Volunteers

It is rewarding to teach clients about accounting and how to think critically. CA’ Direct Service teaches fiscal management to the Delaware Valley nonprofit community, giving nonprofit organizations the ability to pursue their missions, with correct fiscal management. Often these nonprofit organizations grow and need to hire CA volunteer accountants in the future. CA Direct Service does not perform audits, reviews or compilations.  This program is available to nonprofits with revenues under $250,000. Rather than performing accounting functions for these organizations, CA’s accountant volunteers train directors on how to prepare budgets so they will have the tools for managing their organizations’ finances. CA volunteers also instruct organization personnel on how to do bank reconciliations, as well as advising staff on issues relating to federal and state reporting responsibilities and payroll issues. This reduces the time and resources needed to produce effective financial reports and statements for funders and government reporting requirements.

Volunteering provides an opportunity to gain experience in dealing with and helping clients. It’s rewarding to see the progress that nonprofit clients make; tracking the difference between the “before” and “after”;’ seeing what the clients couldn’t do before the volunteer accountant helped them and what they can do after the CA volunteer helps them. It’s exciting to see an organization at the beginning stages go through the grow process and flourish as they develop the skills internally to maintain their organization. Volunteering gives accountants the opportunity to learn interesting things that are not related to their normal business, i.e., learning about the client’s business environment and the work they do to pursue their mission. There is a need for more networking opportunities/stimulation. There is a need for more technical/innovative tools.

Sharon is one of the only Nonprofit Bookkeeping Accountants in Southeastern PA. There is a large need in the nonprofit community for CA’s Pro Bono Accounting work and all of our Program Services for Nonprofit Organizations. Many of Sharon’s CA Direct Service Clients have become her fee for service clients. CA gives Accountant volunteers Referrals to all of our nonprofit clients.

Sharon enjoys getting on the other side of the numbers, by working with community nonprofit organizations. “My accounting practice has taken on an added dimension because of my volunteer work on the program side with groups such as Mommy’s Light Lives On Fund. Getting on the ‘other side of the numbers’ adds fulfillment and depth for me—to see first hand and participate in the invaluable services they provide to the community and society at large.” Volunteers for CA are able to focus on issues “Beyond numbers” and become an integral part of the business process; this provides value added services to the client’s nonprofit organization. Volunteering gives accountants an opportunity to work with nonprofits, organizations that touch children, families and others in need. Through CA, they can use their business/financial skills to help make a difference. They can take something that they’re good at and apply that to something they’re passionate about. CA provides networking benefits for accountants in the nonprofit community.

• CA is a great opportunity to give back
• CA is convenient for accountants who want to donate time on a short-term basis. CA volunteers only work with a client for 20 hours or 6 months whichever comes first. You teach the clients how to do the work, not continually do the work for them. It is not an enormous time drain, and you can still make a difference.
• A provides an opportunity to give back in a way that is convenient for the individual based on their needs and their interest i.e. CA’ work is with nonprofit organizations in Community, Health & Human Services, Arts & Culture and many more.