Leading From the Heart: Association Finance with Yana Sanabria

At AMC Source, strong financial management is more than numbers on a page. It is a tool that helps associations understand where they’ve been, where they are, and where they are headed. In our Leading From the Heart series, we spotlight the people whose expertise and values help associations remain strong, sustainable, and mission-focused.

This week, we’re proud to feature Yana Sanabria, whose work in association finance brings clarity, structure, and long-term perspective to the organizations she serves.

Seeing the Full Story Through Association Finance

What Yana loves most about her role in finance is the ability to tell a story through numbers.

Finance, she explains, allows organizations to understand the past through the Statement of Activities, assess the present through the Statement of Financial Position, and prepare for the future through budgeting and cash flow projections.

Helping leaders see how past decisions shape current realities and influence future possibilities is what makes her work especially meaningful. Through thoughtful analysis and clear reporting, Yana helps associations move forward with confidence and intention.

Why Association Work Matters

Yana is inspired by the deeply mission-driven nature of association work.

She sees firsthand how leaders, board members, and volunteers dedicate their time and energy to causes they truly believe in. That sense of purpose creates a different level of responsibility when it comes to financial decision-making.

“Financial decisions aren’t just technical,” she shared. “They directly affect people, programs, and the long-term impact of the organization.”

Understanding how financial choices connect to mission outcomes is what gives her work lasting significance.

The Values That Guide Her Work

Yana approaches association finance with three guiding professional values:

Accuracy

She pays close attention to detail and structure, ensuring financial records reflect reality and support sound decision-making.

Transparency

She simplifies financial statements and provides reporting options that help leaders and boards clearly understand what the numbers mean.

Long-Term Thinking

She helps associations look beyond the current moment, supporting budgets, cash flow projections, and strategic planning that align today’s decisions with tomorrow’s goals.

Together, these values create a financial foundation leaders can trust.

Values in Action: Turning Numbers Into Insight

Yana puts these values into practice through hands-on, consistent support.

She provides monthly financial reporting, supports audits, and ensures each association’s chart of accounts accurately reflects its structure. To promote transparency, she adapts reports to the needs of boards and executives, making financial information easier to interpret and apply.

Through budgeting and cash flow projections, Yana helps associations identify potential gaps, highlight areas for growth, and make informed decisions about reallocating resources for better utilization. Her work helps leaders stay proactive rather than reactive.

Bridging Mission and Financial Reality

Yana believes accuracy, transparency, and long-term thinking are at the heart of what finance professionals should bring to their work.

“We live in a material world that speaks in numbers,” she reflected, “but the organizations we serve are driven by mission and purpose.”

Her role is to help leaders bridge that gap, translating ideas, goals, and vision into financial reality so the mission can thrive without losing sight of the numbers that make it possible.

Supporting the Mission, Behind the Scenes

Finance may not always be visible, but it touches everything an association does.

When approached with care, integrity, and clear communication, financial management helps organizations remain strong, trusted, and focused on their goals. By keeping the past, present, and future in view, Yana ensures today’s decisions support tomorrow’s mission.

She is grateful to support that work through AMC Source and to help associations build a future grounded in clarity and confidence.

Looking for clear, trustworthy financial support for your association?

AMC Source partners with associations to deliver accurate, transparent, and forward-looking financial management aligned with mission and long-term goals.

Connect with our team to learn how we can support your financial strategy.

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