Amish Mehta CPA, Partner | Not-For-Profit Practice Leader, Friedman LLP, Accountants and Advisors.

As representatives of nonprofits and professional associations, community is at the heart of everything we do.  For us, service and support are the first priority and, while that has always been true, it has never been more evident than it has over the past 18 months.  The impact of the pandemic will shape our future in profound ways.  From the generation of young students that have had to adapt to an entirely new way of learning to the elderly who have experienced the most pervasive health complications, this pandemic has – and continues – to affect every member of every community, worldwide and without exception. 

My sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to all of those who have, or will, lose loved ones as a result of this pandemic. And, while the pandemic’s impact has been overwhelmingly negative, I have taken comfort in one particular silver lining.

All around the world, people came together to protect the most vulnerable.  As soon as, or even before, COVID was identified within the U.S., there were flyers from Brooklyn to the Bronx offering contactless meal delivery to the elderly and immune compromised.  This spontaneous, grass-roots reaction proves to me how deeply ingrained the idea of community service is within our culture.  Not everyone has the resources to formally start a nonprofit, but the desire to serve is universal. It has been an affirmation of my devotion to the nonprofit sector and a small, but sustaining hope made all the more indispensable by the harsh reality of the moment.

I’ve had the privilege of being a NYSAE member for the past decade, and the honor of serving as the organization’s treasurer over the past year.  Like a great deal of organizations, NYSAE has struggled economically throughout the pandemic. I’m grateful for strong leadership from my fellow board members and from our association management company, Kellen, which are the reason we are on track to be fiscally sound in the face of adversity, and hope that my diligence in serving as treasurer has provided some reassurance about our future – which I have no doubt is bright.  With our shared appreciation for - and dedication to – support and service, we’re uniquely equipped to excel in a post-pandemic environment.  While I recognize the world is not out of the woods yet, I’m unabashedly optimistic that we will have as much or more success bringing people together in the years to come.  I look forward to seeing you all in person in the fall at Meet NY and our Synergy Awards.  Our trust in the power of personal connection will never be more clearer.

 

Amish Mehta, NYSAE treasurer, officer, and board Member, is a CPA and advisor helping nonprofits achieve strong governance and transparency in financial reporting. Amish can be reached at AMehta@friedmanllp.com