The AOTA Board of Directors approved the FY 2010 AOTA annual budget which includes continued investment in key Centennial Vision priorities, involving strong advocacy efforts on health care reform, a continuation of the new public awareness campaign, and outcomes and evidence initiatives to support members in current and emerging occupational therapy practice arenas.

AOTA Treasurer Saburi Imara provided the Board with financial projections for the outcome of FY 2009 and laid out the key financial and operational objectives and programmatic outcomes contained in the FY 2010 budget plan. The new budget includes revenues of $15,449,819 and expenses of $15,246,729, leaving a net contribution of $203,090.

The budget’s funding for Centennial Vision initiatives, which were reprioritized at the Board’s February meeting, addresses high impact items including those activities and outcomes that support the central tenets of increasing the influence and recognition of the profession, and those that position the profession to be evidence-based and science-driven. The priorities are:

• Engaging in broad-based advocacy to ensure funding for occupational therapy in traditional and emerging areas.
• Creating a national outcomes database.
• Continuing to develop the branding/image-building campaign.
• Promoting dissemination of evidence-based knowledge.
• Monitoring research developments and creating an ongoing database of research initiatives within the profession.
• Completing a revised research agenda for the profession.
• Implementing the next phase of leadership development efforts.

Outside economic factors that have negatively impacted Association revenues, such as print advertising, building rental income, and investment income, were all evaluated closely to assure that the budget was built using attainable but conservative revenue projections.  The budget also supports the work of key Association leadership groups including the Representative Assembly, Special Interest Sections, Assembly of Student Delegates, and the Affiliated State Association Presidents.

“It is key that AOTA created a plan that acknowledges today’s financial challenges while still addressing our strategic objectives in working toward the Centennial Vision,” says AOTA President Penelope Moyers Cleveland. “The steps taken this past winter to re-align AOTA operations have positioned us well to focus on our future. We will actively monitor our financial position throughout the new fiscal year and make adjustments when needed to ensure the goals of the Association are met.”

The budget covers AOTA’s fiscal year, which began July 1.

Source: American Occupational Therapy Association