Texas Tribal Buffalo Project saves 10 hours per week on expense reporting
About Texas Tribal Buffalo Project
Texas Tribal Buffalo Project is a nonprofit organization committed to healing the generational trauma of Lipan Apache descendants and other native nations bordering traditional Lipan Apache ranges. The organization’s mission is to reconnect Texas Indigenous Lineal Descendants to each other as relatives as well as to the Iyane’e (buffalo) as their relative, aligned with the International Buffalo Treaty and other Buffalo Lifeway movements.
Operating two properties, 77 acres in Waelder, Texas, and 150 acres in Floresville, Texas, the organization focuses on soil, grass, and water health while raising bison.
"PEX expands our ability to focus on our mission of connecting our indigenous community with the iyane'e (buffalo). The platform's simplicity and user-friendly design allows us to save over 10 hours per week on expense management, whether they're at the ranch, at the airport, or anywhere in between. This means we can focus on what matters most: our mission"
Jacie Lozano, Chief Financial Officer at Texas Tribal Buffalo Project
The challenge
When Jacie Lozano joined Texas Tribal Buffalo Project as CFO in January 2025, the organization was already using expense management tools, but Jacie quickly recognized the need for a more streamlined approach. The organization faced several key challenges:
- Manual receipt tracking was time-consuming: Team members had inconsistent receipt upload habits, making it difficult to identify missing documentation. Jacie struggled to target specific employees who needed reminders, as there was no easy way to identify which transactions were missing receipts. She no longer wanted to chase employees for their receipts.
- Limited visibility into expense management: Without clear oversight tools, Jacie spent significant time manually running reports and trying to piece together expense data. The process required constant follow-up with team members and lacked the automation needed for efficient operations.
- Complex integration needs: As a growing nonprofit, Texas Tribal Buffalo Project needed to track all their expenses. Ergo, they needed their expense management to integrate seamlessly with QuickBooks while supporting their unique operational requirements, from ranch equipment purchases to travel expenses for nonprofit outreach.
The solution
Texas Tribal Buffalo Project implemented PEX Visa® Prepaid Cards to transform its expense management workflow. The platform’s intuitive mobile interface enables Jacie to approve fund requests instantly from anywhere, eliminating administrative bottlenecks that previously slowed down their operations.
PEX’s automated receipt enforcement tackles compliance head-on, sending automatic reminders for missing documentation and blocking cards until receipts are submitted, while accommodating team preferences by accepting receipts via email, text or mobile app. Jacie gained visibility into organizational spending patterns through comprehensive spend controls and real-time reporting. Whether purchasing ranch equipment with physical cards or booking flights with virtual cards integrated into Google Wallet, PEX easily adapted to the organization’s diverse operational needs while maintaining the financial oversight essential for nonprofit accountability.
The results
10+ hours saved per week on expense management
Jacie estimates PEX saves approximately 2 hours daily, totaling 10 hours per week. The user-friendly platform design means Jacie can quickly access employee profiles, review transactions and generate reports without extensive training or complex navigation.
Streamlined onboarding saves 1 hour per new hire and reduces administrative burden
The simplified onboarding process means Jacie saves time and doesn't need to continuously monitor whether new team members have registered or if their cards are working properly. Automated notifications keep her informed without requiring manual follow-up, freeing time for strategic work.
Enhanced financial oversight with automated controls
Spend controls help the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project establish clear financial policies and creating a framework for improved financial governance as the organization continues to grow.
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