#32: How to Know If You Can Trust a Nonprofit with Your Money
Episode 32 | 27 Minutes | Nov 19, 2024
Do you desire to be generous but don’t know where to give or which organizations to trust? With so many nonprofits vying for attention, it can be overwhelming to know which ones are truly effective and aligned with your values. If you’ve ever wondered how to ensure your contributions are making a real impact, this episode is for you.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to evaluate a nonprofit’s trustworthiness and financial accountability. Discover the key indicators of organizational integrity, how to spot red flags, and why having a robust financial strategy is critical for long-term impact. You’ll also gain practical tools to help you confidently choose organizations that align with your values and make a lasting difference. Whether you’re giving to the organization for years or just starting to look for someone to be generous, this episode will empower you to live with greater clarity and purpose.
In this Episode, You will learn:
How to evaluate a nonprofit’s trustworthiness and financial health.
The key signs of organizational integrity and accountability.
What red flags to watch for when choosing where to give.
Why balancing financial stability with mission impact is crucial.
Practical steps to ensure your generosity creates lasting change.
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Mark Erkenswick is the chair of the Finance and Audit Committee at One Collective, where he helps ensure financial transparency and accountability. With over 28 years of experience as a CPA, Mark is a partner at KPMG, one of the world’s leading public accounting firms. He specializes in auditing and advising organizations on financial oversight, internal controls, and risk management. Mark’s passion for integrity and trust drives his work in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, where he empowers organizations to manage their resources effectively and achieve their missions.
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Scott Olson:
Hey, everyone. Welcome to the Lasting Change podcast. I’m Scott Olson. In every episode, we interview industry leaders who share their strategies for creating lasting change. By listening, we hope you’ll gain valuable insights to apply to your own daily life and create real, true, lasting change. Today, I’m excited to have my friend, Mark Erkenswick, on the podcast. Thanks for coming.
Mark Erkenswick:
Happy to be here, Scott.
Scott Olson:
Let me disclose to our listeners that Mark is part of the board of One Collective and has been with us for several years. I remember reeling you in while I was watching a couple of guys on a golf course, and you were somewhere else. I remember when you finally said, “Yeah, I’ll do it.” How long have you been with One Collective now as our FAC guy?
Mark Erkenswick:
Gosh, you put me on the spot. I want to say maybe five years.
Scott Olson:
That sounds right. FAC stands for Finance and Audit Committee. Mark’s role is to look after our finances and hold us accountable. Mark, tell us about your background. How did you become the financial expert you are?
Mark Erkenswick:
I’ve always loved numbers and accounting. I became a CPA out of college and started working in a public accounting firm right out of school. I’ve been doing that for 28 years now. Most of my day job involves helping companies ensure they have the right level of internal control, financial accounting, and oversight processes. My current role is the partner in charge of audit at KPMG, one of the big four public accounting firms.
Scott Olson:
You travel a lot and work with big companies. What’s that like?
Mark Erkenswick:
I love it. My favorite thing is getting to know folks in different organizations. It’s a great way to understand their challenges and how we can bring our experience to the table to help them navigate it.
Scott Olson:
You have a family and live in the Chicagoland area.
Mark Erkenswick:
Yes, my wife Amy and I have five kids. Our oldest just celebrated her 22nd birthday on Saturday. She’s at Auburn University in Alabama. Our son Ryan is a sophomore at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We have a daughter who is a senior in high school at Wheaton North and two younger kids, a ten-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl, who go to Timothy Christian in Elmhurst.
Scott Olson:
So there’s a second football team in Alabama.
Mark Erkenswick:
Fair enough, although they have had our number for a number of years, so I will grant you that.
Scott Olson:
I don’t want this to be a commercial for One Collective, but I think there are important things to discuss, particularly related to financial accountability. Some listeners may be up-and-coming leaders who don’t understand the significance of having good controls over their numbers and finances. You have been a godsend for us, ensuring we’re doing everything right. Talk a little about your role as chair of our FAC group.
Mark Erkenswick:
It ties in well with my professional work. I see myself in the trust business. I ensure that information put forth has been validated and that people can trust it. This enables them to make decisions based on that information. This is the root of all relationships in an organization, whether with investors or other stakeholders. You have to share information that they believe is accurate. In today’s world, with so much misinformation, finding a source of truth is essential for establishing relationships and making sound decisions.
Scott Olson:
What has it been like for you, given that most of your clients are in the for-profit world?
Mark Erkenswick:
That’s right. This has been a fun journey, working with you all. I have served exclusively for-profit companies, mostly public companies. One change that stood out immediately is the focus on deploying financial resources effectively toward your mission. It’s about balancing a robust balance sheet with the mission of using those resources effectively, which differs from the mindset in a for-profit operation.
Scott Olson:
In the nonprofit world, particularly for newer leaders, there’s a tendency to think they shouldn’t have any money saved. How do you think about that balance?
Mark Erkenswick:
I struggle with that perspective. I believe you should have a sound balance sheet and a plan for cash flow over the next 12, 18, or 24 months. You need visibility into that. Taking a leap of faith means using resources against the mission without depleting them and relying on continuous funding. It’s been a healthy dialogue for me, especially seeing how One Collective manages this balance between short-sighted needs and long-term ambitions.
Scott Olson:
Trustworthiness is a major piece of your role as FAC chair. What does that mean for an organization to be trustworthy to their donors and constituents? What kind of things would raise flags for you or indicate responsible practices?
Mark Erkenswick:
I view this through the lens of what good looks like. First, you need to understand the people you’re interacting with. Anytime we take on a new client, the first thing we do is conduct background checks to know the individuals responsible for preparing the information we’ll be reviewing. Everything comes back to the integrity of the management team. First and foremost, they need to place integrity at the center of everything they do.
From there, management needs to lead with integrity. They should set a tone that reflects the organization’s values. This tone should convey the importance of integrity across all dimensions of the organization. The organizations I’m willing to be connected to are those that prioritize integrity. Anything less is unacceptable.
It’s also crucial to ensure the management team has the right capabilities. If they fall short, you can always train them. Ensuring you have the right people in place and investing in them to help them succeed is essential. This can come through internal training or external service providers who bring the right expertise.
I would wrap this with two other elements. First, a board of directors should oversee management without doing the work themselves. This board should have members with the right level of financial acumen. Second, I believe every organization dealing with financial information should have some level of external audit, conducted by an independent party who can validate the financial statements.
Scott Olson:
We have significant accountability, not just to a board but also to our finance committee, which reports their findings to the board. We have auditors, and all these different bodies keep us on track and ask hard questions. In a board meeting, what’s the right kind of tension to have?
Mark Erkenswick:
Management should always feel challenged. They should be challenged in both directions: Are you being aggressive enough? Are you exploring areas where you can invest? Conversely, are you being too aggressive? Do you have the right plans and safeguards in place for your assets?
It’s crucial to challenge management to accomplish everything they can for stakeholders. When we feel management is being too conservative, we push them to explore their assumptions and plans against market realities. This oversight role differs from management’s role in developing and executing the plan.
Scott Olson:
I’ve told you and the board that this is the best board I’ve ever been part of. I feel the support, encouragement, and appropriate challenges. I’ll never forget the first time you said my budget was weak and needed to be more aggressive. It’s easy to feel like you need to cut back in the nonprofit world.
Mark Erkenswick:
You have great vision for where the organization is going. It’s essential to surround yourself with people who can see that vision through different perspectives. Recognizing that not everyone sees things the same way can help refine how you translate your vision into a message that resonates across audiences.
Scott Olson:
As you’ve grown in your journey with One Collective, how do you think we’re doing in our own history?
Mark Erkenswick:
I think you’re doing great. You’re hitting all the key points I mentioned earlier about the integrity of management. I have not had any questions about your decisions, including when you’ve had to make tough calls regarding the right people in various positions. You’ve made timely decisions with both heart and head.
I see this integrity reflected throughout the organization when I hear you speak and engage with others. I interact with your auditor as the chairman of the audit committee and see that you have the right pieces in place. Your board has a strong financial acumen, which is commendable.
Scott Olson:
For listeners who may not be engaged with a specific ministry or nonprofit but feel a sense of generosity, what should they consider when looking at organizations?
Mark Erkenswick:
I think about due diligence. While you can start with publicly available information and financial reports, that only goes so far. To build a long-term relationship with an organization, potential donors should connect with individuals at the nonprofit. Getting to know people helps assess integrity and understand how the organization stewards the money.
With smaller organizations like One Collective, it’s easier to have one-on-one conversations with leaders, which is how we initially met. Those discussions provide insights that financial reports can’t offer.
Scott Olson:
Communicating well with constituents is important. How can we keep donors engaged and informed?
Mark Erkenswick:
It’s crucial to communicate the broader vision while also updating donors on how their money is being deployed. Donors often focus on immediate needs and whether their contributions address those. However, it’s essential to communicate that you’re building a long-term infrastructure that enables communities to thrive.
Scott Olson:
Many donors like to give to projects because they can see the immediate impact. How do we convey the importance of supporting the organization’s capacity to grow?
Mark Erkenswick:
That comes back to trust. Donors need to feel confident in the organization. For example, I would not make a donation to the American Cancer Society to dictate specific actions. I trust that they know the best ways to connect with healthcare professionals to make advancements. Similarly, donors should trust the people on the ground at an organization like One Collective to make sound decisions.
Scott Olson:
Many in ministry and nonprofits struggle with scarcity, believing there’s not enough money. What are your thoughts on abundance?
Mark Erkenswick:
This challenge isn’t just in the nonprofit world; it affects entrepreneurs too. Often, people think if they had more money, they could accomplish their goals. However, successful entrepreneurs focus on compelling ideas and value propositions. Money flows when there’s a strong proposition for return.
Scott Olson:
It’s easy to feel discouraged, but it’s important to have faith that things can improve. If you could leave our listeners with one bit of advice for engaging with ministries, what would it be?
Mark Erkenswick:
Build trust through relationships. The best way to establish relationships is to get involved, get your hands dirty, and know the people in the organization. Understanding how they think, operate, and the passion they bring will help you decide to partner with them.
Scott Olson:
Thank you, Mark, for being part of One Collective. Your contributions have been invaluable. I know the insights you shared today will help others become good stewards and find ways to engage with organizations doing good in our world.
Mark Erkenswick:
It’s my honor, Scott. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and One Collective over the years.
Scott Olson:
Thanks again to my friend Mark Erkenswick for joining us today. Thank you for listening to the Lasting Change podcast. I hope this episode has been encouraging, inspiring, and informative. If you want to know more or check out our show notes and resources, visit onecollective.org/podcast. See you next time!
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