Building a Strong Nonprofit Financial Foundation with Hiline
"We are all feeling so energized and feeling the time saved. To be able to do the things that we need to do and not all these extra steps that take forever and add frustration is a great relief."
Finances before
Scattered financial operations
Lacked a comprehensive solution for accounting, finance, human resource and payroll after transitioning to a new non-profit entity
Manual finance madness
Relied heavily on manual methods, which drained time and resources without proportional value
Closed-off view points
Capabilities confined to the knowledge of the internal team; missing out on best practices from the wider non-profit sector
Mission-draining busy-work
Significant time spent on non-core tasks related to bookkeeping, financial reporting, human resource compliance and payroll operations
Finances with Hiline
Best practice powerhouse
Integrated a vast reservoir of expertise, ensuring best practices guide the organization
Fully managed HR & payroll
Streamlined, compliant, and wholly managed (by the Hiline team) HR compliance and payroll operations
Refocused on mission
Leveraging Hiline’s best-in-class tech, process, and expertise to reclaim the organization’s mission.
Board-ready confidence
Staff rest easy knowing their financial reports are precise and that they’re well-prepared for board meetings and audit evaluations
Background of the Organization
The Early Childhood Alliance Onondaga (ECA) is dedicated to ensuring that every child in Onondaga County is born healthy and achieves their maximum potential. Founded in 2015, the main objective of the ECA is to unite community leaders, early childhood representatives, and families in order to establish a unified support system. The alliance prioritizes several key areas, such as endorsing optimum child development, bolstering high-quality early literacy settings, enhancing quality across all child care settings, and promoting reproductive health for all women.
Identifying the Gap
Originally, the ECA functioned as a division within a larger entity. However, in the summer of 2023, it chose to operate as a standalone non-profit organization. This shift highlighted the necessity of creating its distinct organizational framework. When all the staff transitioned to the new structure, a noticeable gap emerged in administrative functions that were previously managed by the larger parent organization. Recognizing this, the ECA began deliberating on ways to swiftly set up a dedicated accounting and finance department.
The Proposed Solution
Hiline emerged as a top recommendation, suggested by a stakeholder who had experienced Hiline's services in other engagements. Opting for hilne seemed ideal due to their expertise in addressing the specific requirements of non-profit entities. Furthermore, Hiline offers a robust combination of advanced technology and processes, precisely what the ECA was seeking.
The onboarding process commenced in May 2023. The benefits were immediately apparent, with staff being able to concentrate on their primary responsibilities while Hiline efficiently managed the accounting, finance, and HR domains.
Looking Ahead
Bethany Creaser, the Executive Director, is enthusiastic about equipping each of her directors with individual Profit & Loss statements. This approach grants them greater independence to comprehend and oversee their respective grant revenue and expenses. With this added empowerment, Bethany is optimistic about the organization's future growth. She envisions a scenario where her team operates at peak performance, with Hiline adeptly handling all other aspects.
Early Childhood Alliance Onondaga
The ECA is committed to advocating for and achieving equity, ensuring that all children in Onondaga County are born healthy and reach their full potential.
