Local journalism plays an essential role in healthy, connected communities. Yet news organizations across the country are disappearing, leaving many communities without reliable coverage of the issues that affect them most.
Cityside Journalism Initiative was created to help fill that void. As the nonprofit newsroom grew, Co-founder & CEO Lance Knobel recognized that sustaining its mission would require more than strong journalism—it would also require dependable financial systems, reporting, and expertise.
Through its partnership with BTQ Financial, Cityside has built a finance and accounting function that supports informed decisions, successful audits, institutional fundraising, and continued growth.
Strengthening Communities Through Local Journalism
Cityside’s mission is to build community through local journalism. The organization began in 2009 after its founders identified a significant lack of local news coverage in Berkeley, California.
The need for that work has only grown. As local news organizations close, communities can experience reduced civic participation, increased polarization, and less accountability.
Cityside developed a nonprofit journalism model designed to address this challenge. By the end of 2020, the organization had grown to approximately 23 employees.
Building the Financial Foundation for a Growing Nonprofit
As Cityside expanded, so did its financial responsibilities. As a nonprofit organization, it needed reliable systems and processes to support accurate reporting and successful audits.
“We needed to have the systems, the processes in place to make sure we had a good audit.” – Co-founder & CEO Lance Knobel
A growing nonprofit must be able to demonstrate responsible financial management to its board, donors, grantmakers, and other stakeholders.
That requires a finance function capable of supporting:
- Consistent monthly financial reporting
- Reliable accounting processes
- Audit preparation and compliance
- Board-level financial visibility
- Fundraising and grant applications
- Long-term organizational growth
Without the right infrastructure, these responsibilities can consume significant leadership time and create unnecessary organizational risk.
Extending the Team With CFO and Controller Expertise
Cityside chose to outsource its finance and accounting function through BTQ Financial rather than build a full internal department.
“It would be unthinkable for us to run Cityside without the partnership with BTQ.” – Co-founder & CEO Lance Knobel
Through the partnership, Cityside gains access to the systems and financial expertise needed to manage its operations without hiring each position separately, including access to both CFO- and controller-level capabilities.
For Cityside, this provides a level of financial support that would otherwise be difficult to replicate internally at the same cost. Other nonprofits have taken the same path, including a growing charter-school network that cut its monthly close to 10 to 15 days.
It also gives the organization the confidence to pursue more ambitious goals, knowing its financial operations can support its continued development.
Providing Financial Reporting the Board Can Trust
Consistent financial information helps nonprofit leaders and boards understand performance, assess risks, and make more informed decisions.
“I have the financial information that I can rely on consistently.” – Co-founder & CEO Lance Knobel
Cityside receives monthly financial packages that give its board a clear picture of the organization’s position.
The quality of that reporting has stood out to board members, who have recognized the value of receiving timely and dependable financial information.
“These monthly financials—I wish the other organizations had a financial package every month that looked like this. This is exactly what I want.” – Co-founder & CEO Lance Knobel
Strong reporting does more than communicate historical results. It creates greater transparency and gives leadership a reliable foundation for planning, budgeting, and decision-making.
Supporting Clean Audits and Institutional Fundraising
For nonprofit organizations, a clean audit is an important signal of financial credibility. It can also directly affect the organization’s ability to pursue larger grants and institutional funding.
“Having a clean audit is fundamental to our ability to go to large institutional philanthropies and to get the grants that can really help us grow.” – Co-founder & CEO Lance Knobel
BTQ helps Cityside maintain the financial systems and processes needed to support its audit requirements.
That financial readiness strengthens the organization’s ability to:
- Demonstrate responsible stewardship
- Build confidence with institutional funders
- Pursue larger philanthropic opportunities
- Support grant applications with reliable information
- Create a stronger foundation for sustainable growth
By reducing uncertainty around accounting and audit preparation, Cityside can approach funders with greater confidence.
Keeping Leadership Focused on the Mission
A nonprofit CEO must balance fundraising, operations, organizational growth, and mission delivery. Spending too much time managing detailed financial processes can pull leadership away from those priorities.
“Knowing that that’s taken care of really keeps me focused on the things that matter for this organization.” – Co-founder & CEO Lance Knobel
With BTQ overseeing the finance and accounting function, Cityside’s leadership can devote more attention to raising funds, expanding operations, and strengthening communities through local journalism.
The partnership provides more than administrative support. It gives the organization confidence that its financial responsibilities are being handled by a team with the appropriate expertise and systems.
That allows Cityside’s leaders to focus less on the details of finance and more on advancing the organization’s mission.
Build a Stronger Financial Foundation With BTQ Financial
Reliable financial management helps mission-driven organizations operate confidently, earn stakeholder trust, and prepare for future growth.
BTQ Financial provides outsourced finance and accounting services designed around the needs of nonprofit organizations. From accounting and monthly reporting to controller support, CFO guidance, audit readiness, and financial planning, BTQ helps nonprofit leaders build the infrastructure they need without creating an entire internal department.
Request a consultation with BTQ Financial to learn how an experienced finance and accounting team can strengthen your reporting, support your audit and fundraising goals, and give your leadership more time to focus on your mission.