LGBT Center of Central PA names interim director amid financial struggles

Chief Financial Officer Michael Tschop will take over at the end of August.

• Katie Knol/WITF
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Katie Knol is WITF's General Assignment Reporter & Host.
  
  She graduated from Penn State University in 2024, earning bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science. She has also worked at WPSU, the News Lab at Penn State, The Daily Collegian and CommRadio.

The LGBT Center of Central PA has named an interim executive director as it works to stabilize its finances amid declining revenue and uncertainty around federal funding. 

Current director Amber Barnes, who was in the role for two years, will leave the position Friday, and Chief Financial Officer Michael Tschop will take over. Tschop has experience in grant writing, which the organization hopes will bring in additional funds as federal support wanes.

WITF previously reported on the center’s financial troubles. After opening a permanent location on Harrisburg’s Front Street in spring 2024, the organization struggled to stay afloat. It was heavily reliant on federal grants and saw less donation money flowing in due to general economic uncertainty.

“One of the things I’m so proud of our team and this center is that in spite of budget cuts and the current climate, we’ve continued to show up for our community,” Barnes said.

The LGBT Center of Central PA offers a range of programs and resources, including a food bank, sexual health education and resources, and an array of social support for similarly aged participants, from teen groups to an “aging with pride” group for older adults.

In addition to pursuing grants, the center plans to use partnerships and individual donations to diversify income. It has contracted with nonprofit consultant Spur & Sprout for additional input and assistance.

“I do have a lot of experience with grant writing, but that extra help is going to be very helpful in looking at different avenues through which to get grants — different foundations and different connections,” Tschop said. “Also just looking towards private donors and seeing where it goes from there.”

The center is hoping to bring in more monthly donors, according to board member and co-chair Heather Magaro, so leadership knows how much money to expect. It currently has around 30 monthly donors.

Tschop said it costs about $400,000 annually to cover payroll and building expenses. It’s expensive to have a building, but Tschop said having a physical space is important. It shows the LGBTQ+ community is “not going anywhere,” he said.

This support is especially important considering the political climate, Barnes said. In Harrisburg, roughly 30% of the unhoused community identifies as LGBTQ+, so she sees the center as an invaluable piece of the Central Pennsylvania community.

Magaro said funding challenges make it more difficult to continue programs and services, but the center has persisted. The center will shift toward volunteer-led programs, Magaro said, and will only have three paid employees.

“It has made us question whether we’re able to continue some of the programming,” she said. “For right now, we’re moving forward with everything that we currently offer. There may be days we have to cancel certain groups or things like that due to staffing, but for right now, we’re maintaining everything that is listed on our website.”