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Tricia Thomas

Partner

410.900.1381  | 

Tricia Thomas, CPA, has been helping nonprofits and business owners meet their financial goals for 33+ years. A long-time volunteer and board member, Tricia's passion for serving nonprofits extends beyond just audit and tax services.

 

You Might not know

Tricia met her husband at a review course for the CPA exam.

With 33+ years of public accounting experience, Tricia Love Thomas, CPA, an audit and accounting partner at Gross Mendelsohn, is director of the firm’s Nonprofit Group. She has a long history of providing audit and tax services to nonprofits, including those that require a Single Audit (formerly OMB Circular A-133) under OMB Uniform Guidance, or an employee benefit plan audit.

Her commitment to the nonprofit sector does not stop with client service. Tricia has a strong commitment to community service. She serves as a grant reviewer for the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools and has previously served as the treasurer and on the finance committee. Tricia is also the former chair of the finance committee for the Catholic Community of St. Francis Xavier and a former board member for The Red Devils, a nonprofit organization that funds services to improve the quality of life for breast cancer patients and their families.

One of Tricia's passions is working closely with business owners to make sure the financial aspects of their business and personal lives are in sync. Her focus on the big picture – and on her clients’ goals – allow Tricia to deliver coordinated accounting and tax services that benefit both businesses and their owners.

Within the firm, Tricia oversees training and professional development for staff members. As Gross Mendelsohn’s director of learning, Tricia ensures that our staff members have the appropriate training from year to year. Tricia completed the BKR Leadership Institute, an intensive two-year program designed to develop the personal, interpersonal, managerial and organizational skills of participants.

Tricia earned the American Institute of CPAs’ Not-for-Profit Certification, which is awarded to CPAs who prove their proficiency in nonprofit financial reporting, auditing, governance and tax compliance.

Education

  • Bachelor of science degree in accounting, Mount Saint Mary’s College (1984)

Affiliations

  • American Institute of CPAs
  • ASAE — The Center for Association Leadership
  • BKR International
  • Maryland Association of CPAs
  • Maryland Nonprofits

More Fun Facts

  • After 12 years in Catholic school uniforms, khaki is her favorite color.
  • Tricia’s grandfather, James J. Lacy, served as comptroller of Maryland from 1947-1950 and was influential in instituting Maryland’s first retail sales tax.

Articles By Tricia

5 Form 990 Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Nonprofit’s Fundraising Efforts

Many nonprofits see IRS Federal Form 990 as an informational return that they send to the IRS every year, but in reality, the Form 990 is much more than that. Your organization’s 990 is open to public inspection, which means that your current and prospective donors may have access to at least the last three years of your organization’s 990s. Using the Form 990, donors can learn about your organization’s governance (or lack thereof), operations and programs.

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3 Common Nonprofit Management Letter Comments and How to Avoid Them

A primary responsibility of nonprofit directors and officers is to ensure that their organization is accountable for its programs and finances to contributors, its members, the general public and government regulators. 

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7 Ways to Spice Up Your Nonprofit’s Board Meetings

You want board members who can contribute to your mission through their efforts, contacts or money. Stated simply, they need to have a passion for your mission. This ensures a level of interest that will help even if board members have different opinions on how to achieve the mission.

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