NAACP Cutting Staff, Closing Offices

The NAACP said it is cutting about 40 percent of its national staff and closing, at least temporarily, its seven regional offices to cover three years of budget shortfalls.

The civil rights group will reduce its staff from 119 to 70 through layoffs and attrition to avoid draining more of its shrinking reserves, interim president and chief executive officer Dennis Hayes said. The Baltimore headquarters will remain open and still offer services provided by the regional offices, he said.

“We are right-sizing our organization to meet present circumstances,” Hayes told The Baltimore Sun for an article published Thursday.

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Hayes gave several reasons for the budget shortfall.

“Gas is more expensive, the cost of living is higher, people are not giving as much as they used to,” he said. “And membership, we always need more members. Our impression is we can improve and enhance the way we do things.”