The Pride Center of Vermont says it has received an anonymous $350,000 donation that will allow it to reopen its doors — eventually.
The gift, which came from a donor-advised fund, matches what the nonprofit said it would need to resume operations following its sudden closure last month. The single donation comes on top of tens of thousands of dollars the org had already raised, including from Ben & Jerry’s and singer-songwriter Noah Kahan, a Vermont native.
But in a statement Tuesday night, the board of directors said it would proceed slowly rather than rush to restore the status quo.
“This is a pivotal moment to reimagine the Pride Center of Vermont’s future: a necessary reset to confront long-standing structural challenges, repair internal systems, and rebuild trust after years of operating in crisis-mode,” the statement said.
Founded in 1999 and based in Burlington, the Pride Center has reached thousands of LGBTQ people annually through programs and support groups. It has also hosted Burlington’s annual Pride Parade & Festival, held every September.
But the center has struggled financially for years and took out loans that it struggled to pay down amid lackluster philanthropic fundraising and a reduction in federal grants. Unable to cover its debts and payroll, the nonprofit announced in October that it was shuttering its doors indefinitely. Two weeks later, the org moved out of its longtime Burlington office space.
The closure announcement kicked off an emergency fundraising campaign, and money quickly poured in: about $50,000 in the first few days, mostly from small donors, along with a commitment from Ben & Jerry’s to match up to $10,000, according to the nonprofit’s directors. They did not immediately respond to a question about the overall fundraising haul.
Tuesday’s statement said the latest cash infusion will provide the center some “breathing room” to pay off its debts, build up its reserves, conduct an external financial review and cover some ongoing expenses.
The board said it would recruit new members and invite former leaders, staff and partners of the center for a “retrospective analysis” of “what worked and what went wrong.” It vowed to implement tighter financial oversight and strive for more sustainable funding streams that are “less vulnerable to shifting government priorities.”
“This work will take time,” the board statement said. “Once the new strategic framework and budget are finalized, we will announce a clear plan and timeline for reopening.”