FAQs

Why did you start Support Kansas City?

SKC was created to address several challenges that had plagued nonprofit organizations long before America's late-nineties growth bubble began to deflate. Foremost among these was the tendency to spend an inordinate percentage of hard-earned contributions on overhead. Many funders expect excellent outcome measurements and accountability for funds received. Nonprofit organizations often find it difficult to produce marketing materials and maintain accurate accounting and data records while fulfilling mission-critical programs. This is where Support Kansas City can help. We can prepare fiscal reports, manage donor information and communications, provide special event support, and assist with marketing and public relations initiatives.

How will using Support Kansas City save my organization time and money?

SKC is a special purpose, nonprofit outsourcing agency that provides reasonably priced administrative services to nonprofit organizations of all sizes. This arrangement allows nonprofits to devote more staff and volunteer time to mission-related activities.

How can Support Kansas City make my life easier?

We know that administrative tasks such as accounting, creating a newsletter, entering data, preparing an annual report, or planning an event often fall on the shoulders of the executive director or staff, and often in addition to their everyday duties and demands. We can make your life easier by performing those additional tasks. We can balance your accounts, prepare reports, work with you to prepare an annual report, and enter data to ensure accuracy and consistency. You and your staff can then focus on your programs and mission.

What makes the Support Kansas City team unique?

SKC staff members bring added value to virtually every assignment, because they come from nonprofit backgrounds. Their combined experience and skills allow other nonprofits to tap into a well-formed team of support experts. SKC representatives understand the special needs and sensitivities of nonprofit organizations much better than randomly selected vendors do.

What are the benefits of Support Kansas City's nonprofit status?

As a nonprofit organization, Support Kansas City has a mission to work exclusively for nonprofit organizations like yours. We do not work for any for-profit organizations. We understand the physical, administrative, and fiscal constraints nonprofit organizations face while attempting to maintain quality, mission-driven programs. We can offer you services and materials that you can afford, and we can help you increase the efficiency of your service delivery.

How does the accounting process work?

We will tailor the process to fit your needs and complement the skills you may already have. For example, we can process your accounts payable and produce checks/bill-payments that are ready for signature and mailing, or you can handle this entire process with your own staff, and regularly provide us with the information needed to keep your general ledger up-to-date. Similar options are available for cash receipts. We produce financial statements at the frequency you need them – monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, etc. As part of our initial meetings, we will discuss with you what your needs are, what strengths exist on your current staff, and present you with options for service. We are flexible and want to provide you with the professionalism and accountability you want without giving you services you don't need.

What IRS-required filings will you assist us in preparing?

Support Kansas City can prepare your annual Form 990, including any necessary extensions. We can also prepare any required 1099 forms, and help you further by preparing them for mailing. We are able to provide these services efficiently by tracking the needed information throughout the year as we are handling the general bookkeeping.

Will you perform our financial statement audit?

Support Kansas City does not perform audits on financial statements. We can work closely with your chosen independent auditor, preparing the schedules and reports they need to complete their work and helping answer questions. We have space in our office to accommodate the auditor during “fieldwork” and will provide them with your accounting records on-site. We will direct them to you for any questions we are not in a position to answer. We find that this service lifts a significant time burden from the shoulders of organization staff, and relieves much of the stress an audit can entail. Our accounting staff speaks the same accounting language as the auditors and also understands your accounting issues in-depth, allowing for smooth and efficient communication and resolution of audit matters.

Do you provide payroll services?

Yes, we can provide this service as part of our accounting services.

How can you manage our donor database?

Support Kansas City can accomplish this in several ways. Some clients prefer that SKC stores the database at our location. Our in-house staff generates reports and regularly provides the client with gift information for donor acknowledgement letters and giving reports. Some clients prefer to take advantage of web-hosted database software, allowing remote access by both organizations. A third option is remote access to client database by SKC staff. Data security and a quick response to our clients' needs is built into all three options.

How can our donors be acknowledged and recognized?

Our staff can be responsible for generating the appropriate donor acknowledgement letters and receipts for your donors, including memorial and honorarium notification. We can analyze the gift history of your donors and prepare the donor recognition lists for your publications. All of these tasks can be accomplished in a way that saves you time and energy.

Can you handle our newsletter and annual fund mailings?

Yes. By taking advantage of SKC's database administration expertise, mailings and broadcast e-mailings are handled efficiently. Our staff makes every effort to insure that the information kept in your database is robust and up-to-date. We can help you target your communications to the right audience at the right time.

How does Support Kansas City assist with our newsletters and marketing needs?

Support Kansas City has developed relationships with talented subcontractors and vendors who share our passion for working with nonprofit organizations. We can even manage the content of your website. SKC's project managers concentrate on the details of managing the development of your communications pieces. SKC frees the time your organization's staff devotes to administrative activities and gives you the opportunity to determine the extent of your involvement.

How can your staff assist with special event support?

From concept to post-event follow up, our staff has the expertise and technology to organize and execute mailings, conduct event registration, facilitate ticket sales, and allocate volunteer services. We can track gifts and provide event outcomes.

How well do all these services integrate to meet our organization's needs?

In a word – beautifully. Whether your needs are strictly accounting or they cross over to all our service areas, the staff at Support Kansas City can be your partner in making sure we take advantage of time-saving opportunities. Our goal is to be efficient, effective and responsive to you and your staff. We want to save you time and money and reduce stress.