| IMS Annual Report of Operations
For the Fiscal Year 2008
(January 1 - December 31, 2008)
Retreats
During 2008, 252 days of teacher-led courses were offered at the Retreat Center, and 365 days for personal retreats were offered at the Forest Refuge. A total of 52 teachers, including six monks from the ordained sangha, taught the Buddha’s priceless teachings throughout this period. Retreat highlights included:
- Courses at the Retreat Center for specific groups: scientists, women, people of color, teens, families, young adults (18-32 year olds), and experienced students.
- Special focus course at the Forest Refuge: An intensive four-month period devoted to the development of the jhānas (states of strong concentration) was offered by Pa Auk Sayadaw.
- Special focus courses at the Retreat Center: Metta (2), Jhānas and Monastic.
- Benefit: IMS offered a retreat for MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) and MBCT (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy) professionals. Led by Christina Feldman and Jon Kabat-Zinn , it raised funds for both IMS and UMass’s Center for Mindfulness.
- Three courses at the Retreat Center were offered on a ‘You Choose’ fee basis, allowing retreatants to establish their own course rate. Five ‘You Choose’ spaces were also offered at any given time throughout the year at the Forest Refuge for stays of 14 days or longer.
Registrations
2,409 individuals participated in retreats at IMS during 2008. Some sat more than one course, yielding a total of 2,685 registrations. Pertinent information about those who sat at IMS is a follows:
- 64% were women, 36% were men
- 17% were under the age of 32 years
- 42% had never been to IMS before
- 31% received some form of financial assistance valued at $425,262
Our occupancy rate at the Retreat Center was 96% and 85% at the Forest Refuge. This level of occupancy represents significant growth from the previous year.
Financial Results of Operations
Total operating expenses for the year (before depreciation) were $3,257,252. Revenues from registrations for retreats covered 52% of our expenses; the rest came from donations and investment income. Clearly IMS relies heavily on donations to keep rates affordable and to sustain operations.
The following revenue and expense information is derived from our audited financial statement.
Operating Revenue (before investment earnings)
| Retreat Registration Revenue: |
$1,687,163 |
| Contributions: |
$1,146,048 |
| Sales, Misc. & Bank Interest: |
$94,372 |
| Total Operating Revenue: |
$2,927,583* |
Operating Expenses (before depreciation and investment expense)
| Program Services: |
$2,692,324 |
| Management & General: |
$332,379 |
| Development & Outreach: |
$232,549 |
| Total Operating Expenses: |
$3,257,252* |
| Result of Operations: |
($329,669)** |
* Includes donations received for and paid to teachers.
** The operational deficit was covered by investment draw.
Please direct any feedback to Bob Agoglia, IMS Executive Director, at boba@dharma.org.
Past Annual Reports
Fiscal Year 2007
Fiscal Year 2007-A |
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