Sustainability assurance continues to move into the mainstream of the attestation standards. In this short video, Melisa Galasso discusses a March 2026 exposure draft proposing conforming amendments to SSAE Nos. 18, 19, and 21. These amendments are intended to align existing attestation guidance with the proposed SSAE Common Concepts, Examination Engagements, Review Engagements, and Engagements to report on sustainability information.
Stay up-to-date on the latest changes to nonprofit accounting standards with this overview of FINREC’s draft proposal for Programmatic Investments. Speaker A breaks down key updates, including the impact of ASU 2025-07 on derivative accounting, and outlines what nonprofit finance professionals need to know for compliance and best practices.
The GLS team had a great time this week in Las Vegas for the ENGAGE conference. The team was able to interact with clients and colleagues both at the exhibit booth and at various evening functions. We also had a wonderful client reception on Monday, which included the cover reveal of Melisa’s new book Money Matters for Nonprofits. This book demystifies financial statements and basic accounting, empowering nonprofit board members and other stakeholders to better advise their organizations and make an even greater difference in the world. At ENGAGE, Melisa enjoyed presenting on Nonprofit Hot Topics and attending some CPE for a change. But all good things come to an end. The team is heading home with ideas to build on this momentum.
Melisa F. Galasso is the founder and CEO of Galasso Learning Solutions LLC. A CPA with nearly 20 years of experience in the accounting profession, Melisa designs and facilitates courses in advanced technical accounting and auditing topics, including not-for-profit and governmental accounting.
Her passion is providing high-quality CPE that is meaningful, creates efficiencies and improves quality, and positively impacts ROI. She also supports essential professional development, audit level training, and train the trainer efforts.
Melisa is a Certified Speaking Professional, a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD), and has earned the Association for Talent Development Master Trainer™ designation. Her passion for instructional design and adult learning techniques is one of the differentiators that set her apart from other CPE providers.
She also serves on the FASB’s Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee (NAC), AICPA Council, and the AICPA’s Women’s Initiative Executive Committee (WIEC). She also serves as a Subject Matter Expert for the Center for Plain English Accounting. She previously served on the AICPA’s Technical Issues Committee (TIC), the VSCPA’s Board of Directors, and is a past Chair of the NCACPA’s A&A committee. In addition, Melisa is the author of Money Matters for Nonprofits: How Board Members Can Harness the Power of Financial Statements by Understanding Basic Accounting which is available on Amazon or anywhere you purchase books online.
Melisa received a Top 50 Women in Accounting Award in 2021 by Ignition, is a 2020 Enterprising Women of the Year Award recipient, and was honored as a “40 under 40” by CPA Practice Advisor in 2017, 2018, and 2019. She was also named the 2019 Rising Star by her regional NAWBO chapter, received the Don Farmer award for achievement in technical content instruction, and earned several other awards for public speaking and technical training.
