Tech Thoughts From Our CEO, ChantalWhen I started Blue Fox, I was delighted at the prospect of working from home and running a virtual, tech-based company. My list of pros was something like this: - Yoga pants - No high heels on the daily - Unfettered access to the fridge - A schedule that works for me - Yoga pants But I never imagined that one of the benefits of running a firm like Blue Fox would be that our services would remain operational during a pandemic. Zombie apocalypse might've been higher up on my list than pandemic. Sheesh. Talk about unexpected wins. Am I glad we're operational during COVID-19? Of course. Thankful every day we can continue to provide for our clients and our team. But even with all our tech tools and infrastructure, we've still had to adapt to new and different needs, internally and externally, during the last 6 months. Technology needs in today's business world are only intermittently static. They evolve, right alongside your business model and your team, over time. You ignore your ever-changing needs in this area of your business at your own peril. Cumbersome, inefficient technologies can become a huge internal burden if left in place for too long. And then it becomes extremely costly (time and $$!) when you finally transition. Our tagline at Blue Fox is Agile Accounting for Impact. Agile is a tech industry term, in case you're unfamiliar. It has to do with developing and deploying software incrementally and iteratively, rather than just dropping a completed product in the marketplace. So if we at Blue Fox don't practice an agile approach for ourselves, and support our clients in doing so as well, we aren't living up to our mission. So that's why we've put together a special tech-oriented newsletter curated just for you. Enjoy & stay safe and healthy, Chantal
0 Comments
It’s here. The age of the virtual workforce.
Most of us are working from home right this second (thanks, COVID-19). And, this requires access to technology that is reliable, integrated, safe and cost-effective. Recently our CEO, Chantal Sheehan wrote a guest feature article for Bill.com that shares one client’s story about maintaining operations during the global pandemic. This client, whose programs include microfinance, education, food, health care, and social support to orphans and women in East Africa, recently revamped their hiring practices and wanted to source talent and services anywhere in the world. But this presented some challenges in terms of payment fees and internal controls. “What is the best way to pay an international vendor?” they asked. In the full article, International Payments for Nonprofits Made Easy, our CEO explains that this client’s success is possible because they’re using the latest and greatest financial technology. Plus, they recently implemented (per our recommendation) the international payments feature on Bill.com which offers these 4 key advantages: 1.Maintain a consistent audit trail and internal controls. 2.Save big on bank and wire transfer fees. 3.Save even more by paying in local currency. 4.Keep vendors happy with secure, accurate bank data collection and wire/payment codes. Our full article gives specific details and examples. It’s a must read! Then, give Blue Fox a call at (321) 233-3311 or email us when you’re ready to “virtualize” your back office operations. When that’s taken care of, you can focus on what really matters: your mission and serving your community. Related Articles Nonprofits - It's Time to Automate Your Back Office How to Make Your Nonprofit Recession-Proof 10 Reasons to Outsource Your Nonprofit Accounting A Letter From Our CEO, Chantal SheehanI’m over it.
COVID-19. The deaths. The sickness. The fear. The grief. The politics. The injustice. The media. The government screw ups. The lockdowns. The conspiracy theories. The economy. The unemployment rate. The PPP. The food supply. The feeling of loneliness. The worry. About everything. All the time. The hoarding. The sickness. The deaths. Oh look, murder hornets. WTF. I’m so over this s#!t. I know you are, too. That’s why I’ve decided it’s time to break up with COVID-19. As leaders and business owners, we have a job to do. Yes, we must acknowledge and accept the reality we now find ourselves in, but we can’t afford to lose touch with each other and perhaps more importantly, ourselves. We can’t afford to sacrifice today and tomorrow’s opportunities because a virus just gave the world a horrible, epic swirlie and we’re glued to a device watching things fall apart. It’s time to break up with COVID-19. This is a defining moment in time, no doubt. How will this moment come to define you? Remember: we have work to do. We must get up every day, lead our teams, take care of our families, and provide services and support to communities and people who rely on us. (And hopefully, find toilet paper somewhere in between.) Need inspiration, or a reminder of why your work matters? Here’s a sample of the amazing things our clients have been up to – also known as why we get out of bed every day:
What are you up to? Let us know and we’ll give you a shout out, too. We’re in this together. Still in bed? Still feeling blue? Let’s throw all the damn clichés in here at once and snap the hell out of it: Stay positive. Breathe. Just keep swimming. Be in the moment. Enjoy the little things. Hug someone. Or tell someone you wish you could. Fix something you can fix. Clean something you can clean. Make a good meal. Then give it to someone else. Rethink your career. Consider your long-term plans for your business. (Make a long-term plan for your business.) Plant a garden. Plant a tree. Talk to your neighbors. Walk. Run. Cycle. Breathe again. Dream big. Innovate. Cogitate. Adapt. Improvise. Thrive. You’ve got this. Here are some of our favorite resources right now for moving on and moving out of crisis mode. Those of us who successfully break up with COVID-19 and end our internal toxic relationship with all that it brings will be better for it in the end. I know that sounds trite, naïve even. But it’s a hallmark of human experience that when disaster or tragedy strikes, we evolve in response. The exceptional among us turn horror into beauty, discord into order, and brokenness into wholeness. Join me. Say sayonara to this stupid virus. Become a stronger, better, more flexible, adaptable, sustainable person, and then empower and support those around you to do the same. I’m with you. Virtual Hugs, Chantal Focus On: Leadership, Funding, Positiveness and Re-Engaging Your OrganizationAs some states like our home base of Florida begin to re-open, nonprofit teams are putting their minds together to draw a new map for the future. A map of how to survive, keep a positive mindset and continue to provide critical services in their community.
Our team at Blue Fox has been intently reading and listening to the advice of our peers and advisors on how social good organizations can move forward with fundraising, communication, service delivery and respectfully re-opening their doors? Here is what we think are the most valuable resources on the digital streets. Leadership Fast Company: 8 critical lessons leaders need to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis CLA Wealth Advisors: Financial Leadership in the Face of Impossible Choices Beth’s Blog: Five Tips for Nonprofits to Avoid Virtual Fatigue Funding & Budgeting Intuit: PPP Loan Relief Eligibility Calculator Bloomerang: Ask An Expert – How to Balance Your Nonprofits Budget in a Crisis Nonprofit Tech for Good: How Your Nonprofit Can Recruit & Retain Digital Sponsors (Webinar June 9) If This Doesn’t Make You Smile… BuzzFeed: 14 Animal Cams That Are Better Than TV Today: Jimmy Fallon's giggling daughters take over his Ethan Hawke interview MSN: Georgia teacher running more than 50 miles to visit each student outside their homes Tax Info IRS: Deferral of employment tax deposits and payments through December 31, 2020 Re-Opening Florida Nonprofit Alliance: Best Practices and Considerations for Nonprofit Re-Engagement U.S. Chamber of Commerce: State-by-State Re-opening Guidance We’re with you! Have you ever considered outsourced accounting services for your nonprofit? It can seem overwhelming at first to tackle all the moving pieces: getting your board of directors on board, choosing a provider (firm), preparing data and software for a transition, and finally the transfer of responsibilities and information. That’s why our team at Blue Fox put together this helpful guide to ease your mind: How Client Onboarding Works with Blue Fox. It’s an overview of our philosophy, team, and onboarding process from the very start of our relationship.
We aim to make client onboarding as seamless (and stress-free) as possible. Our goal is to get your back office financial operations up and running in the most efficient way. Simple as that! Then you can focus your time on bigger and better tasks like fundraising, public relations, events, and strategic planning. Take a look at our guide today! It will explain:
We would love to hear from you! Feel free to contact us with questions about the onboarding process, for a pricing inquiry, or just to chat. We exist to help nonprofits build stronger, more sustainable organizations. Now that’s fox-tastic! Here we are. April 2020 and working our way through a global pandemic. March seemed like the longest month in history. April probably will, too. So while you're staying home and working out what's next for you and your nonprofit, here are some thoughts on how to manage the next several weeks thoughtfully, fairly, and with a mindset of stewardship and sensitivity to all involved. We don't know yet what our new normal will look like, but we can still approach this strange and unforeseen situation with equity, transparency, and strategy. Here are my suggestions on how to do that. (1) In general, the board, which must act as a fiduciary body, is well within its purview to work with management and:
(2) Do do your best to rally resources and financial support:
(3) Review year to date spending and create a cash flow forecast to assist with decision making:
(4) In terms of communicating expectations and plans to staff here’s what I recommend:
We're with you! Chantal Sheehan, Founder & CEO, Blue Fox - Agile Accounting Click here for a high-resolution printable infographic (below)!Nonprofit organizations are famous for running lean when it comes to budget. But gone are the days of sacrificing service quality for cost. Here’s the secret (and it’s not so secret anymore). It’s outsourcing. A way for nonprofits to maintain control of costs AND benefit from high quality financial back office management. With advanced cloud-based systems and virtual technology, outsourced financial services are more affordable and attainable than ever for nonprofits. It’s a win-win, especially if you partner with a company like Blue Fox (that’s us) that tailors service to the social impact sector. We employ experienced nonprofit gurus to get the job done – whether it’s virtual CFO service, controller-level oversight, bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation, or financial coaching, outsourced service providers can provide you the insights and information you need at a fraction of the cost of an employee. Here are 10 reasons you should consider outsourcing part or all of your nonprofit’s finance function.
So, when is the best time to make the change?There is no better time than the present! Remember the 10 benefits of outsourcing we just talked about? They can be yours, just make the call. And, when you’re ready, our team at Blue Fox will hold your hand through the onboarding process for a seamless shift of duties. Let’s chat soon! Give us a call at (321) 233-3311 or email hello@yourbluefox.com to request a quote.
Our Favorite Resources for Nonprofit FundraisersAhhh, fundraising. Is it an art or a science? What’s more important: relationships or branding? Are you following the 80/20 rule? How is your nonprofit adapting to digital fundraising platforms?
First of all, can we get three cheers for all the fearless, passionate development peeps in this field? Their work is not easy! And, the path to money-raising success evolves so quickly it can make your head spin. That’s why our team at Blue Fox decided to share some of our favorite resources available on today’s digital streets. These are hand-selected resources we choose based on their depth and insight:
Keep in mind that fundraising is just the first step to grow your nonprofit. It’s what you do with those funds (how you manage and leverage them) that’s key to organizational growth. Surprise, surprise! That’s where our team at Blue Fox comes in handy. We’re like a swiss army knife – each service we offer designed to streamline your back office and manage your financials in the most effective way possible. Our CEO likes to say, “It’s not about penny pinching – it’s about a full understanding of the leverage and power in every dollar.” Thanks for stopping by to access our picks for top nonprofit fundraising resources! If you’re interested in hearing more from us, subscribe to our newsletter today! If you’re like us, your daily inbox is jam-packed with newsletters and educational opportunities from like-minded social impact leaders. These spectacular humans work around the clock to foster positive change in their communities. Then, somehow, find time to share their story. We tip our hat to them! Here are just a handful of our favorite resources this month:
Thanks for stopping by to explore our picks for social enterprise news this month! If you’re interested in hearing more from us, subscribe to our newsletter today! Get your financial house in order before you launch your next fundraising initiative!Nonprofits everywhere equate fundraising with tireless event planning, digital crowdfunding, relationship building, and writing grants. But we would offer that before your staff gets to work, the finance and development teams should have a solid understanding of the organization’s financial position. That information can help light a fire with the staff and board, shape your giving goals, and inform the messaging of your appeals.
So, we put together this handy checklist to help you get your financial house in order before you launch your next fundraising initiative. We’re pretty sure this is the first list of its kind – so enjoy and let us know how we can help! CLICK HERE to download the goods! |
Our BlogWelcome to the Blue Fox Blog! A fairly entertaining source of info and news related to our company, nonprofits, social sector trends, and, of course, accounting. Enjoy! Top ArticlesBack to Basics: How to Set Up Your Nonprofit Chart of Accounts
How "Small" Payroll Mistakes Cause Multi-Year S#!t Storms for Nonprofits Behind the Scenes, New Client Onboarding Call When to Hire a Tax Professional - 10 Factors to Consider 40+ Ideas to Light a Fundraising Fire Under Your Nonprofit Board Members Why Outsource Your Nonprofit Accounting to Blue Fox? Ask One of Our Newest Clients Client CASE STUDY: One of The Most Financially Sustainable Nonprofit Orgs We Know The Magical Nonprofit Financial Ratio Matrix 10 Reasons to Outsource Your Nonprofit Accounting How to Make Your Nonprofit Recession-Proof How to Engage Your Board of Directors in Financial Conversations QB Tip of the Month: How to Use Classes for Painless Grant Writing When to Hire an Accountant for Your Social Impact Org Are You Paying Too Much for Payroll? Company NewsBlue Fox Teams Up With Bloomerang to Develop Nonprofit Resources
Blue Fox Earns Better Business Bureau Accreditation Blue Fox Launches Protected By Logo Blue Fox - The Origin Story Categories
All
Archives
June 2023
|