profile, increased Linked In engagement, funded Media/PR support (Facebook 6251->7000, Twitter 603->653, Instagram 1130->1400, Linked In 247)
• $29,500 in grants including $8000 from E-rate and $7000 from City of Phoenix Arts
• $20k in ICLF Board Donations
• 109 events with 5,439 participants and 356 hours of programming
• 52 volunteers with 1654 volunteer hours
• 100 tours
• $1570 in books/items sold, 100+ Ask a Librarian requests supported, 430 library cards
• Community donation drive for food resulted in 2 boxes of items for the food bank
• Other items of note
– We lost 2 founding members and we responded to a request from Seton Alumni for a candlelight vigil for Ashling Murphy “ar dheis de go raibh a h-anam dilis”
– We hosted the Shamrock Foods Company, Irish Ambassador to the USA, the first artist from our Tradfest partnership, and the Mayor of Tullamore (Chandler Sister City)
– The Attorney General of the Navajo Nation represented the work we did during COVID at the White House
– We celebrated community anniversaries including 100yr Irish State, 100yr Ulysses, 100yr Shamrock Foods Company, 50yr Ennis-Phoenix Sister City and 10yr McClelland Library
– We held an in person Strategic Planning session to refresh our 5yr plan and aligned on the community space design
– We learned of significant legacy practices that prevented us from securing a $50k grant and joining the Coalition of Irish Immigrant Centers, impacted our legacy donor relationship and $35k in donations, and resulted in us incurring $18k in legal fees (breakdown available)
2023 Focus:
(1) Evaluate IT/Security infrastructure
(2) Develop the 600 sq ft Community Space
(3) Continue to provide ESP support
Additional 2022 Accomplishments:
• We had our Grand Ol Irish week in partnership with the Parade & Faire that saw the start of a return to in person celebrations
• We supported 15 community/bereavement cases, addressed the Consul General feedback (2 items remain open), launched a community survey, supported 3rd Friday appointments in the cottage and completed the CIIC assessment (application on hold due to compliance issues) with our ESP Committee
• We hosted 39 library events with 2439 participants including Family Story Hour, Book Discussion, Lecture Series and Genealogy which generated $2907, and curbside continues
• We established the Academy Scholarship through a generous donation from the family of Jane Hilton made in her honor at the Anam Cara
• We enhanced the Irish in Arizona exhibit in the Library and launched the Women in AZ exhibit in the Great Hall
• We have 6 new board members, a new treasurer and bookkeeper, the library director retired and his replacement started
• We rescheduled and hosted all events, rentals and weddings that were impacted by COVID unless cancelled by the customer (deposits returned)
• We have seen the return of all of our Affiliate partners and events that we host for them
• We are fully booked through 2023 and anticipate a return to post COVID programming and events
• We continue to see growth in the AZ Irish community and Ireland is now Arizona’s 4th largest trading partner with ~15 collaborations including ASU-DCU
• “Our company is proud to be a part of the Arizona business community” – Kent McClelland CEO of Shamrock Foods
• “Ireland has strong links with Arizona which is home to 80,000 people of Irish heritage…hugely impressed with what has been done here…fantastic campus…a reflection of the strength and devotion to their heritage among the Irish in Arizona…a wonderful expression of the reality of Irish America…deep tradition…strong links with Ireland…the community comes together to celebrate and maintain it” – Dan Mulhall, Irish Ambassador to the US
• “We are addressing legacy actions not taken by us that we were unaware of, it is critical you address them discreetly and thoroughly, you have our support, it is important for the future of the organization.” – Meeting in response to a letter sent to the ICLF board, attendance included Officers, Consul General, City of Phoenix P&R, NP attorney partner.