“Braver has been able to handle all our needs. Eric is always there for us; we call him whenever a situation is brewing and count on him to handle it efficiently and effectively.”

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Case Study: Cradles to Crayons

The Situation

Cradles to Crayons is a non-profit that provides low-income and homeless children the basic essentials they need to be safe, warm, ready to learn and valued.  Additionally, they set a foundation for lasting change through the meaningful, tangible volunteer opportunities they provide young people and adults. The organization was in a period of transition as it was moving from a start-up to one with national reach. After a 2005 visit from President Bill Clinton heightened its exposure and brought in an influx of donor dollars and volunteers, Cradles to Crayons needed strategic guidance on how to manage its growth and organizational expansion.

What Braver Did

Braver provided guidance to Cradles to Crayons that helped the non-profit in the following ways:

• We helped Cradles to Crayons think strategically about their financial accounting needs by making sure they understood the kind of financial controls the organization would require to manage their expanding donor and volunteer base;
• Braver assisted the organization in implementing these controls by providing them with a consultant who is helping Cradles to Crayons utilize accounting software that will help them track donors, donations, goods, and volunteers;
• Our team provided advice on non-profit governance practices which we procured by researching and interviewing similar non-profits, and identifying best practices based on their experiences;
• We made recommendations for the financial and organizational governance of Cradles to Crayons, ensuring that they were in compliance with government mandates and following the best non-profit practices possible;
• Last year, the organization crossed the donation threshold that requires them to receive an audit.  Braver helped the non-profit get ready for this rite of passage and assisted them through the audit process.

The Outcome

The partnership between Braver and Cradles to Crayons means that low-income children throughout the region and now, in Philadelphia, are receiving the goods they need to survive and thrive, and that volunteers are also able to have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate.

Lynn Margherio, Cradles to Crayons founder and CEO, says that Braver is a “great benefit” to the organization and that Braver has “become more than just our accountants and financial advisors, they have become our partners.” She hopes to continue the partnership with Braver so that Cradles to Crayons can continue to reach its objectives.