Fueling growth, faith and future leaders

Client background

Founded in 1947 in the piney woods of Livingston, Texas, Camp Cho-Yeh is a faith-based not-for-profit that welcomes more than 5,400 youth campers and up to 40,000 retreat guests each year. It’s a place where confidence grows, friendships deepen and character takes root — through shared experiences that leave a lasting impact. With a $21 million capital project complete and the acquisition of a second camp underway, Camp Cho-Yeh is experiencing rapid growth — and its financial systems are playing a crucial role in supporting that growth.

The business challenge

When Mady Lynxwiler, vice president of finance and administration, joined Camp Cho-Yeh in 2022, Sage Intacct was already the camp’s financial system, having been implemented several years earlier with the help of Baker Tilly. She had experience with the software and the team at Baker Tilly through her prior role at another not-for-profit camp, which made for a smooth transition.

“I believe the organization had been using QuickBooks before,” Mady explains. “While I can’t speak to the implementation here, I know from my own background that QuickBooks doesn’t provide the dimensional reporting or scalability that organizations like ours require. Sage Intacct gives us that flexibility — and it’s proven to be the right choice as we’ve continued to grow.”

Strategy and solution

Practical wins that matter
Camp Cho-Yeh uses Sage Intacct dimensions daily to track restricted and unrestricted funds, manage multi-location operations under one entity and monitor department-level spending. These capabilities ensure accountability to donors, the board and leadership while simplifying internal reporting.

Budgeting is another area that has undergone significant transformation. The camp adopted Martus, integrated with Sage Intacct, to streamline its annual process and quarterly forecasts. “Before Martus, I was sending spreadsheets out to everyone, collecting them and manually compiling the numbers,” Mady says. “It easily added up to two weeks of work. Now it’s live, collaborative and so much faster.”

The camp also relies on AssetEdge for managing its fixed assets. With millions invested in facilities and equipment, having a clear trail from purchase to depreciation to disposal is essential. “Our auditors love it,” Mady notes. “This year, we had zero adjusting entries, even with major construction underway. That tells me the system is doing exactly what it should.”

Collaboration that builds confidence
For Mady, Baker Tilly’s role is largely about helping her team maximize the use of the tools they already have. She recalls asking for advice on how to track more than 100 sub-projects tied to a capital campaign. “I expected to be told I needed another software package,” she says. “Instead, they asked the right questions, showed me options in Sage Intacct and equipped me to handle it myself. That conversation became a launching point for us.” She values that same approach in day-to-day interactions. “When I have a question, they don’t just give me one answer — they lay out several ways to get there and connect me with peers at other not-for-profits. That’s incredibly helpful."

Outcome

Scaling with confidence
As Camp Cho-Yeh doubles its footprint with the addition of Carolina Creek, Mady is confident the finance team can keep pace without adding headcount. She adds that in a tight labor market, especially among finance professionals, it’s vital to use technology to let finance staff focus on analysis and stewardship rather than data entry. “You can’t replace the human element in finance, but you can make sure people’s talents are being used where they matter most.”

Looking ahead
After years of rapid expansion, Mady expects the next phase to be about refining processes and controls to match the camp’s growing size. Expense analysis, approval workflows and continued reporting improvements are on her list. “I know there are untapped resources in Sage Intacct we haven’t even touched yet,” she says. “And I know I can count on Baker Tilly to help us explore those options.”