Focus on the Family staff nearly half of peak size
Focus on the Family has announced 110 job cuts in its latest round of layoffs, which the Colorado ministry attributes to the departure of founder James Dobson and the reduced financial support from donors.
"This is not a happy time, obviously, having to say 'goodbye' to some of our ministry family," said Focus spokesperson Gary Schneeberger in an August 2 statement.
Dobson, 74, who led the ministry—first in California, then in Colorado Springs—for 30 years, started a new radio program, Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson, in May.
"Business analysts say it's not unusual to see organizations transitioning from a founder's leadership lose 50 percent or more of their support," Schneeberger said. "We . . . have not been affected to that degree. We still expect to receive more than $100 million this year from our friends."
The cuts, the result of a $27 million budget reduction, bring the total staff of Focus on the Family to 750. At its peak, the ministry had 1,400 employees. —RNS
