During AAFCPAs’ recent Nonprofit Seminar (April 2026), Trista Harris, MPP, President of FutureGood, joined Carla McCall, CPA, CGMA, Managing Partner at AAFCPAs, for a forward-looking discussion with more than 530 nonprofit leaders navigating sustained uncertainty and accelerated change.

Nonprofit leaders are operating in a moment that asks more of them in regard to responsiveness, judgment, and clarity in the face of conditions that are far from clear. At the same time, this environment is opening space for new ways of thinking about strategy, alignment, and long-term impact. As a result, clients are reexamining how they define success and how they move toward it.

Moderated by Carla McCall, this uplifting discussion explored how a clear long-term direction paired with a more flexible approach to execution may help organizations stay aligned and make more disciplined and grounded decisions. During the session, Trista Harris shared practical ways to apply future-focused thinking to everyday strategy, helping teams move forward with greater focus, make better use of limited resources, and respond to change with intention.

Q: What skills will nonprofit leaders need to succeed in a changing environment?

A: Ongoing learning and exposure to new ideas are increasingly important. Leaders who look beyond their immediate sector and apply insights from other fields are often better positioned to solve complex challenges in new ways.

Using Long-Term Vision to Strengthen Day-to-Day Nonprofit Decision-Making

Nonprofit leaders are making decisions in an environment where priorities shift quickly and new variables emerge month to month. Funding levels change, policy direction evolves, and new needs surface across the communities they serve—often all at once. As a result, leaders are often weighing multiple important needs with no clear signal on what should come first. In that kind of environment, even well-considered plans can lose relevance faster than expected.

A clearly defined view of long-term success provides a stabilizing point within that movement. When leadership teams align around what success looks like at full mission achievement in specific, practical terms, it creates a consistent frame for evaluating decisions in real time.

That frame becomes most valuable in the moments where the path forward is less obvious—when several directions make sense and each carries meaningful impact. A well-articulated future helps bring discipline to those choices by connecting near-term actions to longer-term outcomes. It allows organizations to remain responsive while still moving in a deliberate direction.

This approach also supports continuity across decisions that are made under changing conditions. Timing, sequencing, and external factors may continue to evolve, though a shared understanding of where the organization is heading creates consistency in how those decisions add up over time.

For leadership teams, this does not require perfect foresight but, instead, enough clarity to guide decisions as conditions shift. When that clarity is in place, nonprofits are better positioned to move with intention, use resources more effectively, and maintain alignment even as the path forward continues to change.

Q: What leadership approach works best for nonprofits during uncertainty and change?

A: Leadership is becoming more distributed. Strong leadership teams bring a range of perspectives and experiences, which helps reduce blind spots and improve decision-making when conditions are complex or evolving quickly.

How Nonprofits Adapt Strategy Through Shorter Planning Cycles

Nonprofit leaders are planning and executing in dynamic conditions, faced with priorities that can shift quickly—often requiring decisions before there is full visibility into what comes next. In this environment, strategy functions best when designed to adjust as conditions change.

One way nonprofits are responding is by shortening planning and execution cycles. Instead of relying on multi-year plans to hold steady, leadership teams are revisiting priorities more frequently—often on a quarterly basis—to assess what has changed, what has gained momentum, and what may require a different approach. This creates a more continuous rhythm around strategy, where direction remains consistent while actions evolve alongside current conditions.

Shorter cycles also create space for reflection. Setting aside time to step back—whether at the end of a quarter or at defined intervals—helps teams evaluate what is working, where progress has accelerated, and where adjustments may improve outcomes. This deliberate pause supports stronger decision-making by bringing learning directly into the next set of actions.

At the same time, changing conditions can create opportunities to move more quickly toward long-term goals. External shifts, new relationships, or expanded capabilities can accelerate progress in ways that are difficult to anticipate in advance. Organizations that are prepared to respond can take advantage of these moments—advancing initiatives sooner, reallocating resources, or building on emerging momentum when the timing is right.

Even small changes—such as regularly scanning for trends, setting aside time to review what is developing in the external environment, or creating space for internal discussion—can help clients stay aware of what may lie ahead. That awareness, combined with a clear direction, helps leaders make timely decisions that reflect both current conditions and long-term goals.

Over time, this approach strengthens an organization’s ability to move with purpose while adapting to change. Strategy becomes less about holding to a predefined plan and more about maintaining direction while adjusting how progress is made along the way.

Putting This Into Practice: Nonprofit Leadership

AAFCPAs works alongside nonprofit organizations to bring greater clarity to financial management and support more informed, confident decision-making—whether through audit and tax services, outsourced accounting, fractional CFO support, or strategic advisory. Our teams understand the nuances of nonprofit funding, compliance requirements, and operational demands, and tailor our approach to reflect your structure, mission, and priorities. Gain practical, day-to-day support in strengthening financial reporting, evaluating systems and processes, and aligning resources with long-term goals. This includes guidance on budgeting, forecasting, governance, and technology—helping your organization operate more efficiently while remaining focused on your mission. As conditions continue to evolve, AAFCPAs acts as a steady partner providing insight and counsel to support sound decisions and long-term sustainability.

These insights were contributed by Carla McCall, CPA, CGMA, Managing Partner.

Questions? Reach out to our author directly or your AAFCPAs partner.

AAFCPAs offers a wealth of resources on mission-driven growth. Subscribe to get alerts and insights in your inbox.

Meet the Panelists

Joshua England, LLM, Esq., Partner & Tax Attorney, AAFCPAs. Josh works extensively within the cannabis space including advising on entity structure and maximizing IRC sec 280E compliance.

Hannah King, Partner, Dentons. Hannah is a cannabis lawyer and leading authority in the highly regulated and complicated cannabis industry.   

Darren Gleeman, Managing Partner, MBO Ventures. Darren is an ESOP advisor, investment banker, and angel investor.   

David McManus, CPA, CGMA, Tax Partner & Cannabis Practice Leader, AAFCPAs. Dave has provided advanced financial and operational counsel to the cannabis industry since 2012.  

Moderated by Mark Loyd, Partner and Co-lead of the national tax practice at Dentons.

About AAFCPAs’ Cannabis Practice 

AAFCPAs has been a cannabis industry pioneer since 2012, providing tax, finance, and outsourced accounting support from a multi-disciplinary team of advisors including CPAs, CFOs, wealth advisors, estate planning and tax attorneys along with business process, data analytics, IT, and cyber security professionals. We were the first full-service CPA and consulting firm to advise Massachusetts cannabis companies and are a recognized leader in the space. AAFCPAs provides tax, audit, accounting, and consulting solutions to cannabis businesses across the United States including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. We continue to add support to new states as they come online. Learn More >>

NBC Boston (January 30^th, 2024) – In an interview for NBC Boston, Tomás A. Pueyo, Jr., CPA, MSA provided insight on how taxpayers can make the most of their returns. Things like charitable donations, home improvements or rent can all mean deductions or credits on your taxes. Tomas is a member of AAFCPAs Commercial Tax Practice working alongside an integrated team of seasoned, well-known CPAs and industry leaders in the delivery of international, federal, multi-state, and local tax planning & compliance solutions.

AAFCPAs would like to make clients aware that 2022 Form 8955-SSA late filing notices were sent erroneously due to an IRS programming error. Specifically, IRS notices were sent stating Form 8955-SSA were either incomplete or not received on time when in fact they were filed prior to the due date of July 31, 2023. The IRS further said it will be announcing in an upcoming newsletter that anyone who received the 8955-SSA late filing letter dated before September 1, 2023 can ignore it.

As background, ERISA retirement plans must file Form 8955-SSA annually with the IRS to report separated participants with a vested account balance in the plan. Information reported in the form is then shared with the Social Security Administration, which notifies affected individuals at retirement age that they may have retirement plan benefits available through prior employers.

If you have questions, please contact Sandy Keegan, MSA, Manager at 508.948.7036 or skeegan@aafcpa.com, Shawn P. Huxley, CPA, MSA, Partner, Employee Benefit Plans at 774.512.9075 or shuxley@aafcpa.com—or your AAFCPAs Partner.

Asset protection strategies can form a legal and financial separation between professional and personal assets. This can limit your personal liability should a legal or creditor claim be made against your business, rental property, or professional practice. Asset protection strategies can also be designed to safeguard assets during a divorce and can notably enhance your financial privacy, obscuring public records and making you less vulnerable to litigation in the first place.

Form a business entity

AAFCPAs encourages clients in professions with a higher risk of litigation or with rental real estate to consider creating a separate legal entity (i.e., a limited liability company, a limited partnership, or an S corporation) to protect their personal assets from lawsuit. This is particularly critical for real estate investors who own rental property and need to limit personal liability should an accident occur on the property. With the right business structure in place, any legal claims may be limited to that property. This strategy involves planning as well as ongoing administration, such as maintaining separate books and records and staying current with state registration fees and tax filings. AAFCPAs consults with clients to determine the right type of entity for their circumstances while weighing the administrative burden and the cost of implementation with any benefits realized.

Place assets in a trust

An irrevocable trust is ideal for those looking for both privacy and asset protection along with tax minimization for their estate. Transferring assets into an irrevocable trust can remove them from your personal estate and, since those assets are held in trust under the charge of a trustee, creditors cannot easily access them. Any independent party can be appointed as a trustee including a family friend or relative, a trusted individual, or an independent institution, such as a banking or trust company. Because any property or asset in that trust is registered under the trust name instead of the individual, the grantor gains both asset protection and privacy. Keep in mind, though, that the grantor relinquishes control of assets once placed in an irrevocable trust. AAFCPAs works with clients to carefully consider which assets are placed in this type of trust, as it can be very difficult or impossible to make any changes once the trust is established. As with all complex structures, it is important to weigh the potential administrative cost and loss of control with any benefits you may receive.

Consider other options

An asset protection trust is another type of irrevocable trust that is specifically worded to protect the trust’s assets from creditors while allowing the trust’s settlor to be a discretionary beneficiary of the trust and thus retain access to the assets. A domestic asset protection trust is perhaps the easiest to set up and maintain but is not permitted in every state and there are additional restrictions as to who can be a trustee and what type of assets can be transferred. Domestic asset protection trusts are currently only permitted under the laws of Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.  Finally, a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement can safeguard assets and any stakes in a family trust from a spouse.

How we help

AAFCPAs develops strategies to optimize tax, financial, and legal protections based on your specific profession, family situation, and risk factors. We work with clients to identify areas of exposure and to explore how various strategies might affect your financial goals.

If you have questions, please contact Camila Gonzalez Whalen, CPA, Director, Tax at 774.512.9078 or cwhalen@aafcpa.com, Joshua England, LLM, Esq., Partner and Tax Attorney at 774.512.4109 or jengland@aafcpa.com—or your AAFCPAs partner.

AAFCPAs is pleased to be a return sponsor of the Boston Business Journal (BBJ’s) 15th annual CFO of the Year Awards. This award recognizes Massachusetts CFOs whose work and commitment has helped their companies and organizations and in turn our economy survive and thrive—particularly in these challenging times.

BBJ’s 2023 CFO of the Year Awards
Thursday, July 20 | 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Seaport Hotel Boston, 1 Seaport Ln, Boston, MA 02210

Enter our drawing for your chance to win a complimentary ticket to the in-person luncheon, available exclusively to AAFCPAs clients. (CFOs only, please.)

Deadline to enter is Thursday, July 14, 2023. | Two winners will be announced on Friday, July 15, 2023.
Single ticket value (including meal + beverages) is $155.00.

The drawing is now closed for 2023.

In this webcast, recorded April 2023 at AAFCPAs’ Nonprofit Educational Seminar, AAFCPAs’ Keynote Speaker: Jamelle Lindo, Emotional Intelligence Coach explores emotional intelligence.

We are living in the midst of the greatest digital proliferation in history which has come to be known as Industry 4.0. In this keynote presentation, Jamelle explores why emotional intelligence is becoming the single most valuable leadership skill today, especially as we move into a digitally driven future with hybridized workspaces. He also brings forward the latest research to validate what business leaders and professionals can do to position themselves for success in the midst of today’s incredibly demanding and evolving digital world.

Jamelle Lindo has worked with thousands of professionals to help them level up through the practical application of emotional intelligence and mindfulness strategies. As an emotional intelligence leadership coach, trainer, and speaker with over 11 years of diverse learning and development experience, he is driven by his mission to empower leaders and professionals within organizations to realize their highest ideals, leading to healthy and diverse cultures, happy employees, and thriving businesses that make the world a better place. Lindo focuses on teaching the importance of emotionally intelligent leadership amid today’s rapidly evolving digital environment. He is a charismatic, dynamic, and powerful presence who compels leaders to critically look at how they can use emotional intelligence and mindfulness to enhance their abilities and create winning cultures within their organizations.

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As part of its 2023 strategic goals, the IRS plans to review retirement plans of small exempt organizations to determine whether the plan investments are properly administered, whether there are any party-in-interest transactions in the plan trust, and whether any participant loans violate Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 72(p).

In this webcast, recorded April 2023 at AAFCPAs’ Nonprofit Educational Seminar, AAFCPAs’ Employee Benefit Plan Practice leaders review risk areas and how to avoid them.

Download the full slides from AAFCPAs’ Nonprofit Seminar >>

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AAFCPAs is the premier CPA and consulting firm based in New England and considered an attractive alternative to national CPA firms by discerning clients who appreciate exceptional value. We provide audit, tax, accounting, and advisory solutions to nonprofit organizations, commercial companies, and wealthy individuals/estates. Since 1973, our sincere approach to business and service excellence has built a thriving 300-member firm driven by an altruistic mission to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for all our constituents. AAFCPAs donates 10% of its net profits annually to nonprofit organizations. In 2023, AAFCPAs celebrates 50 Years of Impact!

In this webcast, recorded April 2023 at AAFCPAs’ Nonprofit Educational Seminar, AAFCPAs’ Partner Matthew Boyle, MBA shares what’s new at AAFCPAs, and how this affects our discerning clients.

Download the full slides from AAFCPAs’ Nonprofit Seminar >>

Watch Now