Chicago, IL, USA
Helping Non-profits Strengthen Their Financial Systems
Running a nonprofit means you’re juggling a lot.
If you’re finding yourself buried in accounting tasks instead of focusing on what really matters—like fundraising and building relationships—we’re here to help.
Let us take the burden of your financial systems off your plate, so you can get back to making a real impact in your community.
Why This, Why Now?
Nonprofit leaders are drowning in complexity. Spreadsheets don’t match. Funders want answers yesterday. And your finance systems—if you can even call them that—feel more reactive than reliable. You’re doing the work of three people, trying to keep the mission alive while wondering if the numbers are quietly sinking the ship.
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What we offer isn’t just clean books. It’s mental clarity, board-ready confidence, and a system that helps you lead like the visionary you are—without getting pulled into every dollar detail. We combine deep nonprofit accounting expertise with strategic financial insight, so you can finally stop surviving and start steering.
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This isn’t about someday. This is about now—before the next audit, before burnout hardens, before another grant cycle slips through. The truth? Organizations that shift into proactive financial clarity early don’t just “stay afloat.” They grow. They attract. They endure.
And if you’re reading this, you're already closer than you think.
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Meet Deitra Lawson, CPA, MBA
I didn’t grow up imagining a future in accounting. My early years were marked more by survival than spreadsheets—navigating homelessness as a teen, learning how to read a room before I ever learned how to read a balance sheet. But when I found numbers, I found something that made sense. They were stable, honest, and clear in a way the world often wasn’t.
That clarity became my compass. It led me to college, to a CPA license, and eventually to a career spent supporting nonprofit leaders who—like me—have learned how to hold a lot and keep moving.
Today, I serve as a fractional controller for small to mid-size nonprofit organizations. I don’t just handle the numbers. I create systems that reduce overwhelm, build sustainability, and translate financial chaos into calm. Whether it’s designing board-ready reporting, cleaning up years of neglected books, or helping an Executive Director finally feel confident in the numbers—they’re all part of the mission for me.
I named my company Dignissim—Latin for “asset”— and that’s exactly what we become to the nonprofit leaders we support.
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I bring over 15 years of nonprofit finance experience, a deep respect for your mission, and a calm, grounded approach to every client relationship. I’m also a mother, a woman of color, and a builder committed to modeling a legacy of integrity and purpose—for my son, my clients, and my community.
If you’ve been carrying your organization’s finances alone, I’d love to help you feel less alone in it.
Fill out the interest form and let’s explore what support could look like for you.
Let’s Make This Easier
Dignissim (DEE-NEE-CEE-UM) means "Asset" in Latin and that’s exactly what we become to the nonprofit leaders we support.
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Every week you delay could be costing you up to $5K a year. We help nonprofit leaders clean up their QuickBooks, reclaim their time, and finally feel in control of the numbers. Book a free 15-minute call to see exactly where you’re losing time—and how to fix it.