Case study - Nonprofit
Consistent numbers,
and a partner at the table.
A Wisconsin nonprofit camp was getting cash-basis reporting one month and accrual the next. We standardized the books, rebuilt the chart of accounts around camp, and gave the Executive Director an accounting partner who knows how camp actually works.
Camp profile
Who we were working with.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Type
- Traditional overnight with events and ancillary programming
- Ownership
- Nonprofit
- Years operating
- 82 years, founded 1944
- Full-time staff
- 8
- Seasonal staff
- About 30
- Peak enrollment
- About 100 campers per session
- Annual revenue
- About $1.7 million
- Revenue streams
- Camper tuition, donor contributions, restricted grants, off-season rentals
- Common spend
- Facilities upkeep, program supplies, restricted grant and donor projects
The challenge
The camp relied on an outsourced accountant who held total control of the general ledger and delivered deeply inconsistent reporting. Revenue showed up on a cash basis most months and switched to accrual in others, which left leadership and the board guessing. The chart of accounts had no camp-specific structure, so there was no way to benchmark summer programming against off-season events. The Executive Director had no accounting partner with operational insight to help her prepare for board presentations or read the trends.
The solution
Bowline moved the camp onto QuickBooks Online, standardized the reporting methodology, rebuilt the chart of accounts around how camp actually operates, added benchmarking metrics, and stepped in as a strategic partner to the Executive Director.
How we did it
The implementation.
Accounting standardization and QBO migration
Moved the accounting data into QuickBooks Online and standardized revenue and expense reporting so statements were generated the same way every month. No more cash versus accrual surprises.
Camp-specific chart of accounts and benchmarking
Restructured the chart of accounts around real revenue streams and operating departments, then built reporting metrics to track performance across seasonal and ancillary programming.
Restricted fund tracking workflow
Used class and project tracking in QBO to cleanly separate unrestricted operating funds from restricted grants and donor gifts.
Executive Director advisory cadence
Set a recurring monthly review ahead of board meetings to walk the financial packet, translate the data into operational decisions, and align on board messaging.
Results
Consistent, board-ready reporting
Standardized, reliable statements month after month, replacing confusion with transparency for the board.
A strategic extension of leadership
The Executive Director walks into board meetings with an accounting partner who understands camp operations and full confidence in the numbers.
Actionable benchmarking
A camp-tailored chart of accounts and metrics that track profitability and efficiency across summer camp and off-season events.
Clean donor compliance
Clear audit trails for restricted funds, so every gift and grant is tracked and deployed according to donor intent.
Consistent standards, camp-specific metrics, and a monthly seat next to the Executive Director turned the finance function from a source of frustration into a tool for growth and governance.