Elkhorn Slough Foundation

"Capable, communicative, calm, and competent"

The Elkhorn Slough Foundation (ESF) is a nationally accredited land trust working to conserve and restore the Elkhorn Slough and its watershed in Central California. The biologically rich environment has the densest concentration of sea otters on the coast, and hundreds of species of birds depend on the resources of this estuary. The Foundation works closely with the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and supports education, training, research, and land stewardship programs. ESF also promotes sustainable farming and ranching on its five watershed properties.

Mark Silberstein, ESF Executive Director, explains that their retiring CPA suggested YPTC to help with some accounting challenges they were facing. ESF was navigating a challenging transition in administrative management, and YPTC was engaged for extra support. Mark calls out YPTC Associate Kim Walton, saying, “Her knowledge, diligence, and communication skills have helped us streamline and strengthen our fiscal management. She has worked seamlessly with our finance and investment committee and our new staff.”

ESF was also preparing to negotiate their federal indirect cost rate. The Foundation administers millions of dollars of federal funds, making their NICRA renewal process complex. Mark says YPTC Associate Melanie Yager “brought her expertise and insights to help us prepare the negotiation documentation. The Federal Reviewer commented on how well-done the application was, and we renewed our negotiated rate in the smoothest process we have experienced with no questions from the feds. We are greatly appreciative.”

Reflecting on his overall experience, Mark says, “The people at YPTC are very capable, communicative, calm, and competent! We have benefited from the deep bench of expertise that we can call on when questions arise. I would add, to continue the alliteration, collegiality as a trait that has made our interactions with YPTC positive and enjoyable.”

Mark closes out saying, “For organizations that need a fresh view of their fiscal process and reporting, who are experiencing a gap in staffing, or who, like we did, need the capacity – I can absolutely recommend YPTC.”