Staff Spotlight: Elaine Lai

Years at Children’s Council:

4 years

How I contribute to the success of Children’s Council: 

I bring over 30 years of experience in working with both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors in the areas of accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, auditing, tax, strategic planning, financial analysis, GAAP principles, and strategic human capital management.

I am also an active volunteer fundraiser in planning and promoting fundraising events to support early childhood, seniors, newcomers with limited English skills, and low-income families for health and social services programs.

Proudest moment: 

I take pride in assisting in the management of Children’s Council’s intricate grant and contract budgets, financial operations and reporting, and in preparing the organization’s annual budget of over $200 million. I consistently assess decisions and changes based upon how they will benefit the organization, the community, and the Finance Department’s ability to provide top-notch services to all teams, departments, and staff members. I am proud to have the opportunity as a child care advocate to educate the public and advocate for increased investment in early child care and education for families and communities. As a result of my work and the dedication of my Finance Team, I am incredibly proud that Children’s Council continues to receive clean, unqualified financial audits, contract reviews and monitoring, and fiscal and administrative compliance assessments that consistently demonstrate strong financial management and internal controls as excellent stewards of the funds we administer! 

What inspires you each day:

I deeply understand the value and importance of the contributions Children’s Council makes to the children, families, and community of San Francisco, and its impact on the overall well-being of a thriving city. I wholeheartedly support it through my leadership and work each day. I embrace the vision of Children’s Council, which inspires a spirit of excellence, collaboration, and progress in the daily work of each staff member. 

Favorite thing about working at Children’s Council:

Our staff members. They always bring smiles to our meetings, listen carefully and thoughtfully, and share their experiences and insights to help support positive change and improvement across the organization.

Greatest challenge:

We acknowledge the obstacle of continued insufficient investments in early child care. Nonetheless, the staff of Children’s Council and I bring a “can-do” attitude to every challenge and opportunity, bringing creative solutions and a persistent resourcefulness to utilizing limited funding, and inspiring those around us to always see potential and choices instead of problems and barriers.

What you would do with a large donation: 

I would allocate a portion of the donation to the organization’s operating cash reserve to secure staffing stabilization during uncertain economic times. The remaining portion would be dedicated to developing programs and resources to support child care providers with limited access to resources, including family, friend, and neighbor providers who often care for the most vulnerable children in our community. They would be equipped with tools, training, and support to offer enriching experiences that are developmentally and socially appropriate. This will ensure that every child in San Francisco is fully prepared to succeed in school and thrive.