Real-Time Financial Visibility Transforms ECA's Mission Impact

About Early Childhood Alliance, Onondaga

The Early Childhood Alliance of Onondaga (ECA) is dedicated to strengthening the early childhood system across Onondaga County. Under Executive Director Bethany Creaser's leadership, the organization works with partners across all sectors—childcare and early learning, home visiting, pediatric partners, and child welfare—to ensure every child under five is healthy, thriving, and ready for kindergarten.

Founded in 2015 in response to research showing less than half of children in Onondaga County were entering kindergarten ready to learn, ECA coordinates community-wide efforts to improve outcomes for families. The organization became an independent nonprofit in 2023, transitioning from operating under a larger fiscal sponsor to establishing its own comprehensive organizational infrastructure.

The Challenge

When ECA transitioned to become an independent nonprofit in early 2023, Bethany faced the overwhelming task of establishing all organizational systems from scratch while maintaining critical programming for the community. As a first-time executive director with deep program experience but limited financial infrastructure knowledge, she needed professional support to build sustainable operations.

The challenges were significant:

• Creating financial infrastructure for a new nonprofit entity
• Moving away from paper-heavy, slow-moving legacy systems
• Establishing grant tracking for multiple funding sources
• Building board-ready financial reporting capabilities
• Managing the transition while continuing mission-critical work

The Solution

Based on a recommendation from board president Meg O'Connell of the Allyn Family Foundation, ECA partnered with Hiline to build comprehensive financial operations tailored to nonprofit needs. The solution included:

1. Real-Time Financial Technology

Hiline implemented modern systems, including Bill.com and Divvy cards, enabling directors to make purchases, capture receipts digitally, and track expenses in real-time. This eliminated paper-based processes and created immediate visibility into spending across all programs.

2. Grant-Level Financial Tracking

The team established detailed tracking systems for each grant and program, allowing directors to monitor their individual budgets while maintaining organization-wide visibility. This enabled both accountability at the program level and strategic planning at the organizational level.

3. Professional Financial Reporting

Hiline developed customized monthly reports for the board and directors, providing current financial information instead of outdated reports from months prior. This transformation enabled proactive decision-making and strategic planning.

4. Scalable Infrastructure‍

Understanding ECA's growth trajectory and the volatile nonprofit funding environment, Hiline built systems that could adapt to changing needs, support forecasting, and enable scenario planning for potential funding changes.

The Results

The partnership with Hiline transformed ECA's operations, allowing the organization to focus fully on its mission while maintaining professional financial management. The impact was immediate:

• ‍Strategic Planning Capabilities – With real-time financial data, ECA can now conduct meaningful forecasting and scenario planning. This is especially critical given current uncertainties in federal funding for early childhood programs, allowing the organization to prepare proactively rather than react to funding changes.‍
• Operational Efficiency – Directors now have individual accountability for their grants and programs while maintaining coordination across the organization. The technology eliminates time-consuming manual processes, allowing staff to focus on serving families and community partners.‍
• Professional Credibility – Monthly board reports with current financial data and the ability to generate professional reports for funders has strengthened ECA's relationships with supporters and positioned the organization for continued growth.

How Hiline Can Support Your Nonprofit

Are you a nonprofit leader looking to build professional financial operations that support your mission?

Hiline specializes in helping nonprofits establish comprehensive financial infrastructure, from grant tracking to board reporting. Our technology-driven approach combined with nonprofit expertise can help you focus on what matters most—serving your community.

Contact us today to learn how we can help your nonprofit build the financial foundation needed for sustainable growth and mission impact.

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