"Kelsey has really helped me to understand our financial model... What does our income look like? What do our expenses look like? I have to have the financial backing and understanding in order to support both what is currently in place, but also what may be possible going forward."
— Shawna Rosenzweig, CEO
The Challenge
When Shawna Rosenzweig transitioned into the CEO role at Camp Fire National Headquarters after 12 years with the organization, she stepped into a sweeping set of responsibilities — fundraising, board relations, staff oversight, and financial supervision — across a 115-year-old nonprofit with programs in 24 states. While she was familiar with Camp Fire's finances, moving into executive leadership revealed a pressing need for deeper financial clarity and strategic confidence.
As Shawna described it:
"It wasn't really until I moved into the CEO role that I really asked myself, 'Do I fully understand what's happening under the hood here? Where did financial projects need to be? Where are we at currently? How do we ensure we finish the year strong?'"
One specific obstacle was charting a clear path for organizational growth. Shawna needed financial data and strategic insight to make sound decisions about staffing and sustainable expansion. Rather than struggle alone, she recognized that strong leadership meant surrounding herself with the right experts.
"You know, as a CEO, you don't want to know everything. You want to have really smart people around you that know their area really well and can be thought partners and experts in that."
The Solution
Fortunately, Camp Fire already had an existing relationship with BELAY. As Shawna stepped into her new role, she began working more closely with Kelsey, a BELAY Fractional CFO, to tackle her financial challenges head-on. Kelsey's depth of knowledge made an immediate impression.
"This team really knows what they're talking about and they really are experts in the field. That was something I was impressed by right away,"Shawna shared. Kelsey's role extended far beyond balancing books — she became a trusted thought partner and strategist, helping Shawna build a comprehensive understanding of Camp Fire's financial model through revenue and expense analysis, scenario planning, and forward-looking financial strategy.
A centerpiece of their collaboration was detailed scenario modeling to support staffing and growth decisions.
"I worked with Kelsey to play out a number of different scenarios like, 'Okay, if we hired for this role, what does that do? If we looked at this role, what does the timing look like?' It really allowed us to set up a roadmap for success,"Shawna explained. No question was too large or too small, and Kelsey's consistent availability as a knowledgeable advisor helped Shawna steadily grow her own financial acumen throughout the engagement.
"I know there's a person I can call. I know who they are, and to be able to have that gives you a lot of peace of mind."
— Shawna Rosenzweig, CEOThe Impact
Through her partnership with Kelsey, Shawna gained the financial clarity and confidence she needed to lead Camp Fire decisively. Kelsey's guidance enabled the organization to meet its year-end financial goals and establish a thoughtful roadmap for team expansion, turning what had been a source of uncertainty into a foundation for strategic growth.
"It's provided us a level of expertise we probably wouldn't have had otherwise. And it really helped me grow my muscle and understanding in that area."
Beyond strategy, the engagement delivered something equally valuable: relief and peace of mind.
"It's a relief that our books are accurate… To have someone who can help think through strategies is incredibly helpful. It really has created this space for me to both say, where will I be most impactful in this role as CEO? And also, how do I play to my strengths in this role?"
Shawna now recommends BELAY without hesitation, noting that the partnership exceeded every expectation she had coming into the role. With Kelsey's expert support, she leads Camp Fire with clarity, confidence, and the freedom to focus on strengthening and expanding the organization's impact for the next generation.