Uncaged Library Information Services is a consultancy founded by Anand Jay Kalra in 2016. I earned a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Michigan in 2010; I had pursued the degree on the hunch that there was something about this “information stuff” that could transfer to social justice and nonprofit work to help us work more efficiently and humanely, and therefore compete better against more well-funded right-wing groups. It turns out that the organic librarians of an organization are its operations staff, and the work I sought to do shows up most naturally in operations and finance, and to a moderate degree in communications and fundraising.

I incorporate lessons from sub-fields such as information organization and retrieval, information seeking behavior, information literacy, bibliographic and technological instruction, community informatics, and combinatorics in my current work. Since launching my consulting practice, I have helped more than thirty social justice organizations ground their systems, practices, and processes in principles of transparency, justice, and shared power in service of collective liberation.

Please note: I served as Executive Director at Queer Cultural Center from September 2022 through December 2024 and paused taking new clients since then. I am now taking consult appointments with potential new clients for contracts beginning May 2026. I’m particularly interested in supporting organizations that are sunsetting, or would like to get organized in case they do need to shut down in the next 1-3 years. More about organizational endings work.

For detail on my work and education history, please see my profile on LinkedIn.

Services

Finance Management & Bookkeeping

Navigating financial systems shouldn’t keep you from doing your core work. Whether you are an independent creative, a growing business, or a grassroots nonprofit transitioning into an independent 501(c)(3) entity, I provide clear, accurate, and deeply grounded financial management to keep your mission on track.

My approach balances absolute transactional compliance with clear, collaborative practices. I meet you where you are—whether that means implementing a clean structure from scratch, migrating your systems to digital platforms, or coaching your team on day-to-day fiscal habits.

Services Offered:

• Full-Cycle Bookkeeping & System Migrations: Seamless account setup, migration, and platform transitions (including QuickBooks Online and Xero). I manage detailed general ledger coding, transaction reconciliation, bank statement CSV imports, and chart of accounts customization.
• Clean-Up & Year-End Closings: Specializing in diagnosing data-read issues, catching missing documentation, tackling transaction backlogs, reconciling complex asset/liability accounts, and ensuring your 1099s are filed accurately and on time.
• Nonprofit Fiscal Entity Transitions: Specialized guidance for emerging nonprofits leaving a fiscal sponsor to establish independent business banking, digital debit card controls, and integrated modern payment processing (such as Mazlo and GiveButter).
• Payroll & HR Integration: Seamless deployment and administration of payroll systems (such as Gusto). I coordinate employee onboarding, employer tax withholdings, contractor tracking, and quarterly wage reporting.
• Financial Reporting & Board Advisory: Demystifying financial data for stakeholders. I generate robust monthly or quarterly Profit & Loss statements, balance sheets, and grant allocation spreadsheets, while analyzing your monthly burn rate to ensure sustainable cash flow management.
• Strategic Budgeting & Cash Flow Optimization: Dynamic scenario planning and budget-vs-actual reporting designed to help you navigate revenue challenges, structure multi-year grant tracking, manage complex funder invoicing requirements, and anticipate lean funding periods.

Why Work With Me?

Financial transparency shouldn’t be stressful. I view a Chart of Accounts not just as numbers, but as a map of your organization’s “isness”—making sure your backend infrastructure explicitly aligns with your real-world values and creative goals. I offer flexible support tailored to your scale, ranging from heavy multi-hour system implementation to light, recurring monthly maintenance and account oversight.

Information Services (Systems, Structures, & Processes)

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