StoryCorps, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit organization, laid off nine employees on Tuesday as part of a larger cost-saving plan aimed at balancing revenue with expenses and strengthening its financial position for 2025 and beyond, according to CEO Sandra Clark. The layoffs affected staff across various departments and levels within the organization.
In an effort to avoid job cuts, StoryCorps had previously implemented several measures, including a 10% salary reduction for executives starting in the third quarter, a hiring freeze for non-essential roles, cuts to staff travel expenses, the elimination of non-essential contractors, and the suspension of its internship program.
The organization, which employed 140 people in 2022, faced expenses that exceeded $14 million in revenue by over $250,000, as per its most recent IRS filing. Clark explained that although StoryCorps had seen growth and record fundraising for specific initiatives, support for its general operations had not kept pace, while expenses for core functions continued to increase.
The StoryCorps Union, represented by the Communications Workers of America’s Local 1180, has not yet commented on the layoffs. Clark described the decision as a “last resort” and emphasized that it was necessary for the long-term sustainability of the organization. Despite the challenges, Clark reaffirmed StoryCorps’ commitment to its mission of fostering connection and understanding through storytelling.
