PEERS 2023 Annual Report
"Thank you for being an example of how we can be beacons of love, light, and positive change in this world without turning away from the shadows; facing them directly and transmuting. Thank you :)" ~~ Michael, February 24, 2023
PEERS (Public Education and Empowerment Resource Service) was officially incorporated in January of 2006 as a nonprofit umbrella organization for the 13 websites focused on education and transformation now under its management. In keeping with the desire to create a new paradigm for our world, everything offered by PEERS is free of charge. We are able to survive and even thrive thanks to the many generous donations of our supporters and volunteers.
As of the end of 2023, PEERS has provided inspiration and education to many millions of caring people around the globe for 18 years. Over this time, we are thrilled to have received a cumulative total of over 34 million visits to our websites. PEERS continues to touch countless people's hearts and make a difference in our world in a most meaningful way.
"I'm 75 with too many feeds to keep up with, but just want to congratulate you on how you're living and presenting and doing and being. Your newsletters are always so hard hitting and sometimes they bring tears to my eyes. There is hope where there is love, which is right here and always!" ~~ J.B., February 19, 2023
2023 saw wonderful changes and improvements to our websites under the very capable and inspiring leadership of Amber Yang, hired by PEERS in Aug. of 2022. Since then, she has posted video interviews with inspiring movers and shakers, spearheaded major upgrades and design changes to our WantToKnow.info website, increased our usage of attractive photos and images, established a deeper social media presence on Twitter and Instagram, made our comprehensive archive of news articles more accessible to our readers, developed a new inspiration center, and much more.
Amber's recent launch of our new Military-Intelligence Corruption Center is just the first of many meaningful changes and upgrades to our 14 in-depth information centers. We are incredibly grateful for her most valuable contributions and bright, indomitable spirit. She is rapidly becoming the face of PEERS.
However, it was a challenging year for PEERS financially and in the number of website visits and subscribers. The number of subscribers to our two email lists dropped about 7% from last year, yet continues to be very respectable at around 15,500.
The number of visits to our websites dropped 30% compared to 2022, continuing a downward trend since 2013, when our websites received 10,000 visits a day. In this past year, we received a total of only 413,000 visits, averaging about 1,150 visits a day for the year. Though still a respectable tally, this is our lowest number of visits since 2005. We are heart-storming to find creative ways to reverse this trend and reach ever more people with the important information we share.
The amount of donations we received was the lowest in many years. Yet thanks to the major donation we received in 2021, we still have a large buffer of over $200,000 in the bank at the end of the year. So despite the drop in numbers, PEERS continues to be on very solid financial footing, enabling us to step up even more in making a difference in many people's lives and in our world.
“All I can say is what a gem you are, and how greatly I admire and appreciate all that you do. Even saying all this isn’t enough — I know: it takes MONEY to continue providing the kind of service that you put forth. God knows I yearn to win the lottery — you’d be very near the top of the list to give to. Sigh…. Well, I can hold the vision for you to attract a major donor who will truly put funds into your coffers to hold the High Watch." ~~ Colleen B. March 14, 2023
PEERS Financial Details
As mentioned above, it's been a challenging year for PEERS financially. Yet we greatly value that 97% of our income came in the form of donations from generous supporters. The remaining 3% came largely from dividends on our savings.
The total income of PEERS in 2023 was $37,566, the lowest since 2010. The total number of donors to PEERS dropped from 460 to 330 this year. The number of supporters giving monthly contributions dropped from 143 to 116, while the total donated monthly decreased from $1,990 to about $1,569 per month.
Our total expenses for 2023 were $145,227. Expenses were so much more than income as the abundance in our bank account from the big cryptocurrency donation in 2021 enabled us to pour a lot of money into the many wonderful new projects largely initiated by Amber. She brings a bright new energy and wonderful expertise to the PEERS team.
About 93% of our expenses last year went to two employees and three contractors of PEERS. $33,750 was paid to Executive Director Fred Burks (who is stepping back) in salary. Amber Yang received $60,000 in wages as she prepares to step into the role of executive director. Employee taxes were $7,527. Mark Bailey did an great job with our weekly news summaries and more, for which he was compensated a total of $23,860. Tech whiz Andrey was paid $7,931 for his invaluable help. Don Morgan was paid $1,548 for his valuable work on Google Ads. He continues to take advantage of $10,000 in free ads offered by Google to nonprofits. This has resulted in an impressive increase of about 200 visits a day to our websites this year.
The remaining expenses were $4,477 for Internet and email expenses, $1,266 to PayPal and Stripe (Donorbox) for the small percentage they take to process online donations, $575 in government taxes and fees, $828 for our payroll service, $1,723 for office supplies and newspaper and magazine subscriptions, and $31 in bank fees. We believe the total expenses of $145,227 is a small cost for the highly valuable services we provide.
"WOW! Amazing, noteworthy... and excellent work with your new Military-Intelligence Corruption Center. You can and should be proud!! " ~~ Kenn B, December 20, 2023
To see the QuickBooks form listing profit and loss figures for PEERS in fiscal year 2023, click here. For the PEERS balance sheet as of the end of 2023, click here.
The statements at the above links were prepared without official audit, though they have been carefully reviewed by Executive Director Fred Burks and were examined and certified by Treasurer John Lumiere-Wins. PEERS ended the year with liabilities of $3,413 resulting from payroll taxes not due until January 2024. All donations were unrestricted. PEERS had a net loss for 2023 of $107,660. And we have $201,920 remaining in our accounts. We are extremely grateful to our big donor in 2021 whose awesome generosity will support us in further developing for at least the next couple years.
"If only I were wealthy, I'd balance those books for the year for you. Thank you for all you do to shed light and brighten your corner of the World.“ ~~ Wayne., April 27, 2023
Transforming Our World Together With You
Our world is rapidly changing and transforming. People around the globe are waking up and wanting to make a difference. And people all over are awakening to deeper spiritual realities and to our common humanity. Though at times it can be quite daunting and even depressing, in other ways it's an exciting time to be alive!
"Thank you for all the work and dedication to help humanity and me become the best version of ourselves! I only wish that those steeped in darkness would learn from you. I have been learning from you since you began. Thank you again for helping me on my journey to higher consciousness." ~~ Cynthia K., December 31, 2023
PEERS is at the forefront of a grand movement to transform our world into a more caring and loving place for all people to live. Thanks so much to all involved with PEERS for your invaluable support in this most noble endeavor. Even with all of the uncertainty ahead, we enter this new year of 2024 with full hope at the possibilities of ever greater transformation of our world through our great work and that of our supporters and so many others who are coming together for the betterment of all in our world.
"You have done such a fantastic job over the years. PEERS is so awesome for covering everything important in such a credible way." ~~ Dom L., Feb. 19, 2023
"Your websites are the best and one of most carefully researched anywhere." ~~ Eric G, April 5, 2023
Note: To read other messages of deep appreciation for our work, click here and here. And we'd be thrilled if you are inspired to make a donation to support our work. To do so, please click here.
PEERS 2023 Annual Report
Compiled and Written By
PEERS Executive Director Fred Burks and future executive director Amber Yang
The PEERS empowerment network"Dedicated to the greatest good of all who share our beautiful world"
