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Wipfli combines nonprofit passion and a holistic approach that can make as true a difference in your association as you make in the lives of your members.
While some firms can help with leadership and others can help with technology or finances, we bring a suite of integrated services that break through silos and align with your organizational goals to drive tangible and impactful results.
We also don’t deliver solutions and run. Wipfli’s mission is to help associations achieve their full potential, empowered by the security of a stable foundation. That means we deeply invest in our relationships to position your organization for future growth.
From membership engagement and IT roadmaps to software selection and AI readiness, Wipfli’s digital team applies our services and extensive experience to help associations use technology to drive greater impact. We can help you build a strong data foundation so that you can make smarter decisions, communicate effectively and speed up operations. We also provide comphrensive support for enterprise solutions such as Sage Intacct, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Oracle NetSuite.
Wipfli’s support for strategy, operations and people can help drive your association’s future growth. We help you optimize performance with strategic planning services and operational support designed to help you create a more effective, impactful organization. We also help you increase workforce readiness with leadership and team development, talent assessment tools, executive coaching and industry-specific training.
Wipfli’s outsourced services help you navigate finance, HR, operations and IT challenges by providing access to our knowledgeable, experienced team. From full back-office support to C-suite level services, we help manage the areas that give you unnecessary stress and expense so that you can increase operational efficiency and focus on adding value for your members.
Wipfli’s audit and assurance specialists have extensive association experience at the local, state and national levels. Our dedicated team can help associations address complex audit challenges ahead and anticipate future requirements. We also go beyond reporting to help you identify best practices and opportunities to enhance your organizational effectiveness.
Wipfli combines over 45 years of serving nonprofits with our experience as one of the top CPA firms in the country to help you navigate your unique tax challenges. Whether you need support for form 990, international tax compliance or energy incentives, we can help you mitigate risk and find opportunities for tax-advantaged growth.
Get experienced guidance to help identify and mitigate your most complex risk and compliance challenges. From navigating risk assessments and compliance to investigating and litigating fraud, Wipfli’s multi-disciplinary risk advisory team can help you manage the full spectrum of your internal control and compliance needs.
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Insights and resources
EVENT | January 19, 2027
January 2027 Uniform Guidance regulation training
Join us for a practical and engaging virtual training of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) — the cornerstone of federal grant compliance. This training is designed to help nonprofit and government professionals understand federal grant regulations and how to apply them effectively and avoid common pitfalls in managing federal awards. Led by experienced trainers with years of auditing and consulting expertise, this session blends regulatory review with real-world examples and actionable insights. Whether you’re new to federal
ARTICLE
Navigating changing Head Start compensation requirements
In 2024, the Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming established new compensation requirements for Head Start programs. Two years later (2026), with a new administration in place, many of those rules appear on the verge of being overturned in a new notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access , which rescinds many of those requirements and returns greater flexibility to local agencies. Despite the proposed rollback, the underlying workforce challenges that drove the original rule remain a major focus across the sector. Continue reading to learn what current rules could be going away and how your Head Start program should approach employee pay and benefits, regardless of the federal rules. Employee Compensation The 2024 Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming rule introduced several significant workforce support provisions focused on employee compensation. Among other requirements, the rule directed larger programs to: Establish or update salary structures Work toward greater wage comparability with public school educators Ensure compensation was sufficient to support basic living costs within a program’s geographic area These changes reflected a broader federal recognition that workforce shortages, turnover and recruitment difficulties were affecting Head Start’s ability to deliver high-quality services. The proposed 2026 rule would remove many of these requirements, citing concerns that the rules are overly prescriptive, costly and beyond the scope of statutory requirements. If finalized, agencies would have greater flexibility to determine local compensation practices and priorities. While the future of these requirements remains uncertain, the workforce challenges that prompted the original rule have not disappeared. Across the sector, agencies continue to experience recruitment pressures, turnover concerns and ongoing competition for qualified talent. The conversation around compensation is likely to remain central to Head Start workforce planning regardless of whether the 2024 provisions ultimately remain in place, are modified or are rescinded. Employee Benefits In addition to compensation-related provisions, the 2024 rule introduced several requirements related to employee benefits. Programs were expected to provide or facilitate access to healthcare coverage, paid leave and behavioral health resources for eligible employees. Additional provisions encouraged agencies to connect staff with resources such as loan forgiveness programs, childcare assistance and other support services. The proposed 2026 NPRM would remove many of those specific benefits-related mandates. As with compensation, the stated goal is to restore local flexibility and reduce administrative and financial burdens on programs. Even as regulatory expectations evolve, the broader workforce conversation continues. Employee expectations regarding health benefits, paid time off, retirement programs and overall well-being support have changed significantly in recent years. The workforce concerns that influenced the 2024 rule remain active topics throughout the Head Start and Early Head Start community, particularly as agencies continue to navigate hiring challenges and competition for talent. Why Head Start compensation rules could already be changing The proposed rollback reflects a broader shift in federal policy priorities. The Administration for Children and Families has stated that the compensation and benefits provisions established in 2024 are costly, overly prescriptive and not fully aligned with the statutory language of the Head Start Act. The NPRM estimates that removing these requirements could save Head Start programs billions of dollars in future costs while providing agencies with greater flexibility to address local workforce needs. Whether the proposed changes are finalized remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that workforce challenges continue to persist throughout the Head Start and Early Head Start community. And recent workforce data shared across the sector continues to highlight concerns related to vacancies, turnover, employee burnout and competition for talent. Whether future standards become more prescriptive or more flexible, agencies still need a stable workforce to deliver high-quality services to children and families. For this reason, agencies should consider building workforce strategies that can withstand changing regulatory environments. How should Head Start agencies proceed with a plan? Rather than viewing compensation and benefits solely through the lens of compliance, Head Start agencies should focus on how their workforce practices support the attraction, retention and engagement of qualified employees. Regardless of what happens to the 2024 provisions, agencies will continue to face competition for talent and the need to build a stable workforce capable of delivering high-quality services to children and families. Several workforce practices continue to represent sound strategies regardless of the regulatory environment: 1. Build a strong compensation foundation A well-designed salary structure provides the foundation for consistent, transparent and equitable compensation decisions. It establishes pay relationships across positions, creates clear salary ranges and helps agencies make compensation decisions that align with their compensation philosophy, budget realities and workforce needs. Just as importantly, salary structures should not be viewed as a one-time exercise. Labor markets continue to evolve, wage rates continue to increase and employee expectations continue to change. Agencies should regularly review and update their structures to help ensure they remain aligned with market conditions and organizational objectives. Agencies may also benefit from evaluating how their wages compare with both the labor market and the cost of living in their communities. While regulatory requirements may evolve, employees ultimately make employment decisions based on whether compensation is competitive and supports their economic needs. Understanding local wage pressures, labor market expectations and broader economic conditions can help agencies make more informed workforce decisions and strengthen their ability to attract and retain talent. Salary transparency is also becoming increasingly common and, in some jurisdictions, legally required. Clearly communicating pay ranges and compensation practices can help strengthen employee trust and support recruitment efforts. 2. Monitor the labor market broadly Public school districts remain an important comparison point, particularly for educational positions. However, many Head Start agencies compete for talent well beyond the education sector. Family support staff, transportation personnel, administrative professionals, fiscal staff, health services employees and agency leaders are often recruited by employers across nonprofit, government, healthcare, retail, hospitality and other industries. Understanding local labor market trends requires a broader perspective than school district comparisons alone. School district salary schedules can still provide valuable insights, but agencies should ensure they are making apples-to-apples comparisons. For example, when evaluating teacher compensation, it is important to understand not only annual salaries but also the number of contracted workdays and hours behind those salaries. Two districts with similar annual salaries may have significantly different hourly pay rates once work schedules are considered. In addition to school district data, agencies should consider reputable compensation surveys, nonprofit benchmarking resources and local labor market information. Looking across industries can provide a more complete picture of the competitive landscape and the talent market from which agencies are recruiting. 3. Prioritize pay equity and living wages Pay equity should remain a priority regardless of regulatory requirements. Consistent and transparent pay practices support employee trust, engagement and retention while helping agencies identify compensation issues before they become workforce challenges. Regular pay equity reviews can help organizations identify wage compression, unintended disparities and inconsistencies in compensation practices. These reviews can also provide valuable information when planning future compensation investments and salary structure updates. Agencies should also continue monitoring compensation relationships both internally and externally. Internal reviews help ensure compensation practices are applied consistently, while external benchmarking helps determine whether wages remain competitive within the broader labor market. The workforce challenges that helped drive the 2024 rule, including recruitment difficulties and employee turnover, continue to reinforce the importance of equitable and competitive compensation practices. 4. Evaluate total rewards, not just wages Compensation is only one component of an employee’s decision to join or remain with an organization. Benefits, paid leave, retirement offerings, professional development opportunities, well-being resources and workplace culture all contribute to an agency’s overall employment value proposition. As workforce expectations continue to evolve, agencies should periodically assess whether their benefits programs remain competitive and aligned with employee needs. Reviewing benefit offerings against local employers, neighboring school districts and comparable nonprofit organizations can provide valuable insights into potential opportunities for enhancement. Programs should consider the full employee experience when evaluating workforce strategies. In some situations, improvements to benefits, leave programs, professional development opportunities or wellness resources may have a meaningful impact on attraction and retention without requiring the same long-term financial commitment as significant wage increases. A strong total rewards strategy helps employees understand and appreciate the full value of working for the organization, not just the paycheck they receive. 5. Make workforce decisions using reliable data Compensation and benefits decisions are often among the most significant investments an agency makes. Reliable market data can help organizations make informed decisions, prioritize limited resources and identify workforce risks before they affect service delivery. Agencies that regularly benchmark compensation and benefits, monitor turnover trends, evaluate employee feedback and assess market competitiveness are often better positioned to make proactive workforce decisions. Data-driven planning can also help leadership teams and boards navigate shifting regulatory expectations while maintaining focus on long-term workforce sustainability. Ultimately, regulations may change, but the need to attract and retain qualified employees remains constant. Agencies that proactively evaluate compensation, benefits, market competitiveness and pay equity will be better positioned to support their workforce and continue delivering high-quality services to children and families. Use market data responsibly As agencies evaluate the competitiveness of compensation and benefits, it is important to use appropriate market data sources and benchmarking methods. While comparing compensation and benefits information with neighboring agencies, school districts, preschools and other employers can provide valuable workforce insights, organizations should avoid coordinating compensation decisions or sharing future pay plans with competitors. Discussions that move beyond publicly available information and into current or future compensation strategies may create antitrust concerns. Instead, agencies should rely on publicly available salary schedules, published compensation surveys, third-party benchmarking studies and independent market analyses when evaluating compensation competitiveness. Using objective market data helps agencies make informed workforce decisions while maintaining appropriate independence in compensation planning. Learn more Leveraging technology to enhance data value for Head Start programs Webinar: Head Start compensation and benefits Webinar: Find out how one Head Start leader turned smarter analytics into organizational wins
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