Dear Friends:

I write today about the global economic crisis and its implications for Autism Speaks.

We all know of the extraordinary turbulence in the financial markets and the broader global economy. The downturn is seen by many as the most serious in decades and our families and the autism community will feel this strain more than most as they try to maintain therapy schedules, home programs and medical protocols. We too need to plan and act in ways that reflect this new reality, to ensure that we are able to advance our core mission of funding research, increasing awareness and supporting families. We need to make difficult decisions in the short term to ensure that we are here to provide much needed services and solutions for the long term.

The downturn clearly puts pressure on the revenues that fuel our efforts. All of our principal sources of revenue are likely to be affected by these new economic forces. The incredible dedication and hard work of our volunteers has led to increased participation in our walks, but the financial pressures and strains that have hit our families may require some of them to give less than usual this year. Our generous major gifts donors are also feeling the effects of the market losses, and while they have pledged their ongoing support, some may be unable to give at the same levels they have in the past. While we can hope that the economy improves, we need to be prepared to absorb the market shocks and plan for a period of greater financial constraint.

Over the past several weeks I have been meeting with board members and senior staff to develop ideas regarding how we can best respond to the changing economic environment and bring greater financial discipline to our activities. We have developed new approaches for generating savings, but we have to think not only about what we can do differently, but about what we might have to do without. We need to make the hard choices now to reduce our operating costs so that the effect on our mission is minimized.

We view our workforce as a critical part of all we do and recognize the responsibility that comes with being the largest employer in the field of autism advocacy. Our employees work tirelessly, with unequaled productivity, and they deliver results. Yet, despite this, changing financial realities require us to look at compensation costs and streamline our operations even more, including cutting back our workforce.

For all that has changed in the economy, we remain committed to funding the best research, advocating for policy changes that will help our community, and creating a compassionate community that focuses on families. Our families and community will continue to provide the inspiration and motivation that has helped us achieve great things. We will undertake our work with the same creativity and intensity as always. We will set lofty goals and commit to achieving them. We will set our sights high and rely on the resilience and vibrancy of our volunteers and staff. And in so doing, we will nurture an organization that will thrive this year and in the years to come.

Together, we will remain one strong voice.

Mark Roithmayr
President, Autism Speaks