Who They Are

A community hub for science, art, and exploration

The prestigious nonprofit 501(c)(3) San Diego Children's Discovery Museum (SDCDM) has long been committed to providing interactive educational programs and exhibits in the fields of science, art, and world cultures. With an annual outreach of more than 10,000 people — including kids, families, and school groups — SDCDM is far more than a museum. It's a cornerstone of community learning.

That kind of impact demands a financial backbone that never wavers. Which made the departure of their full-time CFO not just an HR challenge — but a mission-critical risk.

The Challenge

A CFO retires. The work doesn't stop.

When SDCDM's full-time CFO retired in early 2014, the organization was left with a significant void — not just in personnel, but in Controller-level institutional knowledge.

The museum needed financial transparency, process improvements, and a clean path to the yearly audit — all without missing a beat in its day-to-day operations.

With donor funds, restricted grants, and complex nonprofit compliance on the line, incomplete or inaccurate financials weren't an option — the community they served depended on it.

The Solution

Comprehensive outsourced accounting — built to last.

LLŪM didn't just fill a gap. They built a foundation. From their first day of engagement, LLŪM took ownership of the full accounting function — bringing structure, visibility, and confidence to every financial process at SDCDM.

Initial Engagement
Process & systems overhaul
LLŪM assessed existing workflows, identified gaps left by the CFO departure, and immediately enhanced processes and systems to restore financial transparency and audit readiness.
Ongoing
Full-cycle accounting & Controller oversight
LLŪM now leads comprehensive outsourced accounting for SDCDM — covering full-cycle bookkeeping, payroll services, monthly financial reporting, donation recording, and cash forecasting.
Monthly
Board-level financial engagement
LLŪM actively participates in monthly Board meetings, providing the leadership visibility into financial performance needed to make smart, mission-aligned decisions.
Annual
Audit support & year-end close
Every year, LLŪM delivers streamlined year-end close with necessary adjustments promptly provided to the CPA firm — ensuring smooth tax return preparation and zero last-minute surprises.
The Outcome

Stability, clarity, and a mission protected.

The collaboration with LLŪM has yielded transformative outcomes for SDCDM — not just keeping the lights on financially, but empowering the organization to grow, serve, and plan with confidence.

Timely Financial Statements
Accurate, decision-enabling financials delivered consistently — giving leadership the clarity to act with confidence.
Updated Donor Tracking
A modernized donor tracking system enables precise financial allocation and successful restricted fund accounting.
Accounting Policies Established
Accounting policies and procedures developed in tandem with management to fortify internal controls across the organization.
QuickBooks Nonprofit Transition
Seamless migration to QuickBooks Nonprofit Edition — purpose-built for the compliance and reporting needs of 501(c)(3) organizations.
Annual Audit Support
Year-round audit support provided in collaboration with the organization's CPA firm — no scrambling, no surprises.
Streamlined Year-End Close
All year-end adjustments promptly delivered to the CPA for tax return preparation — on schedule, every time.