Ashley Harris, the money chief for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, has some advice for young people interested in following the path into finance.
“Don’t give up,” Harris told the Business Journal. “It will be tough sometimes but don’t give up.”
Harris on May 6 was named Outstanding CFO of a Not-for-Profit Organization at the Business Journal’s 15th annual CFO of the Year Awards at the Irvine Marriott.
She handles an operational annual budget of about $5 million for programs serving more than 9,500 young people ranging from pre-school, through college and beyond.
“Our goal and mission are to make sure that every child has a mentor,” said Harris, so they know that “they have someone who cares about them.”
Harris, who took over the CFO role at the Irvine-based organization two years ago, has modernized its finances while executing its strategic plan.
“We offer early literacy reading programs to young, elementary-school students as well as after-school care and summer programs,” she says.
The list goes on: teen services, college readiness courses, scholarships, help for those headed to trade schools or nontraditional routes, as well as a food program, particularly in the Santa Ana club area.
“Those are things we are known for—and of course playing basketball,” she said with a laugh.
The clubs also partner with local school districts.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast has club houses in Irvine, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach in addition to Santa Ana. The clubs are “pretty much” 100% in person now and they’re ramping for summer programs starting soon.
The organization is also active with youngsters in Orange.
Trenton Kid
Harris comes from Trenton, N.J., where she grew up and got plenty of inspiration from her mother and grandmother.
When she was a youngster, she was a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Trenton/Mercer County, giving her plenty of insight into the clubs’ key roles.
She is committed to maximizing the clubs’ budget to ensure the continued growth and success of its mission to serve the children and families within Central Orange Coast.
About 85% of the nonprofit’s funding comes from private donors, according to Harris.
Harris leads all finance and accounting operations to ensure the fiscal strength of the organization. She oversees financial reporting, cash management, forecasting, accounting compliance, audit readiness, as well as financial oversight for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast Foundation.
Harris initially “rotated” out to Southern California while working for a public company and has been here for eight years now.
“I’ve been extremely welcomed and met some amazing people out here,” according to Harris. “It’s definitely far away from home.
“There’s amazing weather, of course.”
Financial Writing
She also writes about finances, including advice tailored for young people, reflecting her interest in millennial financial success.
In 2016, Harris authored her first book, “It’s Not You, It’s Your Money” to provide a roadmap for young adults to have a positive and proactive relationship with money.
Harris was also featured on the Charles Schwab segment “Money Matters: Make it Count” where she discussed the importance of financial literacy and the impact that learning about money as a teenager had on her interest in personal finance and her career path. She is also a member of the Forbes Finance Council.
She says young people are willing to listen to financial advice.
Harris says she’s very pleased with the Business Journal award.
“It’s a full-circle moment for me to go from a kid playing basketball at the clubs to representing them on one of the highest stages in getting honored in this way.”
She says her job “is tough sometimes” with “tough decisions.”
“At the end of every decision that we make is for the kids,” Harris says. “We have a major increase in our membership.”
