Meeting Our Budget Goals
This is the time of year when charities examine the trajectory of their bottom line and begin reminding supporters that the end of the calendar year is approaching. Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV), as a registered charity, is doing the same thing. Here are the specific financial opportunities at our museum.
Our ‘operating fund’, which does not include capital projects, is essential to keeping everything at the museum functioning. If our income doesn’t cover our expenses, we end the year in debt. This fund includes things like utilities, building maintenance and repairs, office supplies, salaries, and other day-to-day expenses. These are the costs of doing business. They may not be very interesting or appealing, but they are part of owning physical buildings and structures and part of preparing programs and events throughout the year. We try to anticipate and budget for these kinds of expenses, but invariably we are surprised by a sudden need or repair. Some repairs can be postponed to the next budget year; however, some things need to be addressed immediately.
For example, our mowers, tractors, and yard truck are essential for the maintenance of our grounds, and when they break down, we have no choice but to order the needed parts and repair them. In 2026, we had several larger repairs to equipment that enabled us to keep the ice rink flooded in winter, and our grass trimmed in summer. Expensive but necessary. A significant roof leak in the Village Centre occurred this spring, which was a threat to the preservation of our artefacts which we store in a climate-controlled environment. Luckily, the repair was done quickly, but it was an unexpected cost that could not be avoided.
This year we need to cover approximately 30% of our operating expenses through donations, sponsorships, and fundraising activities. That amount is well over $450,000. The rest of our budget is funded by our operating income from admissions, the gift shop, facility rentals, and the restaurant, and by government grants. At this time of year, our facility rentals are still generating some income through bookings for Christmas parties, meetings and family celebrations. But our restaurant is closed, admission revenue is much lower than in summer, and our gift shop is less busy than during the peak summer tourist season. As a result, we look to our supporters for generous donations toward our ‘operating fund’ at this time of year.
In addition to general museum operations, we continue to prepare for large projects that have been identified as a priority. These capital projects include replacing broken highway billboards, renovating the restaurant to upgrade our foodservice capabilities, repairing/renovating the Peters barn to create a functioning exhibit space, and renewing our 37-year-old permanent gallery. These important projects are partially funded by grants, but usually 50% or more of the funding needs to be raised through private donations that are over and above the regular giving to our operations fund.
We know that many people make significant donation decisions in the last few months of the year and we look forward to the blessings that the generosity of our supporters and members will bring MHV over the coming weeks. To donate today, stop by the museum or give online (https://mhv.ca/donate/). Thank you!