Streamlining Growth and Grant Management

My Community Health Center offers comprehensive primary care services to all patients regardless of ability to pay. MCHC provides care to more than 10,000 patients annually with close to 36,000 medical visits. In 2023, MCHC opened an in-house pharmacy, and opened their third location in February 2024, which joined their Canton office that houses all residential programs and Magnolia Health Center.

As MCHC added services and locations, its financial operations grew more complex and its previous accounting software, QuickBooks, could no longer meet the center’s needs. The team needed nonprofit-specific grant tracking and stronger reporting to keep up.

Chief Financial Officer Kelly Lorenz first encountered Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT at a nonprofit industry conference and flagged it for future use. As financial demands increased and the need for change became clear, an evaluation of other vendors confirmed Financial Edge NXT as the best choice for its project-based grant structure and multi-site reporting. By the next year, the center transitioned to the software in time to handle a surge of grants and new reporting requirements.

“Financial Edge NXT brought project-based grant tracking, integrated budgeting, and customizable reporting,” said Lorenz. “The software addressed immediate challenges, improved daily workflows, and supported compliance as the center continued to grow.”

Saving Time and Increasing Financial Visibility

Financial Edge NXT improved visibility and efficiency across MCHC’s operations. The team can segment data by location, department, and project grant, which makes it easy to see revenue and expenses for each care site. “Our board is 51% patients, most of whom do not have a finance background, so reports must be clear and easy to understand. Financial Edge NXT makes that possible,” she said. “It’s a click of a button to generate reports. The transparency and compliance are huge for us.”

The transition also ended the need to search paper files or scattered folders. Invoices and documentation live in one place, so staff get what they need without delays. Centralized records support clear audit trails and reduce time spent pulling backup. “Financial Edge NXT has helped us reduce effort and improve control,” said Lorenz. “It’s really about transparency, compliance, and employee time—having everything in one place makes a real difference.”

Integrated budgeting tools add further clarity, helping the team compare grant budgets to actuals and adjust in real time. With consistent reporting and fewer manual steps, the finance team spends less time compiling data and more time guiding decisions that support growth.

“We love Financial Edge NXT for the project IDs. Tracking grants is so easy—you can see everything in black and white,” said Lorenz. “Even as we added more grants and more locations, our workload didn’t grow with it. It lets us manage everything without adding headcount.” That same visibility also transformed how the team prepares for audits and compliance reviews.

Improving Audit Readiness and Auditor Confidence

For federally qualified health centers, audit readiness isn’t optional—it’s essential. Audit readiness has improved since adopting Financial Edge NXT. Robust reporting and centralized documentation give auditors quick access to required information, which reduces audit time. Reports, including profit-and-loss statements by grant or location, are easy to produce and review and support accurate, timely submissions.

Blackbaud’s reputation adds to that confidence. The center’s external auditors, who specialize in federally qualified health centers, trust the system’s reliability and functionality. “Our auditors love Financial Edge NXT. They know Blackbaud’s reputation as the sector leader, and the reporting makes their job easier,” said Lorenz. “They have fewer follow-up questions and a smoother process overall.” With clearer reporting and well-organized records, Financial Edge NXT helps the team meet rigorous standards while staying focused on delivering care to the community.

Looking Ahead to Expanded Functionality

Looking ahead, the center plans to use Financial Edge NXT to meet changing grant requirements and potential site expansions. By expanding its use of existing tools, the team expects to maintain financial clarity and compliance as operations scale, without increasing operational burden.

“Financial Edge NXT didn’t just replace QuickBooks—it has enabled us to grow confidently, remain compliant, and manage increasing financial complexity with ease,” explained Lorenz.