Budget recovery transitions to new normal for Association
If 2021 was a period of recovery, then 2022 is a new normal for the ADA budget.
The COVID-19 pandemic underlined two pillars of financial strength for the Association, according to a presentation Ted Sherwin, D.D.S.,ADA treasurer, made to the Board of Trustees Aug. 28. The ADA had the financial discipline to manage assets that have built up over the years and was able to continue to fund core, unique programs for members during unpredictable circumstances: Clinical guidance for COVID-19, advocacy, science, standards, high stakes testing, digital communications and capacity building for state dental associations.
“The ADA’s financial strength was integral to its ability to weather the pandemic,” said ADA President Daniel J. Klemmedson, D.D.S., M.D. “It also enabled us to provide our members with the resources they needed to navigate their challenges. The 2022 budget will set us on the path to maintaining and building upon that strength into the future. It’s wise to plan ahead even as we emerge from hard times and into what we hope will be some brighter days in the near future.”
For 2022, the Board is recommending, per House of Delegates Resolution 14H-2019, a balanced operating budget of $143,831,000 in expenses and $143,879,000 in revenues. It is also recommending a 1.6% dues increase to cover inflation, which for full dues amounts to a $9 increase from 2021. This would set 2022 dues levels at $582. The recommendation goes to the House of Delegates, which meets in Las Vegas in October.
ADA Bylaws tasks the ADA Treasurer with oversight of Association finances and designing and developing the budget in concert with the Board of Trustees. The House of Delegates is in charge of approving the budget.
“Everything we do to maintain our financial sustainability ultimately ladders up to driving our strategic priorities, which exist to help us fulfill our mission and vision,” said ADA President-elect Cesar R. Sabates, D.D.S. “Strategic focus and prudent fiscal management are key to continuing to serve our members and advocate for public health.”
Common Ground 2025 is the Association’s five-year strategic plan, which has membership, finance, public and organizational goals. One of the objectives is a digital transformation for the Association, which involves delivering new ways to engage with the ADA, making it easier to join, engage, purchase, access information, network and get involved.
“By investing in digital transformation we aim to use technology to better engage our members, improve client services and technical support to states and locals, modify critical business processes and shift more resources toward new product development and service innovation,” according to Board Report 2, the annual summary of the ADA’s expenses and revenue.
By 2025, the ADA will deliver a more personalized experience, providing new and improved products, services and information seamlessly across platforms and mobile devices to increase the ADA’s membership value and non dues revenue.
The pandemic shined a light on how integral the digital world is to ADA members and underscored the need to fund a change in how the Association delivers services.
“Our 2022 budget and spending out of reserves on digital transformation is right on target for the new normal,” Dr. Sherwin said. “The 2022 budget is a bridge to the future includes solid funding for digital transformation that helps position us for success in the new normal.”
The ADA House of Delegates will meet in Las Vegas Oct. 13-16. Board Report 2, which contains the budget presentation, and other reports and resolutions for the 2021 House are available in the members-only section of ADA.org, contained in the Committee A reports and resolutions document.
For more information about SmileCon, visit ADA.org/meeting
