Our Finances

We depend on our community for support and are proud to have Savannah citizens, foundations, businesses, churches, synagogues, civic clubs, and local government as investors in our vision. We are also proud to receive funding through the Georgia Advocacy Office, the State of Georgia's Protection and Advocacy organization.

We started in 1978 with a budget of $33,000 with all funds from the state government through the Georgia Advocacy Office. Our sources for fiscal year 2007 were:

The Georgia Advocacy Office	$64,000
City of Savannah	$11,000
Local Citizens	$48,000
Local Foundations	$53,000
Local Businesses	$15,000
Local Churches	$10,500
Local Civic Clubs	$1,500

Join in to ensure that citizen advocacy is a part of our community's future. Deeper, wider, stronger - one person at a time. Membership benefits include four newsletters per year, our Report to Investors which is published each July, invitations to our Annual Covered Dish Supper and Meeting, and to various community education events during the year. We hope to earn your support in the years ahead.

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A Message From John Lientz, Our Treasurer

Over time, I've had the opportunity to be on a number of boards of non-profit organizations. One of the key responsibilities of board members which no one seems to enjoy is oversight of the financial stability of the organization. This is especially true when the revenues are principally from donations and grants, either from individuals, governmental entities, businesses or foundations. Everyone expects that their funds will be used wisely. Unfortunately some organizations have learned the hard way that donors' trust is easier to lose than to win.

During my tenure as treasurer, I have been impressed with the high level of control, accountability and safeguards in place at an organization with as few members of the staff as Citizen's Advocacy. The budget is well conceived, and the staff follows it. The occasional modest expenses over budget are always explained. The staff is frugal to the point of being stingy. They get the most of every dollar contributed, whatever the source. They don't spend, or plan to spend, money they don't have. I've yet to see a check for an expense I'd characterize as frivolous. The revenues are well accounted for and tracked.