Abundance NC Case Study
CASE STUDY:
ABUNDANCE NC EXPANDS CAPACITY WITH THE HELP OF GOOD STEWARD FINANCIAL COMPANY, LLC
Executive Summary
In May 2021, Abundance NC — a Pittsboro, NC, nonprofit that promotes community resilience — sought the services of Good Steward Financial Company, LLC, when the organization experienced a time of significant transition.
Shifts in leadership left new Executive Director Allison DeJong alone at the helm of the nonprofit, without even a bookkeeper to manage the finances. Good Steward Financial Company stepped in to clean up the books, put systems in place, and assist DeJong in setting the nonprofit up for success and strategically planning for its sustainable financial future.
WITHOUT A BOOKKEEPER, ABUNDANCE NC COULD NOT CONTINUE TO FULFILL ITS MISSION AND VISION.
The Story of Abundance NC
The seeds for Abundance NC were planted in 2003 when a small group of community-minded people joined together to form both a food and a fuel cooperative in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. Soon they began spreading the word about sustainability in the state, and opportunities to contribute tangibly began to open. Abundance NC’s first nonprofit project involved facilitating a partnership between Southern Energy Management and Chatham County Schools to provide hot water for students while educating them on the benefits of clean, renewable energy.
Today, the work continues. Abundance NC has grown into its own with a vision for a world where people take care of the earth and of one another — cultivating and celebrating community resilience, eating well, harvesting energy sustainably, and being connected in community. To fulfill that vision, the nonprofit incubates other nonprofits, mentoring new leaders and providing fiscal sponsorships.
When DeJong began her tenure as Executive Director, she had no financial expert by her side to manage the books and guide fiscal planning. She knew that without a bookkeeper, Abundance NC could not continue to fulfill its mission and vision.
“The Good Steward Team is caring, responsive, and invested in the work we’re doing.”
Allison DeJong Executive Director
The Challenges Facing Abundance NC
When the leadership shifted throughout the organization, Abundance NC struggled to accomplish even the basics in financial management. “I was left alone to manage the nonprofit, all its programs and our two biggest events of the year,” says DeJong. “And I knew I needed help with our bookkeeping. It was a role that I physically and mentally couldn’t take on — for many reasons ranging from lack of experience to insufficient capacity.”
Working 80 hours a week, DeJong was stressed out trying to balance it all, including the financial role which she knew little about and had no time to learn.
Why Abundance NC Chose Good Steward Financial Company
Abundance NC chose Good Steward because of the team’s genuine interest in the nonprofit’s work.
“Our former bookkeeper had approached Good Steward Financial Company months before when she wanted some relief from her workload. We hadn’t ended up moving forward with them at that time, but when the organization was stripped to just me, I knew in my heart this was the group to go with — from that initial consultation with Jasmine. She and her team show a deeper invested interest in helping me succeed. We’re also excited to be a woman-run nonprofit paired with a woman-owned local business.”
How Good Steward Financial Company Responded
The Good Steward Financial team started with a cleanup of the nonprofit’s books. Then, they began putting automations and systems in place to take the weight of financial management off DeJong’s shoulders.
“They’ve implemented efficient processes and put systems in place that make sense for us,” says DeJong. “We now get detailed reports and break downs of our programs and strategic management of our books. The Good Steward team also offers creative ideas on how to conserve money. They’re very caring, responsive, and invested in the work we’re doing.”
“The Good Steward team is caring, responsive, and invested in the work we’re doing.”
Allison DeJong Executive Director
The Results
Today, DeJong feels less stressed and freer to focus on the mission and vision of Abundance NC. Since Good Steward has installed systems and processes to manage the finances, Dejong has increased capacity that gives her the freedom she needs to focus on directing the organization without worrying about money.
“Good Steward’s work allows me to focus on other things I’m working on by freeing up my capacity,” says DeJong. “For example, they make it easier for me to train a new staff member I’ve hired. Having the Good Steward team taking care of our finances also gives my mind peace because I know that if I need reports for programs or guidance in strategic planning, I have a group with my best interest in mind.”
