Ever wondered what it really takes to build trust and make confident decisions in nonprofit leadership? Join Matt Gardner as he sits down with Stephanie Pasquale, Director of Neighborhood Development at the Allyn Family Foundation, for an eye-opening conversation about the financial realities facing nonprofits today.

From "shoebox accounting" to streamlined operations, Stephanie shares her unique perspective as someone who's worn every hat in the nonprofit ecosystem - funder, board member, government official, and strategic partner.

What You'll Learn:

• The shocking truth about nonprofit financial management
• How smart systems can free organizations to focus on mission work
• The "calm before the storm" in nonprofit funding right now
• Why transparency beats perfection every time
• How to build organizational capacity without breaking the bank

Whether you're drowning in financial chaos or dreaming of operational excellence, this episode is packed with actionable insights that'll change how you think about nonprofit leadership.

Resources Mentioned:

• Gusto (HR/Payroll platform): https://gusto.com/
• Divvy (Expense management): https://www.bill.com/product/spend-and-expense
• Blueprint 15 Project: https://blueprint15.org/
• Good Life Youth Foundation: https://gly.foundation/
• Allyn Family Foundation: https://allynfoundation.org/

Connect with Hiline:

• Website: https://www.hiline.co
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hilinehq/

Don't forget to LIKE this episode if it helped you rethink nonprofit operations, SUBSCRIBE for more fiscally awesome content, and SHARE with a nonprofit leader who needs to hear this!

Our guest Karen Houghton, CEO and founder of Infinite Giving, brings a unique perspective as someone who's been on both sides: founding and running nonprofits, working 10 years in venture capital, and now building solutions specifically designed for the nonprofit sector.

Shocking stats revealed:

• 90% of nonprofits can't accept stock donations (missing out on $8,000+ average gifts)
• The average nonprofit juggles 14 accounts across 7 different providers
• Donors lose 35% of their intended donation when forced to liquidate stocks first
• Asset-based giving is up 135% while traditional giving declines

Key takeaways:

• Why the US banking system (built 100+ years before nonprofits existed) fails tax-exempt organizations
• The hidden operational costs of "free" traditional banking solutions
• Why high-capacity donors hold wealth in assets, not cash – and what that means for fundraising
• How modern nonprofits can compete with universities' billion-dollar endowment strategies

Perfect for:

• Nonprofit executives, board members, and development staff
• Anyone curious about the intersection of finance and social impact
• Founders looking to understand systematic market inefficiencies

Useful links:

• Infinite Giving: https://infinitegiving.com
• Download the Asset-Based Giving Report: https://hubs.ly/Q03tW7860
• Hiline (Full-service nonprofit financial operations): https://hiline.co
• Karen Houghton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenchoughton/

About Fiscally Awesome
Fiscally Awesome is produced by Hiline, where we make small business finances stress-free so you can focus on building a great company. Visit our website or connect with us on LinkedIn to learn more.

Hosted by Matt Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Hiline. New episodes drop every other Thursday.

Ever wondered why some nonprofits thrive while others struggle to stay afloat? It's not just about passion for the mission – it's about having the financial systems that support sustainable impact.

In this episode, Matt sits down with a nonprofit executive director who transformed her organization from paper-heavy, months-behind reporting to real-time financial visibility. From managing 65+-person teams at major nonprofits to launching a new organization from scratch, she shares the hard-won lessons about why financial systems aren't optional, they're essential.

What You'll Learn:

• Why waiting months for financial reports kills strategic planning
• How modern tech can transform nonprofit operations (without the overwhelm)
• Why workforce challenges are creating new budget realities
• The mindset shifts needed to navigate funding uncertainty
• How to build systems that scale from startup to established nonprofit

Links & Resources:

• Early Childhood Alliance of Onondaga: https://ecaonondaga.org
• Contact Bethany: bcreaser@ecaonondaga.org
• Connect with the Hiline team: hiline.co/get-started
• Free Nonprofit Budget Template: hiline.co/ledger/tools/nonprofit-budget-template

Connect With Us:

Subscribe for more insights on making finance less scary and more strategic!

About Fiscally Awesome
Fiscally Awesome is produced by Hiline, where we make small business finances stress-free so you can focus on building a great company. Visit our website or connect with us on LinkedIn to learn more.

Hosted by Matt Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Hiline.

In this episode of Fiscally Awesome, Hiline CEO Matt Gardner sits down with multi-time founder Eli Portnoy to explore how customer obsession directly drives financial success. As the CEO of BackEngine and veteran of three successful companies, Eli reveals why most businesses are flying blind when it comes to understanding their customers—and how that ignorance costs them real money.

What You'll Learn:

• Why customer sentiment is a leading indicator of financial performance
• How "going quiet" is actually your biggest churn warning sign (not complaints!)
• Why setting up finance infrastructure on day one saves you massive pain later
• The AI revolution that's finally making customer intelligence scalable
• Real examples of how customer feedback directly impacts revenue and retention

Related Links:

• BackEngine: https://www.backengine.com/
• Connect with Eli Portnoy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliportnoy/
• Connect with Matt Gardner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgardnercpa/
• Book mentioned: "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" by Ben Horowitz: https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Thing-About-Things-Building/dp/0062273205
• Hiline x Digits: https://www.hiline.co/services/real-time-accounting

About Fiscally Awesome
Want to unfu*k your finances? Fiscally Awesome is produced by Hiline, where we make small business finances stress-free so you can focus on building a great company. Visit our website or connect with us on LinkedIn to learn more.

Hosted by Matt Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Hiline. New episodes drop every other Thursday.

• The surprising origin story of how a college painting franchise led to a parking lot empire
• Real financial challenges that nearly bankrupted a now-successful company
• Why managing solely from your bank account is a recipe for disaster
• How to avoid the tax burden trap that catches most new business owners
• The critical importance of financial forecasting and budgeting
• What makes franchisees succeed or fail from a financial perspective
• How private equity partnerships can accelerate business growth

• EverLine Coatings and Services - Learn more about franchise opportunities
• Hiline - Financial operations platform for growing businesses
• Traction by Gino Wickman - The essential EOS implementation guide
• The Great CEO Within by Matt Mochary - Recommended resource for growing CEOs
• Red Iron Group - Private equity partner supporting franchise growth

About Fiscally Awesome
Want to unfu*k your finances? Fiscally Awesome is produced by Hiline, where we make small business finances stress-free so you can focus on building a great company. Visit our website or connect with us on LinkedIn to learn more.

Hosted by Matt Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Hiline. New episodes drop every other Thursday.

In this episode of Fiscally Awesome, Hiline CEO Matt Gardner connects with Mark Shepherd, founder of Gathr, a thriving community platform for UK founders, investors, and service providers.

Mark shares his entrepreneurial journey from selling boat photos at 16 to building a 10,000-member strong business community. He breaks down the UK startup scene and why community is the backbone of success.

Check out this episode to learn:

🔹 Why UK founders look to expand to the US (and the hidden pitfalls)

🔹 The truth about "growth at all costs" versus sustainable business building

🔹 How Gathr connects founders with vetted service providers who truly understand tech

🔹 Mark's unfiltered advice for early-stage entrepreneurs

Plus, discover Mark's surprising past and his post-Gathr dream that combines his passion for food with supporting underrepresented talent!

🔗 RESOURCES:

🔸 Get connected with Gathr: www.joingathr.com

🔸 Learn how Hiline supports companies expanding to the US: https://www.hiline.co/services/us-expansion

About Fiscally Awesome
Want to unfu*k your finances? Fiscally Awesome is produced by Hiline, where we make small business finances stress-free so you can focus on building a great company. Visit our website or connect with us on LinkedIn to learn more.

Hosted by Matt Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Hiline. New episodes drop every other Thursday.

In this episode of Fiscally Awesome, we dive into the often overlooked connection between employee wellness and business performance. Multi-time founder and CEO Clark Lagemann shares how investing in employee health isn't just good for your team—it's good for your bottom line.

Discover:

1. Why human capital deserves the same attention as financial capital
2. The measurable impact of wellness programs on productivity and profitability
3. How employee disengagement can silently cost your business up to 15% in profitability
4. Practical, low-cost strategies to improve wellness in your organization
5. The competitive advantage of creating a culture where employees feel valued and supported

Whether you're running a bootstrapped startup or a growing company, this conversation reveals why wellness isn't just a nice-to-have perk—it's a strategic business investment. Learn how addressing stress, sleep, and overall wellbeing can reduce turnover, boost engagement, and ultimately drive stronger financial outcomes.

Join us for an honest discussion about the hidden financial benefits of taking care of your most valuable asset: your people.

About Fiscally Awesome
Want to unfu*k your finances? Fiscally Awesome is produced by Hiline, where we make small business finances stress-free so you can focus on building a great company. Visit our website or connect with us on LinkedIn to learn more.

Hosted by Matt Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Hiline. New episodes drop every other Thursday.

In this episode of Fiscally Awesome, Hiline CEO Matt Gardner explores the art and science of strategic business pivots with a legal influencer, sales leader, and now CRO at Latitude, Alex Su.

From shifting professional identities to recognizing when your business model needs a refresh, this conversation digs into how successful leaders know when it's time to change direction—and how to do it without losing momentum.

Discover:

1. Why professionals trained to avoid risk often struggle to embrace necessary pivots
2. How to recognize when "the cheese has moved" in your industry before your competitors do
3. Practical strategies for balancing caution with the need for speed in business decisions
4. Why understanding your true audience is crucial when shifting direction
5. The financial implications of pivoting too late (or too early)

Whether you're a founder at a crossroads, a professional considering a career shift, or a small business leader watching market dynamics change, this episode delivers candid insights about making smart pivots that create lasting competitive advantage.

No jargon, no fluff—just straight talk about how to stay fiscally awesome when everything around you is changing.

Tune in and learn how to turn market disruption into your next opportunity!

About Fiscally Awesome
Want to unfu*k your finances? Fiscally Awesome is produced by Hiline, where we make small business finances stress-free so you can focus on building a great company. Visit our website or connect with us on LinkedIn to learn more.

Hosted by Matt Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Hiline. New episodes drop every other Thursday.