Mission-Aligned Finance in NFPs: Strategy, Influence & Impact
Overview
This course is designed to help finance professionals enhance the clarity, quality, and impact of their technical accounting papers—key tools for supporting decisions, demonstrating compliance, and preparing for audit. Across three practical modules, you’ll learn how to scope issues, reference accounting standards, and identify key stakeholders. You’ll then master the art of writing clear, defensible papers that blend technical precision with commercial insight, and learn to communicate your position effectively to audit committees, regulators, and internal leaders. The course also equips you to document your conclusions for long-term transparency, enabling smooth audits and strong team continuity.
Learning Objectives:
After completing this course, you will be able to:
- Identify key ways finance can influence strategy, decision-making, and mission alignment in NFPs.
- Recognize effective budgeting approaches that link financial plans to program outcomes and organizational priorities.
- Differentiate between restricted and unrestricted funds and their impact on financial flexibility and planning.
- Select appropriate tools for cash flow planning, reserve management, and funding diversification.
- Recall the core components of ethical governance, risk management, and financial reporting for boards and donors.
This course includes practical exercises, mentor insights, and scenario-based questions to reinforce learning and ensure participants can apply key concepts in real-world finance leadership situations. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a CPD-accredited certificate.
Lessons:
Lesson 1: The Strategic Role of Finance in NFPs
Today’s not-for-profit finance leaders are mission-driven strategists—this module shows you how to align finance with impact, influence leadership, and drive long-term success.
Lesson 2: Financial Stewardship & Sustainability
Learn how to build financial resilience, manage volatility, and sustain impact through smarter forecasting, reserves, and income diversification.
Lesson 3: Budgeting & Forecasting for Purpose-Driven Impact
Learn how to create mission-driven budgets and forecasts that align resources with impact, engage teams across functions, and support long-term planning through strategic, collaborative processes.
Lesson 4: Fundraising Finance & Donor Reporting
Discover how finance leaders can strengthen fundraising efforts by partnering with development teams, enhancing donor reporting, and managing funds strategically to build trust and drive mission impact.
Lesson 5: Compliance, Risk & Governance in NFPs
Learn how to lead with confidence in governance, risk, and compliance by embedding effective controls, fostering ethical leadership, and supporting transparency without slowing down operations.
Lesson 6: Leading Finance Teams and Transforming Capability
Learn how to build and lead a high-performing finance team by developing people, leveraging technology, and transforming finance into a strategic partner that drives mission impact.
Additional Information
CPD Hours: 4
Field of Study: Finance
No prerequisite knowledge is required to be successful in this course.
No advance preparation is required. The primary purpose of this module is to address any deficiencies in this CFO competency compared to your peer group. So, you might find it helpful to have first taken the CFO competency framework to determine your existing skill level before starting the module.
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: QAS Self Study
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