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GREENSBORO - Employees of the YWCA Greensboro went home thankful Wednesday. They got paid.

For the financially troubled nonprofit and its staff, that's progress.

On Nov. 14, the YWCA could not pay its 10 full-time workers and about 40 part-timers.

"We were able to make payroll," said Judi Rossabi, president of the organization's board of directors, Wednesday. "I feel like we are moving in the right direction."

Rossabi said the roughly $60,000 needed to pay employees came from a number of sources, including program fees and a $10,000, no-interest loan from the regional YWCA office.

Rossabi said the board also has made progress in its search for an interim executive director. She said the board has identified a candidate and hopes to announce an appointment next week. She would not identify the person.

"I want to hold off," Rossabi said. "We are still working out final details."

The regional YWCA office also will provide $10,000 for the interim director's salary, but that money does not have to be repaid.

Agency officials say the financial problems came to light after the departure of former Executive Director Adrienne Witherspoon last month.

Witherspoon has said she will respond "at the right time, in the right venue and under the right circumstances."

The nonprofit owes more than $100,000, but officials have been unable to say how much cash the agency has on hand.

As a cost-saving measure, the board decided to pay its workers once a month rather than every two weeks as had been the practice.

The change had been scheduled to take effect in January, but as the extent of the YWCA's financial problems became clearer, the board decided to put the monthly pay plan in place sooner.

But cash flow problems resulted in the agency not being able to meet its $30,000 Nov. 14 payroll.

In other developments, officials say:

• No potential buyers have stepped forward to acquire the YWCA's 37-year-old building and the accompanying 1.1 acres at 1 YWCA Place.

Carolyn Flowers, regional manager for 26 YWCAs in he Southeast and the former CEO of the Greensboro YWCA, says the agency would like to get between $4 million and $5 million for the property.

"That's a number we had from awhile back," Flowers said. "I don't know if it will sell for that."

Flowers said the board wants to lease the building from a potential buyer, mount a capital campaign and find a new, more efficient home nearby.

• Its fundraising campaign, which began Nov. 17, has brought in $4,000 of its $25,000 goal.

Rossabi said she's encouraged by what's happening.

"We are rolling up our sleeves and working hard on this effort," Rossabi said. "We appreciate any support, any ideas and any community involvement we can get."

Contact Donald W. Patterson at 373-7027 or don.patterson @news-record.com