Know where you stand. Lead with confidence.
Financial clarity, stronger oversight, and experienced leadership for nonprofits and research organizations. Pennies Count helps you understand what your numbers are telling you, where financial risks may be developing, and what deserves attention next.
Nonprofit leaders
Identify areas that may deserve closer attention
Research organizations
Strengthen award oversight, PI reporting, and financial visibility.
You don't have to know what the problem is to start the conversation.
Complimentary 30-minute conversation. Confidential and judgment-free. Let’s Talk It Through
Who We Serve
Financial Leadership for Organizations with Complex Financial Needs
Pennies Count works with nonprofit and research organizations that need more than routine accounting.
We work with organizations where grants, contracts, restricted funding, multiple programs, compliance requirements, and financial reporting create a level of complexity that requires experienced financial leadership.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
For nonprofits that need stronger financial infrastructure, clearer reporting, better internal controls, or Controller-level financial leadership.
RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS
For research foundations and organizations managing multiple research programs, grants, contracts, Principal Investigators, and complex reporting requirements.
Outsourced Internal Audit
You’re Responsible for Oversight.
You Deserve More Than Reassurance.
Reports may arrive on time. Policies may be documented. Management may assure the board that everything is working. But what supports that confidence?
Pennies Count provides an independent look at risks, financial processes, and internal controls—helping nonprofit and research leaders understand where oversight needs attention.
Clear scope. Documented findings. Plain-English reporting.
Explore Internal AuditSee the gaps
Identify weaknesses that routine reports and written policies may not reveal.
Understand the risk
Know why the findings matter and what deserves leadership’s attention.
Strengthen oversight
Support board and management oversight with documented findings and clear priorities.
“The question isn’t whether your organization has financial controls. It’s whether those controls still match the risks you’re managing.”
What We Do
Financial Challenges Require More Than Routine Accounting
From audit findings and complex grants to financial reporting concerns and weak internal controls, Pennies Count helps nonprofit and research organizations address the financial challenges that can put funding, accountability, and organizational stability at risk.
Outsourced Internal Audit
Concerned that financial weaknesses could go undetected until your next audit? Gain independent insight into risks, controls, and whether corrective actions are working.
Fractional Controller
Financial reports are delayed, reconciliations are falling behind, or your accounting team needs experienced oversight? Get Controller-level leadership without adding a full-time position.
Internal Controls & Financial Infrastructure
Have your operations grown, but your financial processes stayed the same? Address gaps in approvals, accountability, documentation, and financial oversight.
Research Finance
Struggling to track research spending, personnel allocations, or remaining grant funds? Give leadership and Principal Investigators clearer insight into project finances.
Fractional CFO
Facing major funding decisions, cash flow uncertainty, or questions from your board? Get experienced financial guidance to help leadership plan, evaluate risks, and make informed decisions.
Audit & Financial Readiness
Facing an upcoming audit, unresolved reconciliations, or missing documentation? Identify financial reporting gaps and address issues before they become audit findings.
Choose your starting point
Where Does Your Organization Need Support?
Explore potential financial risks on your own—or take a closer look with Pennies Count.
Free Financial Assessments
“Where might we need to pay closer attention?”
Answer a short set of questions about your organization’s financial practices to highlight potential gaps and areas that may deserve attention.
What you gainA starting point for understanding your concerns and deciding whether a closer look would be useful.
Explore AssessmentsSpecialized Financial Reviews
“We have a concern. What does it mean?”
Get a focused consulting review of a defined financial area, with attention to the information, risks, and concerns relevant to the agreed scope.
What you receivePlain-English findings, priority recommendations, and a clearer understanding of what needs attention next.
Explore Specialized ReviewsResearch organizations and foundations: explore the dedicated research finance options in the next section.
With more than 20 years of nonprofit accounting experience, a Master's degree in Forensic Accounting, and prior experience auditing nonprofit organizations in public accounting, Pennies Count brings a detail-oriented, practical approach to financial oversight.
Our work helps leadership understand financial information, address weaknesses, and make more informed decisions without unnecessary technical language.
Accounting Experience With a Forensic-Minded Perspective.
20+
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Supporting nonprofit and research organizations.
FORENSIC PERSPECTIVE
Master’s degree in Forensic Accounting
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING & AUDIT EXPERIENCE
Experience in public accounting auditing nonprofit organizations
Meet Upenda
The forensic mind behind Pennies Count.
Hello!SEE THE PENNIES COUNT APPROACH IN ACTION
Nonprofit Case Study
How an Audit‑Ready Review uncovered a misclassified conditional grant.
Research Foundation Case Study
How an internal controls review uncovered misallocation of payroll expense
Financial Oversight—in Plain English
Newsletter
The Pennies Count
Practical insights for nonprofit and research leaders who want stronger financial oversight. Explore internal controls, audit readiness, grant compliance, and the risks that change as organizations grow- all explained in plain English.
Workshop
Nonprofit Financials in Plain English
Date November 2, 2026
Time: 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Complimentary
What’s on your mind?
You don't have to know what the problem is to start the conversation.
Whether you lead a nonprofit or research organization, bring your questions, concerns, or the feeling that something deserves a closer look. We’ll listen, talk it through in plain English, and discuss what support may fit.
Complimentary 30-minute conversation. Confidential and judgment-free.