Harambee Christian School (HCS) is a private school located in the South Linden community of Columbus, Ohio. Serving students from preschool through eighth grade, HCS provides high-quality education and a spiritual foundation for economically disadvantaged students. Founded by Alex Steinman in 1998, the school’s mission is to close the "opportunity gap" by providing resources and expectations comparable to affluent suburban districts.

The Evolution of Harambee

  • 1998: Opened with just 14 kindergarten students in a renovated laundromat.
  • 2006: Moved into a custom-built facility with a gymnasium, library, and modern classrooms.
  • 2024: Transitioned to an independent organization after decades of being incubated and supported by a local church.
  • Today: Serves approximately 150 students with a focus on holistic development and academic recovery following the pandemic.

The Challenge: The Road to Independence

For years, HCS relied on a local church for critical administrative functions, including accounting, payroll, and facility management. When HCS launched as an independent entity in July 2024, they faced a steep learning curve:

  1. Administrative Void: The school suddenly needed to manage complex operational needs without the church’s infrastructure.
  2. Resource Constraints: Limited budget made it difficult to hire full-time experts for every administrative role.
  3. Initial Setbacks: An early attempt to use an outside bookkeeper resulted in high costs and poor-quality work, leaving the leadership with inaccurate data.

"We had a bookkeeper for several months who we felt was overpriced and underdelivered on the quality of their work." — Alex Steinman, Executive Director

The Solution: Partnering with Arvo

To stabilize their finances and ensure long-term sustainability, HCS transitioned their bookkeeping and financial planning to Arvo. The partnership focused on providing:

  • Accurate Data: Uncovering past mistakes and cleaning up the balance sheet.
  • Strategic Support: Offering insights that allow leadership to make informed decisions for both the present and the future.
  • Efficiency: Streamlining operational needs so the staff could return their focus to the students.

The Impact

By outsourcing their financial management to Arvo, HCS achieved significant results:

  • Historical Clarity: HCS now maintains the most accurate financial data in the school’s history.
  • Peace of Mind: The Board of Directors and leadership can trust that critical operational needs (tax planning, bookkeeping, payroll) are handled with excellence.
  • Mission Focus: Leadership is no longer bogged down by "the books" and can prioritize student learning and community expansion.

Conclusion & Future Outlook

Harambee Christian School’s transition proves that operational health is the backbone of mission-driven work. By securing their financial foundation with Arvo, HCS is positioned to expand its impact, serve more students, and build new partnerships across Columbus.