When Karen Cooper, Executive Director of The Modern Quilt Guild, took the helm she inherited more than just a thriving creative community; she inherited a financial system held together by spreadsheets, paper checks, and a bookkeeper with no real oversight. With Karen’s arrival and subsequent partnership with Chazin, MQG has more than doubled its revenue and achieved 400% growth since pre-COVID. The real story isn’t just the numbers; it’s the tangible results from a solid financial foundation that has allowed them to thrive with their community right alongside them.
It’s been an incredible journey for The Modern Quilt Guild, and they wouldn’t be here or secure without Chazin.
A Community Brought to Life
Founded in 2009 by Alissa Haight Carlton and Latifah Saafir, The Modern Quilt Guild set out to do something different. Where traditional quilting organizations held fast to the same patterns and the same demographics, MQG welcomed a younger, more diverse community built online. One that saw quilting as art, culture, and connection.
In 2013, MQG brought that digital community to life with QuiltCon, now the largest modern quilting event in the world. Today, The Modern Quilt Guild hosts meetups for quilters of all backgrounds, creates dedicated spaces for underrepresented communities, sponsors community groups, and sends a weekly newsletter that keeps thousands of members connected. Their vision is bold: turn QuiltCon into the “quilt fanfest,” a full celebration of quilting as a living art form, as accessible and exciting as any major creative convention.
What started as an online art community has now expanded into an international collection of guilds, all connected by quilts.
The Challenge: Growth Without Systems
Karen joined in fall 2019, stepping into the middle of final preparations for QuiltCon 2020. The conference went beautifully, but as attention turned to planning the next Quiltcon, COVID hit. With an in-person event no longer possible, Karen and her team had a choice: cancel or find another way. They chose to pivot, quickly transforming their would-be in-person event to a digital one that could host an online gallery with artists’ statements, a way to have classes, and still highlight community in the ways that mattered most. Without the barriers of travel and accommodation costs, more people signed up than ever before. QuiltCon Together in February 2021, was a resounding success, and MQG emerged from it with an expanded audience, significant momentum, and the accomplishment of fostering connection when it was needed most.
Had Chazin not come in to help in the months before, the financial structure simply wouldn’t have kept up. For an organization now bringing in over a million dollars of revenue and experiencing rapid growth, the risk was significant, and the lack of visibility made confident decision-making nearly impossible.
“There was no structure before,” Karen explained. “It wasn’t efficient, and we weren’t audit-ready.”
What Chazin Built
Sought out in 2019 by MQG’s Treasurer, Chazin came in and got to work by going through the books, ensuring every dollar coming in was being allocated to the right accounts, and building a real system of processes from the ground up. Monthly reporting was established, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) compliant processes were implemented, and audit-readiness was achieved. The goal was straightforward: give MQG accurate, reliable data so leadership could make the best possible decisions.
Chazin also helped MQG implement systems like QuickBooks and Bill.com and guided the organization through switching to a better banking platform. Records are accurate, everything matches up, and it’s all accessible, all the time.
“I know I can open QuickBooks and it’s right,” Karen said. “Things match up and it gives our Board confidence. If I have a question, I message our accountant. That partnership changed everything.”
Karen doesn’t have to wonder if something is off or wait weeks for answers. Chazin is on her team in the truest sense: not just an outside vendor, but a financial partner that shows up like a colleague without needing to be a full-time employee.
As MQG grew, Chazin scaled with them, adding a second accountant, learning MQG’s busy seasons, and anticipating when financial processes would spike. There’s no scrambling. Just a system that works, so Karen and her team can focus on their mission.
Confidence to Focus on Mission
The results speak for themselves. MQG has more than doubled in size financially since 2020. But what Karen returns to again and again isn’t the growth: it’s peace of mind.
“We have doubled in size financially since 2020, and we wouldn’t have been able to do that without Chazin. I have zero belief that we would be here and feel safe without them.”
With finances running smoothly, Karen and her team can focus on what they aim to do: building community, supporting quilters at every level, and growing a movement that makes modern quilting accessible to everyone.
Is Your Nonprofit Ready to Grow With Confidence?
If your organization is running on spreadsheets, struggling with inconsistent bookkeeping, or simply not sure whether your financial data is accurate, you’re not alone. Like The Modern Quilt Guild, the right financial partner can give you the foundation you need to grow, make confident decisions, and stay focused on your mission. Talk to us today.
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With over 20 years working exclusively with nonprofits, we pride ourselves in having a unique understanding of nonprofit accounting needs. We believe that nonprofits deserve personalized, quality service and should not settle for a one-size-fits-all approach. We collaborate with you to provide a fully virtual and customized solution that is not only cost-effective but also strengthens your accounting function. We offer a team of industry experts at your disposal to provide advice, leading technology, and to supplement existing staff to improve efficiency and compliance.