Here at Dill Pickles HQ we are developing ways to be as fiscally transparent as possible. A lot of people ask us why our events cost money. It’s an understandable question. We don’t like spending money either.

Let’s look at the expenses for this upcoming month’s trip, WHERE DOES ENERGY COME FROM?

The above pie-chart details expenses for the month.

• Bus Rental = $485
• Posters = $40
• Office rent = $70
• Insurance = $30
• Honorarium = $75

July’s trip will cost us $700 to organize. The average ticket price is $25, and there are 40 paid spots on the bus. We need to sell 28 tickets to break even and if it sells out, the $300 profit will go directly toward future programming.

We try to price events reasonably so they are accessible to all, but we can’t afford to lose money. Events do cost money and each month we have expenses. Admission to events makes up almost our entire revenue stream, and in order to keep putting on great educational events about our region, we need to have capital to work with. There is a false belief sometimes that non-profit=anti-profit. At the DPC, our concern is less about profit, and more about how we can continue to offer engaging educational events.

As we move into the second year of our existence, we hope to expand our programming, while keeping prices down. If this model is to become sustainable, we need your support. Membership is a great way of showing your support, while getting some great perks in return. It’s reasonably priced, too. $50/ year; $30/ six-months for a basic membership. Just think, if 14 people became members, costs for this trip would be covered!