Fiscally Awesome with Matt Gardner

Matt Gardner
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Where finance meets fun for small businesses and startups. Join Hiline Co-Founder & CEO Matt Gardner as he explores the financial strategies and entrepreneurial journeys behind growing organizations. Each episode features founders, CEOs, nonprofit and business leaders sharing their insights, challenges, and successes. From innovative growth tactics to leadership lessons, "Fiscally Awesome" delivers practical business wisdom with a refreshing twist. Tune in to gain valuable insights and discover how to make your business fiscally awesome.

  1. May 5

    The Nonprofit Doom Loop: How to Break the Cycle for Good

    84% of nonprofit leaders spend more time worrying about money than advancing their mission. Sound familiar? In this episode of Fiscally Awesome, Hiline CEO Matt Gardner breaks down the Nonprofit Doom Loop — a 4-stage cycle trapping organizations in financial survival mode — and what it actually takes to break free. Drawing from Hiline's first-ever nonprofit industry report, Matt and Chief of Staff Katie Burns unpack: Stage 1 – Timing Crisis: Why nonprofits can be "rich on paper, broke in reality, "and how reimbursable grants create dangerous cash flow gaps Stage 2 – Leadership Burnout: How financial stress prevents ratio Executive Directors from leading strategically Stage 3 – The Compliance Trap: Why organizations with 8+ grants spend 4.3x more hours on compliance, and what a modernized system actually fixes Stage 4 – The Fundraising Penalty: How slow financial reporting makes nonprofits "unfundable" and costs them major gifts Plus: The 13-week cash flow tool every nonprofit CFO should be using, and what organizations on the other side of the Doom Loop have in common. Download the Doom Loop Report: https://go.hiline.co/nonprofit-financial-foundation-report/ Free 13-Week Cash Flow Template: https://www.hiline.co/ledger/tools/13-week-cash-flow-template Book a free consultation with Hiline: https://hiline.co/get-started How Hiline supports nonprofits: https://www.hiline.co/small-business-accounting/nonprofits Fiscally Awesome is brought to you by Hiline — financial operations, accounting, and CFO services built specifically for nonprofits and small businesses.

  2. Apr 9

    How Nonprofits Can Unlock $326B in Donor-Advised Funds

    Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are the fastest-growing source of nonprofit giving. Are you missing out? 💰 In this episode of Fiscally Awesome, Hiline CEO Matt Gardner sits down with Mitch Stein, Head of Strategy at Chariot, to break down everything nonprofits need to know about DAFs and how to unlock this powerful funding stream. What you'll learn: What a donor-advised fund is and how it works Why $326 billion sits in DAFs, and why most nonprofits aren't set up to receive it The #1 mistake nonprofits make with DAF donor data Practical first steps to become "DAF ready" How to work with community foundations to unlock both grants and DAF gifts Why your EIN visibility could be costing you donors right now Key Insight: Fidelity Charitable distributes over $18B/year and is growing 20–30% annually. If DAFs aren't part of your fundraising strategy, you're leaving money on the table. Guest: Mitch Stein, Head of Strategy at Chariot Mitch started his career at Goldman Sachs before moving into the nonprofit tech space. At Chariot, he helps nonprofits raise more from DAF donors and streamline complex gift processing through tools like DAF Pay, which integrates with 70+ fundraising platforms. Learn more: givechariot.com Follow Mitch on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mitchstein About Hiline: Hiline provides outsourced accounting, CFO services, and financial operations support to small businesses and nonprofits. We help organizations build the financial infrastructure they need to grow. Learn more → Subscribe for weekly financial insights for small businesses and nonprofits!

  3. Mar 26

    Build a Nonprofit Growth Stack That Actually Works

    Build a nonprofit tech stack that saves time, cuts waste, and amplifies your mission. 🚀 Logan Brown of MeadowTech breaks down the nonprofit growth stack.  In this episode of the Fiscally Awesome podcast, host Matt Gardner (CEO of Hiline) sits down with Logan Brown — co-founder of MeadowTech and The Third Place for Kids — to talk about how nonprofits can modernize their operations without breaking the budget. Logan brings a rare dual perspective: Fortune 50 tech executive turned fractional IT consultant AND active nonprofit founder. Together, he and Matt unpack the real cost of "good enough" technology and what it takes to build systems that actually scale.  🎯 What you'll learn: What a "growth stack" is and why every nonprofit needs one How to do a tech energy audit to find hidden time and money waste Why SaaS sprawl is costing your organization more than you think How nonprofit discounts (TechSoup, Good Stack, Atlassian) can slash your tech costs The #1 security risk hiding in most nonprofits right now Why fractional IT + fractional finance is the smartest investment for organizations under $5M How donor acquisition cost thinking can transform your fundraising strategy 💡 Tools mentioned: Digits, Ramp, Bill.com, Google Workspace, Slack, 1Password, TechSoup, Good Stack  👤 About Logan Brown: Logan is the co-founder of MeadowTech, providing fractional IT and tech-enabled services for nonprofits and social enterprises. He's also co-founder of The Third Place for Kids, a community center for neurodivergent and disabled children. Connect with Logan on LinkedIn.  👤 About Matt Gardner: Matt Gardner is the co-founder and CEO of Hiline, a financial operations firm helping nonprofits and small businesses build modern finance infrastructure.  🔗 Learn more about Hiline: hiline.co 🔗 MeadowTech: meadowtech.co  🔗 The Third Place for Kids: thethirdplaceforkids.org 📬 Subscribe for bi-weekly insights on nonprofit finance, accounting automation, and small business strategy.

  4. Feb 26

    Nonprofit Formation Secrets: Go From Zero to Impact w/ Dr. Sharon

    Nonprofit advisor Dr. Sharon Elefant reveals how to launch a "business with a cause" the RIGHT way — from 501(c)(3) filings to funding strategy. Most nonprofit founders are passionate about their mission, but have zero background in business. Dr. Sharon Elefant, CEO of The Nonprofit Plug, has helped hundreds of early-stage nonprofits go from idea to impact with a 100% formation success rate. In this episode of Fiscally Awesome, Matt Gardner (CEO of Hiline) and Dr. Sharon cover: Why calling it a "nonprofit" sets you up for failure — and what to say instead Fiscal sponsorship: the secret tool to test your idea WITHOUT forming a 501(c)(3) The #1 financial investment to make BEFORE hiring a grant writer How to reverse-engineer your nonprofit budget from mission to dollar What "good money" actually looks like, and the grant traps to avoid When and how to build the financial infrastructure that unlocks funding Whether you're just starting out or cleaning up a mess from bad TikTok advice, this episode will give you the financial foundation to build a sustainable, fundable organization. 🔗 Learn more about The Nonprofit Plug 🔗 Learn more about Hiline About Fiscally Awesome Fiscally Awesome is produced by Hiline, where we make small business finances stress-free so you can focus on building a great company. Visit our website or connect with us on LinkedIn to learn more. Hosted by Matt Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Hiline. New episodes drop every other Thursday.

  5. Feb 12

    Automating Your Way Out of Accounting Hell

    Accounting automation isn't about replacing accountants—it's about eliminating the manual, repetitive tasks drowning your team. Join Matt Gardner (CEO, Hiline) and Em Daigle (Founder, OTTO-MATES) as they tackle the reality of automation in accounting, from broken Excel workflows to AI-powered solutions that actually work. What You'll Learn: Why your accounting process (not just your tech) is holding you back The #1 data problem blocking automation success How to identify quick wins that free up hours of manual work AI vs. automation: when to use each in your finance workflows Getting your team to embrace change (without the resistance) Practical first steps for small businesses and accounting firms Featured Guest: Em Daigle is the founder of OTTO-MATES, an online community of 1,000+ accounting and finance professionals focused on automation and AI. With experience from Arthur Andersen to leading go-to-market strategy at Zuora, Em helps accountants navigate the evolving tech landscape without the hard sell. Ready to break up with "Ex-Hell" (that massive Excel spreadsheet running your life)? Subscribe for more practical accounting insights from Hiline! 💼 Join the OTT-MATES Community: https://www.otto-mates.com/ (free to join) 🌐 Learn more about Hiline: https://hiline.co

  6. Jan 8

    The 2026 Nonprofit Finance Playbook: How AI and Automation Free You to Focus on Mission

    Drowning in admin work when you should be focused on your mission? This episode is your roadmap out for 2026!   Join Matt Gardner (CEO, Hiline) alongside JC Franzen (Director of Product Management, BILL) and Rob Hamilton (Head of Go-to-Market, Digits) as they reveal how AI and automation are transforming nonprofit finance in 2026. Discover how to eliminate manual processes, gain real-time visibility into your programs and grants, and build both time and financial capacity—all without hiring expensive staff. What You'll Learn: Why the "old way" of nonprofit finance is costing you more than you think How to automate AP/AR, expense management, and month-end close The power of dimensional tracking for programs and grants – you might know this as class. tracking How to present financials that engage your board (no more glossed-over eyes!) Why the right tech stack can replace a $100K+ hire Practical first steps to take today Whether you're an executive director, board member, or nonprofit finance leader, this episode shows you what's possible when you stop retrofitting old processes and start building for the future. Subscribe for more financial wisdom that actually makes sense for small businesses and nonprofits!

  7. 12/04/2025

    Why Not All Money is Good Money: Strategic Funding for Nonprofits

    Join Hiline CEO Matt Gardner in conversation with Rebecca Bostwick, Principal at Bostwick Strategy Group, as they tackle one of the most important truths in nonprofit management: not all funding opportunities align with your mission, and saying yes to the wrong money can cost your organization more than saying no. In this episode, Rebecca shares her 25 years of experience working with nonprofits from grassroots organizations to national institutions, revealing how to thread together strategy and funding decisions. Learn why accepting a grant without proper systems can drain resources, damage donor relationships, and pull your organization away from its core mission. Key Takeaways: The four Ps framework: Purpose, People, Practice, and Product/Program Red flags to watch for when evaluating grants and major donors Why cashflow matters more than you think with reimbursable grants How board composition must evolve as your organization grows Essential questions to ask before accepting any grant Perfect for: Executive Directors, nonprofit leaders, board members, and anyone navigating the complex world of nonprofit funding and strategy. Connect with Rebecca Bostwick: 🔗 Rebecca A. Bostwick – linkedin.com/in/rebecca-a-bostwick/ 🔗 Rebecca's Website: bostwickstrategygroup.com About Hiline: Hiline specializes in R&D tax credits, AI-native accounting solutions, and nonprofit financial services. We help organizations build the financial systems needed to manage complex funding requirements and scale sustainably. Schedule your free consultation: hiline.co/get-started

  8. 11/20/2025

    R&D Tax Credits: Unlock Up to $500K for Your Startup

    Discover how R&D tax credits could put hundreds of thousands of dollars back into your startup's pocket! Join Matt Gardner, CEO of Hiline, and Meenal Garg, Head of Tax Services, as they break down everything you need to know about R&D tax credits and the game-changing 2025 legislation updates. What You'll Learn: How to unlock up to $500K in payroll tax offsets during your first 5 years The 4-part qualification test that determines if you're eligible Biggest misconceptions keeping businesses from claiming credits they deserve Documentation strategies to maximize your credit and minimize audit risk Why failed projects still qualify for R&D credits Amendment opportunities for 2022-2023 to recover taxes you've already paid Key Takeaways: You DON'T need to be profitable to claim R&D credits Failed R&D projects still qualify for credits New 2025 legislation allows 100% deduction of US R&D expenses (reversing the 2022 capitalization rules) Businesses can amend 2022-2023 returns to get refunds Credits offset payroll taxes dollar-for-dollar in early years Qualifying expenses include wages, contractors, supplies, and cloud hosting costs ‼️ Special Offer: FREE R&D study for first-time customers with credits up to $20K! Connect with Hiline: 🌐 Website: https://hiline.co 🧮 Free tool: R&D Tax Credit Calculator 💼 LinkedIn - Meenal Garg 💼 LinkedIn - Matt Gardner 📧 Contact: info@hiline.co About Our Expert: Meenal Garg is a California-licensed CPA with 25+ years of experience helping tech companies and startups unlock millions in R&D tax credits. She leads Hiline's tax services team of 8 professionals with over 50 combined years of expertise. Why Choose Hiline: ✓ 15% fee (vs industry standard 20-30%) ✓ Comprehensive documentation & audit protection ✓ State credits included at no additional cost ✓ Holistic approach combining accounting, tax prep & R&D studies ✓ Partner-focused, not just a service provider Subscribe for more insights on small business finances, accounting, and tax strategies that actually make sense!

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Where finance meets fun for small businesses and startups. Join Hiline Co-Founder & CEO Matt Gardner as he explores the financial strategies and entrepreneurial journeys behind growing organizations. Each episode features founders, CEOs, nonprofit and business leaders sharing their insights, challenges, and successes. From innovative growth tactics to leadership lessons, "Fiscally Awesome" delivers practical business wisdom with a refreshing twist. Tune in to gain valuable insights and discover how to make your business fiscally awesome.

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