Compass Youth Collaborative, Inc.
Hartford, CT
Bob Pawloski
Compass Youth Collaborative, founded in 1997 as an unstructured drop-in youth center, has evolved into a structured, multiple location enrichment program. Compass now serves hudreds of middle school students with a full and part time staff of 42 and a budget of just under $1 million. In 2007, Compass was awarded the contract for the "Peace Builders Initiative" that sends outreach workers directly into the community to help at-risk youth.
Bob Pawloski has been the Executive Director of Compass Youth Collaborative since inception and an ARI client since 2001. Mr. Pawloski recognized early on that outsourcing the bookkeeping and accounting function was the best solution for the organization:
"I was considering hiring a full time bookkeeper but realized that with the probability of staff turnover this may be risky and less cost effective. My CPA suggested I give ARI a call and the package of services they offered were greater and at a lower cost when compared to hiring staff to perform the same functions."
A key requirement for Mr. Pawloski was responsiveness.
"When I picked up the phone I expect an immediate response and ARI always respects that need. Steve is always available to help me when needed and to me that is the litmus test I subscribe to." [Steve Zulli has been the ARI senior manager on the account since 2005.]
Like many smaller nonprofits, Compass doesn't have staff to provide essential financial functions such as creating timely and accurate monthly financial reports.
"I like the idea of one stop shopping and feel comfortable knowing that professionals are handling the vital day-to-day financial needs of our organization. Since they are bonded I know that our money is safe."
Mr. Pawloski says he is pleased with the delivery of services and does not hesitate to recommend ARI to other nonprofits.
"Our funders want to see positive results, and ARI has helped me achieve these results while our organization has grown throughout the years."
