GREENSBORO – A letter to the Circus Smirkus community shared concerns about the future of the organization and a need for immediate funding, September 16. “We are facing a short-term funding gap that must be addressed immediately in order to continue operating our core programs, support our staff and community and avoid bankruptcy.”
photo by Vanessa Fournier
Ten days later they shared more detail, and some success toward their goal, saying, “we’ve raised $100,000 toward our $400,000 goal.
The message was signed by both Board President Kate Hayes, a camper and member of the touring company from 1991 to 97, and Executive & Artistic Director Rachel Schiffer, who was a camper and toured from 1995 to 2004. They said, “This summer we experienced a number of unexpected serious programmatic and financial challenges. . . this is a moment of real uncertainty around the future of Smirkus.
Amid the uncertainty, they express the possibility of a positive outcome, saying, “It is also a moment of opportunity to reimagine what Circus Smirkus truly brings to our communities to ensure that we emerge from 2025 even better equipped to serve young people, families, our partners and the circus community as a whole.”
For more than a decade, from 2011 through 2021, Circus Smirkus operated in the black, or only slightly in the red. It then successfully weathered the Covid-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, with increased donations more than offsetting lower program revenue.
However, the last three years of losses likely impacted the organization’s financial stability as a result of reduced ticket revenue this past summer following the cancellation of 12 shows after an accident involving a member of the touring troupe.
In the three years from 2022 through 2024, tax returns indicate the organization has lost a total of $681,000. During that time revenues increased by just under half a million dollars and expenses increased by just over half that, at a quarter million dollars, while assets fell by $1M, from $5,500,000 to $4,500,000. The organization had not provided further context as of press time.
The increased cost of the program over the last three years has clearly created a challenge as the September 26 message indicated. “This past season, however, brought challenges that tested us deeply. We faced real hardship, including financial strain, the emotional impact of a rigging accident, and the ongoing question of what a sustainable future looks like for Smirkus. It’s been a time of reflection, resilience, and recommitment [sic].
The organization has reduced its staff, asking board members to fill in, saying, “Operationally, we are rethinking how we align our work with the values that have always defined Smirkus. We are working with a pared down staff to support ongoing operations and relying on our board to help fill critical need gaps.
In her follow-up message, Schiffer prepared supporters for more changes and to expect to hear more about what the organization is planning to land on a sustainable financial path, saying, “We’ll be sharing more updates soon and more ways to get involved.”
On October 3, another message from Schiffer announced a $100,000 matching gift opportunity. Learn more about gift opportunities at smirkus.org
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
