CAPACITY BUILDING

Money, Mission, Strategy is an innovative peer-based educational clinic designed to equip non-profit with the knowledge and skills they need to assess their financial health and incorporate practical financial planning tools into day-to-day communications and management. The clinic is composed of several components.

Money

We analyze where you’ve been over the past 3 – 5 years so we can discuss where you’re headed

Mission

Learn how to balance your organization’s mission with its financial realities

Strategy

Learn to incorporate your organization’s financial needs into conversations with your funders, board, staff and stakeholders

On the first day, participants learn to balance their organization’s mission with its financial realities. To lay the foundation of this conversation, we explore the idiosyncrasies of non-profit economics—including the rules and contradictions inherent to the financial system in which non-profits operate. We then provide instruction on how to read and interpret non-profit financial statements. We will engage in several hands-on activities in which participants dive into real life case studies as well as their own organization’s numbers and challenge themselves to identify areas of risk when gauging their own financial health.

Building on improved financial understanding, CFF will introduce the key concepts of non-profit capitalization and work with groups to recognize the underlying business models that drive their organization’s finances. Lastly, CFF will introduce specific tools and strategies for planning and managing in challenging times.

Every organization has financial needs that must be incorporated into conversations with its funders, board, staff and stakeholders. In this session, participants will be given a three to five-year trend analysis of their organization prepared by CFF with financials submitted in advance. Building on knowledge gained during the first day, participants will practice articulating their financial story. With support from CFF staff, this story is refined over two sessions. On the second day, each organization will have an opportunity to present their story to program mentors and peers. Organizations will leave equipped with an analytic diagnostic report and the know-how to use the report in day-to-day communications.

For organizations that identify a need for follow-up assistance or further financial consultation, CFF will offer up to one hour of one-on-one customized technical assistance after the clinic.

Participants will have a greater awareness and understanding of their organizations’ financial health and trends.

Participants will be better able to evaluate their business model and understand how programs link to financial structure.

Participants will employ better planning and budgeting practices.

Participants will receive an electronic copy of a diagnostic report detailing their organization’s financials in various charts. By the end of the clinic, each participating organization will have generated a framework (that includes the graphs, observations and next steps) that serves as a tool for communicating its financial condition and needs to board members, staff and funders.

Small to medium sized non-profit organizations

Must have at least three to five years of audited financial statements

Must complete application and commit to attend full session

Willing to complete pre- and post-clinic surveys and finish a small amount of “homework”

Two to three representatives from each non-profit:

  • Executive Director
    (must attend both Day 1 & Day 2)
  • Management or other staff member
    with financial responsibility

    (attendance suggested for Day 1 & Day 2)
  • Board representative
    (attendance suggested for Day 1 & Day 2)

Generously Funded By

Get in touch to learn more