Financial Tools for Strengthening Your Organization

Accomplishing Mission through Financial Planning

At the core of nonprofit financial management is the fact that money and mission are inextricably linked. Nonprofit organizations exist to provide services that other sectors of our community are unable or unwilling to provide. To provide those services nonprofit organizations need financial resources, and the financial tools necessary to strengthen the organization. In this program you will be guided by our expert faculty on a journey to explore the tools needed to build financial capacity and move the organization forward on the quest to accomplish its mission.

This program will show you how to examine the intersection of finance and mission. Additionally, participants will explore the importance of a strategic planning process which includes forecasting future resources, risk management, and building a plan to deploy those resources to accomplish the mission.

Please Note - This course runs back-to-back with Nonprofit Finance: Toolkit for Leaders. We encourage you to consider taking both Financial Tools for Strengthening Your Organization and Nonprofit Finance: Toolkit for Leaders to enhance your financial skills.

Center for Nonprofit Management

Plan ahead for your organization’s financial future

SAVE THIS PROGRAM

Who Should Attend

  • Middle, upper and senior-level executives, development, and program leaders of nonprofit organizations
  • Finance executives who aspire to be a Chief Financial Officer or similar positions
  • It is recommended that participants take the Financial Toolkit for Leaders prior to enrolling this program

Key Benefits

  • Identify the intersection of finance and mission
  • Learn the key elements of a strategic plan
  • Understand how a long-term financial plan can complement the strategic plan to strengthen the organization’s financial capacity
  • How to develop a long-term capital budget by examining the organization’s capital structure
  • Learn how to identify and manage the risk all nonprofit organizations face

Program Content

The Intersection of Finance and Mission

  • Building on the Nonprofit Finance: Toolkit for Leaders, you will gain more in depth knowledge of how to use financial information to make important decisions that move the organization toward mission attainment
  • You will gain new skills in financial analysis
  • Real-life examples will be discussed of how financial information is key to moving organizations forward in their quest to accomplish their mission

Strategic Financial Planning

  • Key elements of strategic planning will be discussed
  • Case studies will allow participants to deepen their knowledge of planning for the future
  • The importance of developing a long-term financial plan that compliments the strategic plan will be discussed
  • Participants will learn the importance of financial modeling and how to develop a long-term financial planning tool

Capital Planning for the Future

  • A key element of the Long-term Financial Plan is the Capital Budget. The process of preparing the Capital Budget will be discussed
  • Important to developing a Capital Budget is understanding the organization’s capital structure. This session will explore the theory and application of capital structure for nonprofit organizations
  • The session will discuss how an organization develops the mix of capital reserves, debt, and acquisition of new capital to fund capital expenditures. Experts in the field of debt financing and capital campaigns will explore how nonprofit organizations should consider developing a successful capital structure plan for the Capital Budget

Managing Risk: What Nonprofit Leaders Need to Know to Keep their Organizations Safe

  • Tools for identifying and managing risk will be presented
  • Fraud and theft can negatively impact the nonprofit from accomplishing its mission
  • The reputation of your organization is a valuable asset. We will explore the importance of managing reputational risk
  • Protecting financial resources through proper use of internal controls will be discussed
  • Case studies will be used to help participants see how they can use risk management tools to mitigate the risk

Faculty

Jim Croft - Academic Director; Academic Director of Nonprofit Finance Programs, Center for Nonprofit Management, Kellogg School of Management

Bela Barner - Strategic and Business Planning Consultant

Michael Boisvert - Founder & President, Longhouse Capital Advisors

Marian Powers - Adjunct Professor of Executive Education

Ivy Walker - Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Helios Digital Learning

Latham Williams - Co-Founder and Principal, Headlights, LLC

Accommodations, Fees & Policies

Location

Nonprofit Management Programs are held at Northwestern University's Chicago Campus.

Wieboldt Hall
340 East Superior Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Directions

Chicago Campus Parking Map - Please Note: the Huron Superior Parking A lot and the Erie Ontario Parking C & D lots are available to the public and should be used when attending programs at Wieboldt Hall.

Application Deadline

The deadline for registration is 10:00 am one business day prior to the program start date.

Scholarship Assistance

Up to 50% scholarships are available for all of our nonprofit executive education programs for those working in nonprofit organizations. All applications are initially submitted at the full list price. Each is reviewed by our registrar and any scholarships granted will be reflected in the amount applied to your invoice or charged to your credit card.

Hospitality during the Program

We strive to provide healthy meal choices for our participants for breakfast, lunch and breaks. We typically provide a range of choices, including some vegetarian-friendly and gluten-avoidant selections. We cannot meet all dietary preferences, but we will do our best to accommodate health restrictions, religious restrictions and food allergies.

Accommodations

Participants are responsible for booking their hotel accommodations during their stay in Chicago.

Download Nearby Hotels List

Cancellation Policy:

Participants must notify the Program Manager five business days in advance of the program start date if they are unable to attend. Otherwise, participants will be charged 20% of the stated program fees.

When canceling a program registration, participants may choose to rollover their payment to a future program or receive a refund. Participants are allowed three rollovers, after the third rollover, participants forfeit the money paid to the Center for Nonprofit Management.

*Refund or rollover must be requested at the time of the program cancellation. Once a program payment has been rolled over, a monetary refund is no longer an option. The participant must continue with the rollover process.

Approved By CFRE

THIS PROGRAM IS APPROVED BY THE CFRE TO AWARD CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

Full participation in this Kellogg Nonprofit Executive Education program entitles you to 14 points in Category 1.B—Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

Note: Participants who wish to apply for continuing education points on their CFRE application for initial certification and/or recertification will be able to access a tracking form on the course site, once they register for the program.

Learn More

Please email or call us if you would like additional information about Nonprofit Programs

Kellogg School of Management

James L. Allen Center
2169 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208
Directions
847.467.6018