Elevate your role in fundraising by partnering strategically with development teams, strengthening donor trust, and aligning financial insights to unlock mission-driven funding.
Mission-Aligned Finance in Not-For-Profits: Strategy, Influence & Impact
Overview
This course is designed for NFP finance leaders who want to elevate their strategic influence and align financial management with mission outcomes to create lasting value. In the evolving NFP landscape, finance professionals are expected to move beyond traditional compliance roles and become strategic partners who help drive program success, organizational resilience, and stakeholder confidence. You’ll learn how to align budgets with program goals, build sustainable financial models, manage donor relationships with transparency, and enhance financial capability across the organization. The course also covers risk management, governance, internal controls, and talent development, ensuring that finance leaders can support mission delivery while maintaining strong oversight. Throughout, you’ll gain insights from experienced NFP CFOs and leaders, and have access to tools, diagnostic checklists, and frameworks to apply the lessons directly to your organization’s context.
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
Redefine your role as a not-for-profit finance leader by aligning financial strategy to mission impact, driving informed decisions, and building influence across the organization.
Lesson 2: Financial Stewardship & Sustainability
Strengthen financial stewardship by building resilient models, diversifying income, and balancing short-term impact with long-term sustainability in not-for-profit organizations.
Lesson 3: Budgeting & Forecasting for Purpose-Driven Impact
Transform budgeting into a strategic, mission-driven process by aligning resources to impact, engaging cross-functional teams, and planning for the long term with clarity and purpose.
Lesson 4: Fundraising Finance & Donor Reporting
Lesson 5: Compliance, Risk & Governance in NFPs
Lead with integrity by embedding ethical governance, managing risk proactively, and ensuring compliance without compromising flexibility or strategic focus.
Lesson 6: Leading Finance Teams and Transforming Capability
Build and lead a high-performing, future-ready finance team by developing capability, leveraging technology, and transforming finance into a proactive strategic partner.
Additional Information
CPE Credits / 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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