Case study | Nonprofit bookkeeping services for growth and change

Sep 15

Bradley Angle

Bradley Angle is a Portland-based nonprofit that helps survivors of domestic violence build safe, stable lives. Founded in 1975 as the first emergency shelter for women on the West Coast, the organization has expanded to serve survivors of all genders through emergency shelter, housing assistance, economic empowerment and culturally specific programs.

Context: Growth and transition

Growth and transition often go hand in hand for nonprofits. When Aerial first started working with Bradley Angle, they were expanding their operations, preparing to open a second emergency shelter. The organization was already filling new positions and expected their operational and financial needs to continue growing.

At the same time, Bradley Angle was experiencing shifts within its in-house team. The CFO left, a new finance manager role was created and an interim CFO was hired. Leadership was facing tough decisions about what the long-term finance team should look like and how to best utilize internal staff, leadership and outside bookkeeping services.

Challenge: More than basic bookkeepinG

Nonprofit bookkeeping carries distinct challenges that don’t exist in most for-profit businesses. At Bradley Angle, the finance team has to account for grants, revenue that can’t be recognized until conditions are met, and complicated allocation. Bradley Angle also needed accurate monthly closes and documentation for its annual audit.

Walter Hammond, the interim CFO, was focused on leadership, planning, and higher-level financial decisions. Internal staff, like finance manager Karley Smith, had a firm grip on tactics and implementation, but Bradley Angle still needed additional support to keep everything running smoothly.

Walter’s expectations for outsourced nonprofit bookkeeping services was low at best. He was initially skeptical whether an accounting firm could provide the depth of nonprofit finance and accounting knowledge that he needed to support his team.

Solution: Bookkeeping services with controller-level expertise

Aerial changed Walter’s mind.

“They bring a professional controller level of skill,” Walter says about the Aerial team. “It’s not what I normally see with bookkeepers or bookkeeper companies.”

Currently, Aerial provides Bradley Angle with a controller-level accounting layer integrated with the organization’s in-house accounting team:

General ledger accounting
Monthly close
Structured close checklists and controls
Review of unusual transactions
Nonprofit-specific accounting support
Grant and allocation support
Lease accounting
Audit workpapers and documentation
Coordination of information requested by auditors
Weekly finance huddles

What’s most valuable about Aerial’s contribution isn’t the task list, though. It’s in the confidence and peace of mind the Bradley Angle team has knowing Aerial has their back. “[They have] a level of skill that’s sort of an exhale,” says Karley, describing the trust she has in the Aerial team.

In addition to filling known accounting needs, Aerial’s team helps Bradley Angle identify opportunities to strengthen their accounting practices, such as locking completed accounting periods so they can’t accidentally be changed down the line.

“They do things, quite frankly, better than I've seen big not-for-profits that have nice professional staff on board do themselves.” — Walter Hammon, interim CFO

This collaborative spirit carries into weekly tasks as well. Karley says the Aerial team is great at catching unusual transactions and asking the right questions when something doesn’t make sense. And, perhaps most importantly, Aerial helps preserve finance continuity within the organization even during transition periods.

Kayley says Aerial founder Nicole Rose Yen was a huge support during the shift from one CFO to the next. She was “a huge, comforting support,” says Kayley, drawing on her experience to help the Bradley Angle team understand what to expect and how to transition smoothly.

Outcome: stable, positive growth

Aerial’s support has allowed Bradley Angle’s talented in-house team to focus more on strategy and future-proofing finance processes as the organization continues to grow and evolve. And, because Aerial’s team is diverse and experienced, Walter knows he’ll always have the resources he needs if more people are needed or the complexity of the organization increases.

As he puts it, “We know that if we grow and the work grows, [Aerial] can apply more hours or people … it’s adaptable.”

The outcome is stable, positive growth and evolution. Less stress. More focus on Bradley Angle’s mission of supporting survivors.

Outsourced accounting services tailored to your company’s most ambitious goals

Just because your nonprofit is growing doesn’t mean you need to immediately double the size of your in-house finance team. Aerial specializes in understanding how to best complement your team’s expertise and resources and then assign a tailored team for immediate impact and future flexibility.

Schedule a quick call here to explore how Aerial can support your nonprofit.

Nicole Rose Yen

Nicole Rose Yen is the Founder and CEO of Aerial Core, where she leads strategy, business development, and long-term growth initiatives. With a passion for empowering small, community-oriented businesses, Nicole built Aerial Core to deliver scalable back-office solutions that combine Finance, HR, and Tax under one transparent, people-centered system. Her approach bridges business intelligence and human insight, creating alignment between financial health and team performance.

With a background spanning accounting, entrepreneurship, and strategic advisory, Nicole has led her company through significant expansion and partnership development. She envisions a future where data-driven dashboards and thoughtful leadership practices redefine how small businesses scale. Grounded in collaboration, clarity, and integrity, Nicole leads with both vision and empathy, inspiring her team and clients alike to grow with purpose.