Financial Infrastructure Assessment and Growth Roadmap

Youth Stop Inc. is an established 501(c)(3) nonprofit with approximately 20 years of experience serving young people through photography, creative development, and community engagement. We are now transitioning to Creative Futures – Workforce Pathways in Art, Media & Culture, a workforce-development program for young adults ages 18–24.
Our challenge is ensuring that our financial infrastructure is strong enough to support this growth. Creative Futures may position Youth Stop to receive larger foundation and corporate grants, state and federally supported workforce-development funding, major donations, and potentially donated real estate. These opportunities require stronger financial controls, grant tracking, cost allocation, reporting, compliance, and Board oversight than we have historically needed.
We need help assessing our current financial practices and creating a stable, scalable financial-management system. This includes managing restricted funds and government grants, establishing internal controls, tracking program expenses, handling staff/contractor/participant payments, strengthening Board financial reporting, and developing policies for major cash and noncash gifts, including real estate.
We have begun addressing this transition through program planning, partnership development, preliminary budgets, and professional guidance. However, we recognize that we need a comprehensive financial structure rather than separate solutions as needs arise.
Through Taproot, we are seeking a nonprofit finance professional or team to assess our current systems, identify gaps and risks, recommend appropriate financial practices, and develop a practical 12–24 month implementation roadmap.
Our goal is to build the financial infrastructure before significant new funding or assets are accepted, positioning Youth Stop to responsibly manage, document, report, and sustain the resources needed to grow Creative Futures.

Youth Stop Inc. seeks assistance to assess its current financial systems and develop a practical roadmap to support organizational growth and the launch of Creative Futures – Workforce Pathways in Art, Media & Culture in 2027.

Scope of Assistance

The consultant will:
Review existing financial management, bookkeeping, budgeting, and reporting practices.
Identify gaps in financial controls, grant tracking, and workforce program expense management.
Recommend cost-effective financial systems appropriate for a small nonprofit transitioning from volunteer-based operations to a funded workforce development model.
Develop a prioritized implementation roadmap to strengthen financial accountability, funding readiness, and sustainability.

Expected Deliverables
Financial Systems Assessment: Brief report identifying current strengths, gaps, and priorities.
Implementation Roadmap: Actionable recommendations, suggested tools, estimated costs, and implementation steps.

Desired Outcome
Youth Stop will have a clear, achievable plan to establish the financial infrastructure needed to manage grants, staffing, participant stipends, and paid work experiences while supporting long-term organizational growth.

Estimated Project Duration: 10–12-week timeframe.

Organization Mission

Youth Stop Inc. provides a safe haven for youth to express themselves, using photography and the arts as powerful tools for healing, storytelling, and self-empowerment. Born out of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, our mission is to give young people—especially those from underserved communities—the opportunity to capture their experiences, preserve their histories, and celebrate their resilience. By fostering creativity and self-expression, we aim to inspire confidence, nurture leadership, and build bridges of understanding across cultures and generations.