Su Casa Memphis exists to connect and empower both the Latino immigrant and broader Memphis community by creating a safe place to learn, grow and experience belonging. Through its core programs, which include adult English classes, a bilingual preschool and community services, Su Casa has become a vital resource for hundreds of families across Memphis and the Mid-south.
However, as the organization grew, so did the complexity of its financial needs.
When Su Casa first engaged CFO Leverage, the organization was operating with basic bookkeeping support, but it lacked the financial visibility needed to make strategic decisions.
“We had clean books, but we didn’t have clarity,” said executive director Michael Phillips. “It was largely data entry. I still had to do a lot of the work myself to understand what the numbers meant.”
At a critical moment, Su Casa was facing financial uncertainty and difficult decisions. Leadership needed to clearly understand:
Without that clarity, growth—and even stability—were at risk.
CFO Leverage partnered with Su Casa as a fractional CFO, quickly transitioning from basic financial support to a strategic, hands-on partnership.
The engagement included:
CFO Leverage helped Su Casa distill complex financial data into clear, actionable insights, enabling leadership to confidently communicate with both the board and donors.
“I was able to walk into those conversations with clarity on what was happening, what we needed and exactly how much that meant in dollars.”
The organization moved from reactive decision-making to proactive, long-term planning, with visibility into:
“They’ve helped us understand not just where we are, but what’s possible over the next 1, 3, 5, even 10 years.”
With a clearer financial story, Su Casa successfully executed a high-impact fundraising campaign, supported by more transparent and compelling messaging.
“We could clearly tell donors: this is what your dollars are doing, and this is how you can help.”
In fact, Su Casa raised $200k in funds with CFO Leverage’s support in the first six months of the contract. Since then, it has consistently raised more dollars than it has spent due to many new efforts and improvements, among them being the partnership with CFO Leverage.
Beyond numbers, CFO Leverage became a trusted advisor, helping Su Casa evaluate tradeoffs, align decisions with mission and operate with greater confidence.
“They’re not just doing the bookkeeping, they’re helping us think. They bring best practices, perspective and clarity to every decision we’re making.”
Su Casa has transitioned from a position of financial concern to one of stability, clarity and optimism. The organization now has:
“It has truly changed the trajectory of what’s possible for Su Casa,” Phillips said. “We’ve moved from a place of concern to a place of hope and optimism.”
