Sutro LiEngagement Manager · 2025–present
Executive finance and operations advisor to nonprofit leaders and boards.
Fractional CFO, operations and HR leadership for nonprofits and foundations
I position people, resources and organizations for success.
I help people and organizations recognize what they already have in their hands to achieve greatness.
For more than 20 years I have led finance, operations and HR for foundations, nonprofits, schools, government and international humanitarian organizations, partnering with CEOs, executive directors and boards through growth, transition and increasing complexity.
- Private foundation I helped lead as Head of Operations
- $85M
- Regional refugee operation across three countries
- $29M
- Recovered for one client through the Employee Retention Tax Credit
- $1M+
- Years leading finance, operations and HR
- 20+
Organizations I've worked with
Clara Lionel Foundation · Straus Foundation · Church World Service · University of Maryland · Partnerships for Trauma Recovery · BioTechnical Institute of Maryland · Northeast Organic Farming Association · Amigos de Guadalupe · Martha's Table · NYC Mayor's Office of Management & Budget
Results
What changed because of the work
Recovered revenue, recurring savings and stronger teams, across organizations of every size.
$1M+
Recovered through the Employee Retention Tax Credit for Partnerships for Trauma Recovery.
$880K
In recurring savings from a regional restructuring across Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa for Church World Service.
$700K+
In previously unbilled grant revenue recovered through a grant accounting overhaul for the Northeast Organic Farming Association.
$15M+
In assets protected during a planned charter school closure, with a closure framework later referenced by charter authorizers.
300+
Local and expatriate staff recruited in under three months across Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa for Church World Service, followed by the region's first HR manual, meeting U.S. labor law and the local labor laws of all three countries.
1 year
To turn a network's lowest-performing operations team into its model team, without replacing a single staff member.
Her leadership ensured that the school closure process was not only smooth but also became a benchmark for other charter school closures across the country. I encouraged Dennett to begin consulting, recognizing that her services are critically needed in non-profit organizations that often cannot afford to hire full-time, high-level finance professionals.
[Dennett] stepped into the Interim Fiscal Officer role and immediately brought stability, ensuring our financial operations remained compliant, organized, and transparent. She brought immense value to our team and quickly became someone we trusted and relied on.
Dennett joined CWS during a particularly challenging period when the organisation faced significant operating deficits. Her leadership, dedication to excellence, and ability to address systemic challenges were essential to the organisation's success during her tenure.
Dennett was a steadying force during a turbulent period for the school. She was always honest about what she didn't know but consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to dig in, figure things out, and deliver effective solutions.
Services
How I can help
Engagements are fractional and flexible, scaled to what your organization needs right now.
Fractional CFO
Know exactly where your organization stands, and connect resources to your commitments.
- Budgeting, forecasting and scenario planning
- Cash flow and treasury management
- Board and finance committee reporting
- Nonprofit GAAP and fund accounting
- Audit readiness and internal controls
Grants & Restricted Funding
Capture the revenue you have earned and stay audit-ready on every award.
- Grant accounting and billing
- Federal grant policies and procedures
- Restricted funding compliance
- Fiscal sponsorship practices
Fractional COO & Operations
Build the infrastructure that keeps your organization running.
- Financial systems selection and implementation
- Process redesign and policies
- Technology, facilities and procurement
- Leadership through transitions and restructuring
HR & People Development
Attract, assess and develop the team your mission needs. Managing HR functions since 2009.
- Recruitment and interview design
- Organizational design and change management
- Staff training and leadership development
- Multi-country workforce management, up to 639 staff
As a career strategist, I also work with individual professionals on résumés, interviewing, salary negotiation and career change. Ask me about it on a call.
Work with me
Ways to work together
Every engagement starts with a 30-minute call to understand where your organization is and what it needs.
Start here
Finance, Operations & HR Assessment
A focused review of your finances, systems and people practices, ending with a clear, prioritized roadmap your leadership and board can act on.
Best for: leaders who sense something isn't working and want an outside view
Ongoing
Fractional CFO or COO
Senior finance and operations leadership a set number of days each month: budgets, cash flow, board reporting, audits, systems and team development.
Best for: organizations that need executive expertise but not a full-time hire
Short-term
Interim Leadership
I step in as interim CFO, fiscal officer or head of operations during a leave, vacancy or leadership change, keeping operations stable and helping recruit the permanent hire.
Best for: transitions, extended leaves and unexpected departures
Project
Focused Projects
Defined projects with a clear finish line, such as:
- Grant revenue recovery and compliance review
- Audit readiness and internal controls
- Financial systems selection and rollout
- HR policies, job descriptions and recruitment design
- Restructuring, mergers and closures
Experience
Where I've done this work
Finance Daze AdvisoryFounder & Fractional CFO · 2019–present
Fractional CFO for nonprofits and foundations. Built global finance leadership and an audit function for the Clara Lionel Foundation and Gather. Interim Fiscal Officer, then HR consultant, for Partnerships for Trauma Recovery, with $1M+ recovered through the ERTC. $700K+ in grant revenue recovered for the Northeast Organic Farming Association. Built the finance office and hiring process for Amigos de Guadalupe. Ongoing budget and grant management for the BioTechnical Institute of Maryland.
Straus FoundationHead of Operations · 2022–2025
Executive Leadership Team member for an $85 million private foundation. Directed finance, accounting, grants administration, HR and facilities, and served as primary liaison to the Board and Finance Committee. Modernized budgeting, reporting and grants systems.
Church World ServiceRegional Deputy Director of Administration · 2016–2019
Directed operations for a $29 million refugee resettlement program across Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa, and recruited, trained and managed HR for a workforce of 639 people. Turned around operating deficits with a new budgeting process that made managers own their budgets. Led the Sage MIP fund accounting rollout and a restructuring that saved about $880,000 a year. Promoted Kenyan professionals into three senior roles previously reserved for international staff.
University of MarylandFiscal Officer · 2015–2016
Financial leadership for $21 million in sponsored research and departmental operations.
Arts & Technology AcademyChief Operating Officer · 2013–2015
Led finance, compliance and operations through a planned charter school closure, preserving $15 million in assets for the new operator. The closure became a model for charter school closures nationally.
Martha's TableChief Financial & Administrative Officer · 2012–2013
Led finance, HR and operations for an $8 million nonprofit, with oversight of about $5 million in grants.
Earlier: Explore Schools · Merrick Academy · NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development ($850M portfolio) · NYC Mayor's Office of Management & Budget
Credentials
Education & recognition
- MBA, Finance and AccountingStrayer University
- M.S., Human Resources & Organizational DevelopmentStrayer University
- Graduate Studies, Urban Policy & Community DevelopmentThe New School (Milano)
- B.A., HistoryQueens College, City University of New York
Business Insider · 2020
Featured among 23 innovators in career development for my work as a career strategist and founder of Corona Daze Professional Development Group.
Read the article
Baltimore Corps
Recognized through the Elevation Awards for founding Corona Daze.
About
A little about me
I began my career in finance and quickly learned that I was even better at operations. Over time, I discovered that my greatest strength is seeing what is possible in people and organizations, and building the teams, structures and systems that turn that possibility into reality.
I have always been a dreamer, and I still dream. I also love figuring out how to turn possibility into something real. No matter the title, I find myself engineering the people, operations, resources and systems around the work so the mission can move forward.
Why Go Back an Get It
The name comes from Sankofa, an Akan idea from Ghana that translates to “go back and get it.” Most organizations already have what they need, whether it’s money they’re owed, people with untapped talent, or systems they aren’t using. I help them go back and get it.
Let's talk
Let's talk about what your organization needs next.
Whether you need a fractional CFO, support through a transition, or a partner to strengthen your systems and team, I'd welcome a conversation.
Emaildennett@gobackangetit.com