Accountability is at the forefront of today’s business world, whether you are referring to nonprofits or for-profit companies. The utilization of good sound business practices is a necessity for success. Nonprofits like their for-profit counterparts face the challenge of doing more in a shorter period of time with fewer resources, as well as dealing with ever-changing regulations that are imposed to ensure organizational accountability. The real challenge for nonprofits is understanding these challenges are as critical to their success as meeting the needs of their organization’s constituents.

Keeping abreast of changes impacting an organization’s accountability is challenging, especially in the financial accountability arena. "The standards and expectations for nonprofit organizations regarding this are undergoing dramatic and complex change," explains Deanna McGraw, president of the Detroit Executive Service Corps. "These changes are driven by a multitude of circumstances, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, increased scrutiny by Congress, the IRS, actions by State Attorney Generals, and watchdog groups like the Better Business Bureau, as well as a heightened interest on the part of the media," continued McGraw.

Accountability issues are sweeping across the nation and the awareness of these issues among southeast Michigan nonprofits varies greatly. If they have an awareness, nonprofits struggle with how best to respond because they lack the monetary resources and the organizational capacity to address them. This is particularly the case for small to medium sized nonprofits.

After extensive research DESC determined there was a real need that is not being met. Currently nonprofits have no place to turn and run the risk of falling behind in adopting the financial practices they need to meet these evolving financial accountability standards. There is very limited nonprofit management support available to provide relevant educational and training programs to address this issue.

In response to this need DESC formed a collaborative partnership with the Center for Nonprofit Management at Lawrence Technological University and the Volunteer Accounting Service Team of Michigan to begin working on the development of a program model that will address these financial competencies issues. The primary focus of the program will be to create a systematic educational, training and support model that will contribute to raising the financial management competencies and practices at all levels of a nonprofit organization, from its board to its staff while delivering the latest financial education information available.

In order to make this program a reality for the nonprofit community, DESC and its partners received a substantial planning grant from the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan.

For more information on the program or if you are interested in working on the development of this program, contact Deanna McGraw, DESC President at 248-395-2840.