The total ALA budget consists of four main expense funds: The operating fund, the plant fund, the long-term investment fund, and grants and awards. The definitions and relevant applications and restrictions these funds and some of their sub-funds are presented below.
Operating fund
General fund
Within the operating fund, the general fund includes offices, committees, Human Resources, Governance, Conference Services, Publishing, Accounting, and the Washington Office. Funds within the general fund cannot carry over from one year to another.
Division and round table funds
The division and round table funds, also within the operating fund, provide the financial resources for the ALA's 8 divisions and 21 round tables. The funds' net asset balance are their revenue less their expenses. The net asset balance is allowed to be carried over from one year to the next.
Plant fund
The plant fund is used for computer, furniture, building, and land expenses as well as major software purchases. All programs and units have expenses that come out of this fund.
Long-term investment fund
The long-term investment fund is used for scholarships and awards. Divisions and round tables can transfer a certain amount of money into the long-term investment fund.
Grants and awards fund
The grants and awards fund is intended for special projects that the ALA, the divisions, and other units may apply for or are awarded by other agencies. An overhead charge is subtracted from the amounts awarded.
Inter-fund relationship
This sample fiscal year 2008 budget illustrates the comparative revenue and expenses of the main ALA budget funds.
| Revenues | General fund | Divisions | Round tables | Plant fund | Grants & awards | Long-term investment fund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total |
$29,195,951 |
$16,310,242 |
$340,479 |
- |
$4,371,734 |
$1,357,905 |
| Interest/dividends transfer |
$191,363 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
$(191,363) |
| Life member dues transfer |
$51,000 |
$20,385 |
- |
- |
- |
$(71,385) |
| Cont. member dues transfer |
$(4,665) |
$4,665 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Total revenue transfers |
$29,433,649 |
$16,335,292 |
$340,479 |
- |
$4,371,734 |
$1,095,157 |
| Expenses | General fund | Divisions | Round tables | Plant fund | Grants & awards | Long-term investment fund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Division Support transfer |
$135,923 |
$(135,923) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Plant fund transfer |
$1,703,849 |
- |
- |
$(1,703,849) |
- |
- |
| Overhead transfer |
$(1,822,755) |
$1,822,755 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Overhead transfer |
$(17,378) |
- |
$17,378 |
- |
- |
- |
| Overhead transfer |
$(428,958) |
- |
- |
- |
$428,958 |
- |
| Total expenses |
$29,433,649 |
$14,974,164 |
$330,137 |
- |
$4,371,734 |
$658,925 |
| Net revenue |
- |
$1,361,128 |
$10,342 |
- |
- |
$436,232 |
ALA decision-making process
This flow chart showing the ALA groups involved in fund-related decision making.
