Accounting, compliance, and grants administration for private foundations

Built for the work behind the mission

Ally Foundation Services was established to bring deep experience in private foundation accounting, compliance, and investment accounting to foundations and related organizations that value careful coordination and reliable follow-through. Private foundations often carry significant financial and grantmaking responsibilities with limited internal staff. We provide accounting and back-office support designed to strengthen reporting, improve coordination, and ensure work is carried out with audit readiness and compliance in mind.

Why foundations and advisors rely on us

Our work is grounded in deep private foundation experience, careful coordination, and a practical understanding of how lean organizations operate.

Extensive private foundation accounting, compliance, and investment accounting experience

Flexible support tailored to your existing systems, workflows, and advisor relationships

Audit-ready records, reporting, and supporting documentation

Close coordination with boards, CPAs, attorneys, investment advisors, auditors, and nonprofit finance teams

Private Foundation Accounting

Dedicated accounting support for private foundations that need accurate records, reliable reporting, and work performed with audit readiness and compliance in mind. This work may include ongoing accounting support, board-ready financial reporting, investment accounting, and coordination around audit and year-end needs.

Grant Administrative Support

Administrative and compliance support for grantmaking programs, with careful attention to documentation, process, and IRS-sensitive requirements. We help foundations maintain continuity across grant activity, internal records, and advisor coordination so leadership and advisors can stay informed and organized.

Endowment Investment Accounting

Supplemental endowment investment accounting services for nonprofit organizations and other long-term investment portfolios, provided in coordination with the organization’s existing accountant or finance team. This offering is designed for situations where added depth in investment accounting is needed, not as a replacement for broader nonprofit accounting functions.

Grounded in experience

Carl Farish brings more than a decade of experience in private foundation accounting, including work with more than sixty foundations, among them organizations with complex investment activity, lean internal teams, and sophisticated reporting needs.

His experience includes long-standing collaboration with boards, advisors, auditors, tax preparers, investment professionals, and grants managers, bringing a practical understanding of the coordination, documentation, and follow-through required to support strong financial operations and effective grantmaking administration.

  • "Carl came highly recommended, and those recommendations did not disappoint! He has been an invaluable addition to our lean team as we navigate complex voluntary audits. He is deeply knowledgeable in the private foundation space, and provides us with insight and structure. Carl works efficiently with our external auditors and has allowed us to get unstuck in previously tricky areas. I enthusiastically recommend Carl and Ally Foundation Services for audit preparation and administration of private foundations."

    —Abbey Banks

    Executive Director, Kodama (formerly Someland Foundation)

  • "I’ve worked with Carl on mutual private foundation clients for over a decade. His expertise in foundation accounting, particularly around complex investments, is exceptional. He brings not only technical skill, but also genuine care for the needs of foundation staff and board members."

    —Maga Kisriev, CPA

    Hood & Strong, LLP

  • "I have worked with Carl for many years. He brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience with private foundations, working seamlessly with external auditors and tax teams to provide for an efficient close without surprises or drama. I highly recommend Carl and Ally Foundation Services for administration of your private foundation."

    —Robert Lee, CPA

    Robert Lee & Associates, LLP

We stand behind your mission

Behind every meaningful effort is work that depends on accuracy, coordination, and follow-through.

We welcome conversations with foundations, advisors, and nonprofit finance teams seeking thoughtful, carefully coordinated support.

Contact us

We are not a CPA firm. We partner closely with your CPA and advisory teams to provide comprehensive accounting support.