Course Purpose

The purpose of the course is to equip nonprofit Executive Directors, CEOs and management staff with the finance knowledge, skills and practical tools and templates that will strengthen their finance leadership skills.

This is a cohort-based program that is offered twice a year. If you are interested in taking the program right away, check out the Open Enrolment Finance Masterclass for Nonprofit Leaders here.

Nonprofit leaders will feel more confident and equipped to contribute to and develop financial strategies to strengthen the resilience of the organization, department or program; to understand budgets, budgeting and oversight of budgets and how to integrate strategy with finance to strengthen the organization, department and/or programs

See the course outline below for the list of modules, lessons and topics.

Format

• This is a cohort-based program that requires attendance at 8 weekly sessions (90 minutes) in addition to watching the video lessons.
• This is a scheduled program, offering two times per year, dates TBD
• 8-week online self-paced course
• 3 modules and 20 lessons
• Lessons consist of a series of short videos that are released each week of the 8 weeks
• The videos are interactive and embed short quizzes
• Modules include 23 takeaway tools such as templates, guides and checklists
• 1 group online “Ask an Auditor Anything” discussion
• Unlimited questions to the facilitator on the group page during the 8 weeks of the program
• 3 one-on-one emails to the course instructor for each of the 8 weeks 
• You can take the course anytime and anywhere – all you need is an internet connection
• As a BONUS…at the end of the 8-week course you enter into the Finance Thrive Community and receive 10 additional months of support and learning. There are live Ask an Expert sessions during the year and more.

Why take this course?

• Maybe you were placed in a leadership role or a finance position without enough training in finance.
• Maybe you have sacrificed professional development dollars for program staff and now realize that you need professional development too!
• Maybe you thought you could leave it to the Director of Finance to figure out for you…
• Maybe you’ve been trying to avoid any kind of training that resembles math because you didn’t do well in math when you were in school (join the club by the way, that’s how I felt!)

What is the curriculum?

Module 1: Foundations in Finance

• Learn about the finance responsibilities and functions of the board (Governance Finance)   
• Learn the best practices and the role of the finance and audit committees including a suggested work plan
• Learn the role of the CEO / Executive Director and non-finance positions in finance
• Learn the role scope of the bookkeeper, accountant and finance functions
• Learn about the audit, the role of the auditor and the type of communications from the auditor
• Learn about the benefits of automating bookkeeping and accounting functions
• Learn about the Accounting Standards for Nonprofit Organizations including accounting terms and audited financial statement presentation methods
• Learn how to read and understand financial statements
• Learn the best practices in internal financial statement reporting
• Learn best practices in internal financial statements

Module 2: Financial Planning and Analysis 

• Learn how to analyze financial statements
• Learn about the nonprofit business model and how to analyze and optimize it
• Learn best practices in budgeting and costing and the role of the non-finance manager in finance
• Learn best practices in the preparation of the proposed draft annual budget
• Learn about cash flow forecasting, costing, and scenario planning
• Learn about financial ratios and key performance indicators
• Learn how to conduct a semi-annual financial trend analysis (the ‘deep dive’ trend report) comparing revenue, expenses, surpluses, net assets over 3+ years
• Learn how to write a financial narrative that summarizes the financial statements, and that summarizes the state of the organizaiton’s business model

Module 3: Strategic Finance

• Learn how to integrate finance with the strategic planning and annual budgeting process
• Learn how to develop a reserve strategy including the reserve policy and procedure
• Understand effective restructuring techniques
• Learn how to integrate financial planning with strategic planning
• Learn how to develop a financial plan for the organization

Oh…and you also get access to the lessons and the resources for one year from your enrolment date 🙂

Who is this program for?

• Leaders such as CEOs, Executive Director’s, Directors of Operations, Directors of Finance of nonprofit and charitable organizations
• Leaders representing small to large nonprofit and charitable organizations
• Ready for growth: Most participants, but not all, are either CEOs/Executive Director’s or non-finance management staff that received little to no finance training but now they are in a leadership position and realize that they need to strengthen their financial leadership skills.
• Ready to Expand their knowledge: Many participants are CEOs/Executive Director’s and Finance Directors that have experience with accounting and bookkeeping but need to strengthen their finance leadership skills
• Confident and Satisfied: Nonprofit Finance participants are thrilled that someone like them developed a nonprofit finance masterclass specifically for them and can’t wait to get started
• Certificate: Individuals that want a certificate of completion to show funders, donors and their board of director’s or their Executive Director that they have invested in themselves and their knowledge in nonprofit finance

Read some of the testimonials below to hear what people think about the Finance Masterclass for Nonprofit Leaders!