When NYC School Bus Umbrella Services (NYCSBUS) needed to transition from a private contractor to a nonprofit organization, they faced an immense challenge: maintaining service for 9,000+ students while completely rebuilding their finance function.

“BTQ came in, looked at the outcomes we needed, put boots on the ground, and got us to the finish line,” says Matt Berlin, CEO of NYCSBUS.

The Challenge

• Transitioning an $180 million fiscal department
• Ensuring uninterrupted service for students with special needs
• Establishing credibility with city auditors and public stakeholders
• Building complex system integrations with specialized fleet management software

The BTQ Solution: Finance as a Service (FaaS)

In just 30 days, our team:

1. Implemented a comprehensive suite of financial systems
2. Assumed full CFO responsibilities
3. Created transparent reporting capabilities
4. Integrated with specialized operational systems
5. Established audit-ready financial practices

The Results

With BTQ managing their financial operations, NYCSBUS was able to redirect resources toward their mission:

• Program Innovation: Beginning to electrify their bus fleet
• Service Enhancement: Integrating machine learning technology
• Operational Efficiency: Running the entire financial system with minimal in-house staff
• Stakeholder Confidence: Providing clean audits before the Comptroller’s committee
• Mission Focus: Concentrating on improving transportation services for NYC students

How BTQ Empowers Nonprofit Program Expansion

Our FaaS model creates the foundation that allows nonprofits to innovate and grow:

1. Resource Optimization

By outsourcing finance functions to BTQ, nonprofits can reallocate resources toward mission-critical programs rather than administrative overhead.

2. Financial Clarity

Our transparent reporting provides the confidence to make bold program decisions, knowing exactly where resources stand and how they can be leveraged.

3. Scalable Operations

As your organization grows, BTQ’s financial capabilities grow with you—no need to continuously invest in building an internal finance department.

4. Risk Mitigation

Our nonprofit financial expertise helps identify opportunities and avoid pitfalls, creating a stable foundation for program expansion.

5. Strategic Partnership

We serve as thought partners in your financial strategy, helping align fiscal resources with mission objectives.

Ready to Transform Your Finance Function?

Learn how BTQ Financial can help your organization build the fiscal foundation needed to expand your mission impact. Our team of nonprofit financial experts is ready to create a tailored solution for your specific needs.

“Most SaaS companies don’t care about you. BTQ gives a damn about us.” — Matt Berlin, NYCSBUS CEO

BTQ has been empowering the most progressive nonprofit organizations since 2001 with financial management, medical billing, and accounting services that support their missions and secure sustained operations.

Contact us to learn more about how we transform your back-office function into a strategic growth engine.

In the challenging landscape of nonprofit management, financial stability is crucial for mission success. This case study explores how The Door, a renowned New York City youth services organization, strategically partnered with BTQ Financial to transform their financial operations during a critical organizational transition.

The Door’s financial transformation journey offers valuable insights for nonprofit leaders facing similar challenges in today’s fast-moving and resource-constrained environment.

The Door: A Beacon for NYC’s Youth

Since 1972, The Door has served as a vital resource for thousands of teenagers and young adults in New York City annually. This multi-service nonprofit organization provides comprehensive support services including:

• Health care and mental health services
• Education and legal assistance
• Workforce development
• Supportive housing
• Arts, sports, and nutrition programs

The organization’s innovative whole-person approach has gained worldwide recognition as one of the most effective models for delivering human services to young people.

The Challenge: Navigating Organizational Transition

In 2021, CEO Kelsey Louie joined The Door with the mission of leading the organization through a significant transition:

1. Ending a two-decade partnership with University Settlement
2. Rebuilding administrative functions
3. Establishing new systems while maintaining uninterrupted services

This transition presented unique challenges, particularly in financial management. The organization needed to maintain fiscal stability while implementing new structures and training staff—all without disrupting their essential youth services.

Solution: BTQ’s Finance as a Service (FaaS)

With 14 years of experience working with BTQ across two executive roles, Kelsey recognized the value of their Finance as a Service (FaaS) model. Driven by a “No margin, no mission” philosophy, he approached BTQ to strengthen The Door’s financial position.

Key Objectives for Financial Enhancement:

• Remain good stewards of public and private funding
• Build stakeholder confidence (staff, donors, partners)
• Promote greater fiscal transparency and accountability
• Gain better forecasting tools and financial visibility
• Maximize resources to serve community needs

Why Choose Outsourced Finance vs. In-House?

The decision to partner with BTQ instead of hiring an in-house CFO and finance team was based on several strategic considerations:

• Speed and Efficiency: BTQ offered immediate expertise without lengthy recruitment processes
• Cost-Effectiveness: The FaaS model delivered better value than maintaining an in-house department
• Talent Retention: Circumvented the challenge of finding and keeping qualified finance staff in a competitive job market
• Expertise: Access to a team of experts rather than relying on a single person’s knowledge

Change Management: A Thoughtful Implementation

Recognizing the sensitivity of financial transitions, Kelsey emphasized the importance of careful change management. BTQ’s people-first approach ensured a smooth process through a three-pronged strategy:

1. Reviewing audits and fiscal reporting
2. Building financial operating structures and systems
3. Implementing day-to-day operations

BTQ provided crucial guidance throughout the transition, helping prepare Kelsey for discussions with the board and staff while maintaining a comfortable pace of change.

Beyond Outsourced Finance: A Knowledge-Sharing Partnership

The relationship with BTQ has evolved beyond traditional outsourcing to become deeply integrated with The Door’s operations.

Current BTQ Services:

• Producing monthly financial reports, including cash flow forecasts and dashboards
• Conducting monthly spend review meetings with department heads
• Creating year-end spend projections for each department
• Continuously monitoring accounts receivable and cash flow
• Ensuring audit and tax filings remain up-to-date
• Providing regular reports to the organization’s finance committee

Additional Value:

• Strategic Partnership: BTQ serves as thought partners, not just financial advisors
• Subject Matter Expertise: Access to specialized nonprofit financial knowledge
• Knowledge Enhancement: Rather than relying on a single CFO’s experience, The Door benefits from BTQ’s collective expertise—a “brain trust” of financial and nonprofit professionals

Lasting Impact: Strengthened Mission Delivery

By partnering with BTQ, The Door has positioned itself for sustainable growth and enhanced mission delivery. The relationship has:

• Elevated donor and stakeholder confidence through improved fiscal management
• Enabled The Door to focus more resources on serving youth
• Provided tools for better financial forecasting and strategic planning
• Ensured financial stability during a significant organizational transition

As Kelsey notes: “The number-one reason The Door went with BTQ was their expertise and financial strength. But in a fast-moving landscape in which recruiting quality talent is hard and resources are difficult to access, the advantages of our partnership extend across our entire organization, securing our ability to thrive.”

About BTQ

BTQ, a division of Consero Global, provides quality financial management and medical billing services specifically for nonprofits. Since 2001, we have helped organizations build strong financial functions that support their missions and ensure sustainable operations.

Our approach combines decades of nonprofit financial management expertise with high-performing digital technologies, empowering organizations to thrive in today’s challenging landscape.

Get in touch for assistance with your organization’s financial transformation.