When you’re a small non-profit, every dollar and every hour matters. 

For Tessa Davidson, Executive Director of LEAF, a substance use prevention organization, maintaining strong financial operations became a growing concern when their longtime finance leader prepared to retire. With a team of just seven employees, LEAF needed a solution that would provide expertise, reliability, and capacity without the cost of hiring a full-time finance professional.  

The Challenge 

For more than 15 years, a full-time staff member had managed LEAF’s finances. As her retirement approached, LEAF faced a difficult decision: hire a new full-time staff member or find another way to access the expertise they needed. 

As a small non-profit, LEAF’s financial reality was clear. Hiring a dedicated finance professional, along with benefits and associated costs, would place a significant strain on the organization’s budget. At the same time, LEAF needed dependable support for budgeting, reporting, accounts payable, financial planning, and regulatory requirements.  

The Solution 

After receiving a recommendation from a trusted non-profit colleague, LEAF partnered with CCSI’s Managed Services team.  

Over the past four years, CCSI has become an extension of LEAF’s team, providing comprehensive financial management support. The partnership includes day-to-day financial operations, budgeting, fiscal planning, and preparation of LEAF’s Consolidated Fiscal Report (CFR), helping ensure the organization remains financially strong and compliant.  

Rather than spending valuable time navigating complex financial processes, Tessa and her team can focus on their mission: delivering prevention education and social-emotional learning programs that help young people build healthy coping skills and make positive choices.  

The Impact 

Today, LEAF has access to specialized financial expertise without the expense of maintaining a full-time finance department. CCSI’s team manages much of the day-to-day financial work while providing strategic guidance and responsive support when questions arise.  

For Tessa, one of the greatest benefits is peace of mind. Knowing that experienced professionals are helping manage critical financial functions allows her to focus on leadership, organizational growth, and community impact. 

The partnership has also proven highly efficient for a small organization. Instead of paying for a full-time position when the workload doesn’t require one, LEAF receives the support they need, when they need it, while maintaining access to responsive experts who understand the organization and its goals.