In this compelling episode of The GrowCFO Show, Kevin Appleby explores the unique challenges and opportunities facing nonprofit CFOs through an insightful conversation with Tinashe Chigede, Director of Finance and Administration at SOS Children’s Villages USA. The discussion delves into the critical role of financial leadership in nonprofit organizations, where CFOs must balance fiscal responsibility with mission-driven outcomes while navigating complex funding landscapes and donor relationships.

Chigede shares his remarkable personal journey from attending an SOS Children’s Villages primary school in Zimbabwe to becoming a senior finance leader at the same organization that shaped her early life. The conversation reveals how nonprofit CFOs must evolve beyond traditional operational roles to become strategic partners who align financial decisions with long-term mission outcomes, diversify funding streams, and build sustainable financial models that support vulnerable children and families across 130 countries.

The episode provides valuable insights into the nonprofit sector’s financial complexities, including the management of restricted versus unrestricted funds, the importance of fundraising ROI, and the critical need for transparency and accountability in donor stewardship. Chigede’s expertise demonstrates how effective financial leadership in nonprofits requires a unique blend of strategic thinking, mission alignment, and stakeholder relationship management.