South Lane Mental Health has been a cornerstone of care in Cottage Grove, Oregon, since 1988. What began as a grassroots response from a local church to help one unhoused woman has grown into the region’s largest comprehensive mental health provider. 

Today, South Lane serves approximately 1,400 clients annually, offering outpatient counseling, crisis services, recovery programs, medication management, and more. Deeply rooted in community values, the South Lane team continues to embody their mission by helping clients of all ages discover productive, meaningful lives.

Andrew Yoder is the Assistant Executive Director and has been with South Lane since 2013. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Master’s in Social Work from Boise State University, Andrew began his career as a therapist and crisis provider. Over time, the scope of his work expanded beyond clinical work into operational and administrative leadership.

In this role, Andrew oversees regulatory compliance and quality improvement, electronic health record systems, budget planning, and financial analysis. His colleague Ali serves as Executive Director and provides the strategic vision, maintains and develops community partnerships, coordinates and directs clinical leadership. While she does this, Andrew ensures the organization's “engine” runs smoothly.

“I know that I have a role to play and I’m proud to play it,” Andrew explained. “I depend on Ali to steer this ship and set our course to fulfill our service mission. And in exchange, I try to make sure that everything behind the scenes runs as smoothly as I can.”

Financial Challenges and Opportunities

Like many nonprofits, South Lane’s funding is heavily concentrated: nearly 80% comes from Medicaid dollars administered through the Oregon Health Authority. While this provides millions in annual revenue, the concentration creates risk. Secondary sources include Medicare, commercial insurance, and small grants totaling tens of thousands annually.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency state and federal relief (including rate increases of 30-40%) shifted South Lane’s finances from near-bankruptcy in 2020 to generating a surplus. For the first time in its history, the organization held significant reserves. Andrew recognized the need to steward these funds wisely with a cash management strategy, rather than letting them sit idle in low-yield accounts.
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“I was researching whether nonprofits could invest. I didn’t know the language, but I knew we needed a strategy for Short-, Mid-, and Long-term reserves. I kept finding Infinite Giving’s educational resources, and got about half of my training in nonprofit investing.” 

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Partnering with Infinite Giving for Cash Management

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South Lane began its partnership with Infinite Giving in 2024. Through a tiered investment strategy, Infinite Giving helped formalize reserve policies, align ratios across multiple funds, and create a clear Investment Policy Statement (IPS) that reassured the board.

Andrew credits Infinite Giving, and especially CEO Karen Houghton, for guiding South Lane with patience, clarity, and confidence:
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“Karen has been incredibly helpful every step of the way. I was nervous stepping into investing, but she explained everything in detail and never made me feel like I was an imposition. She is delightful, thorough, and skilled, plus she gave our board peace of mind.” 

The Impact on Nonprofit Cash Reserves

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With Infinite Giving, South Lane now has a clear reserve structure that balances liquidity with growth. This financial stewardship empowers the organization to remain resilient, protect against volatility in Medicaid funding, and continue serving the least-resourced members of its community.

Andrew emphasizes that Infinite Giving’s nonprofit specialization is critical:
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“I love that Infinite Giving exists, focused on the unique complexities nonprofits face. Especially in this climate, I don’t have time for fluff, so if this wasn’t valuable, I’d just say so. But this partnership has been wonderful. It’s never been more important for nonprofits to have a partner like Infinite Giving.”

Looking Ahead

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As South Lane Mental Health continues to serve its community with compassion and dedication, its strengthened financial foundation ensures that the organization can weather uncertainty while staying true to its mission. With Infinite Giving as a fiduciary partner, South Lane is building long-term sustainability so Andrew, Ali, and their team can focus on what matters most: helping neighbors in need.
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