About Yahweh Warrior Lodge
Yahweh Warrior Lodge is a new faith-based men’s residential recovery and discipleship ministry in northern Wisconsin. We are a Citygate Network member ministry preparing to open our doors to our first Warrior residents. Our program is built on authentic human relationships, Biblical accountability, and practical life transformation through the Warrior Pathway — a structured four-phase program that takes men from crisis through stability, growth, responsibility, and independence.
We operate a residential Lodge with a working farm, large garden, and food preservation program. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a $350,000 first-year operating budget, a committed board, and a founding Executive Director who brings deep clinical and ministry expertise. Our one significant leadership gap is formal financial expertise — and that is exactly what this role addresses.
Why This Role Exists
Our Executive Director is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and experienced mental health clinician whose vocational strength is people, healing, and ministry — not financial management. This is not unusual for a founding ministry leader. The Volunteer Financial Advisor exists to provide the strategic financial guidance, ED coaching, and systems oversight that turns a well-intentioned budget into a well-managed organization.
The right person for this role does not need to love recovery ministry or know anything about running a farm. They need to love using their financial expertise for something that matters — and be willing to give a few hours a month to help a brand-new ministry get its financial foundation right from the start.
Primary Responsibilities:
Executive Director Financial Coaching and Support
• Serves as the ED’s primary financial resource — a trusted advisor who explains financial concepts clearly and helps build financial literacy over time
• Reviews monthly financial reports prepared by the bookkeeper and meets with the ED to discuss the ministry’s financial position, variances from budget, and emerging concerns
• Assists the ED in preparing financial information for board meetings — ensuring reports are accurate, complete, and presented in a way the board can act on
• Is available for periodic consultation on financial questions, decisions, and situations that require informed judgment
Budget Development and Monitoring
• Assists the ED in developing and refining the annual operating budget, drawing on knowledge of nonprofit financial planning and the specific cost drivers of a residential ministry
• Reviews budget-to-actual reports monthly and helps the ED understand and respond appropriately to variances
• Advises on the financial implications of significant decisions — adding staff, expanding programming, pursuing grants, or making capital investments
• Helps the ministry build a multi-year financial planning perspective as it grows beyond its first year
Financial Systems, Controls, and Compliance
• Reviews the ministry’s financial controls and separation-of-duties practices and recommends improvements to protect the organization
• Advises on chart of accounts structure, restricted fund management, grant tracking, and other accounting matters appropriate to a small nonprofit
• Helps the ED understand Form 990 obligations, state charitable registration requirements, and the financial standards of ECFA or Citygate Network accreditation
• Coordinates with the external CPA engaged for annual tax preparation, serving as a knowledgeable liaison
• Supports the ministry’s pursuit of ECFA accreditation and financial accountability best practices
Who We Are Looking For
The ideal candidate brings one or more of the following:
Professional background
• CPA licensure or CPA firm experience
• CFO, controller, or VP Finance experience
• Nonprofit financial management experience
• Bank or credit union financial officer background
• Audit or financial review experience
Personal qualities
• Ability to communicate financial concepts clearly to a non-financial leader
• Integrity and full discretion with sensitive organizational information
• Commitment to the Christian mission of YWL
• Willingness to serve in a defined, bounded advisory role
• Patience and a coaching mindset — this role teaches as much as it advises
Engagement Options
We are actively seeking a volunteer for this role. We also welcome conversations with fractional CFOs, retired financial professionals, or CPAs willing to serve at a reduced or pro bono rate for a ministry in its launch phase. The time commitment is modest — this is not an ongoing audit engagement, a board position, or a management role. It is a coaching and advisory relationship with a founding ED who is committed to learning and doing this right.
We would love to connect.
SuAnne Vannatter, Executive Director
Yahweh Warrior Lodge — A Northwoods Training Ground
Citygate Network Member Ministry
Email: Director@YahwehWarriorLodge.org Phone: 715-204-9372 YahwehWarriorLodge.org
Volunteer / Advisor Agreement
When a Financial Advisor is confirmed, both parties will sign a document to acknowledge the role description, the one-year term, and the confidentiality expectations. A signed copy is retained by the Executive Director.
(The Financial Advisor agrees to maintain complete confidentiality regarding YWL financial information, donor data, personnel matters, and organizational information accessed in the course of this role. This obligation continues after the engagement ends.)