February Topics for High Performance - Finance

With tightened credit markets, market volatility, decreased funding, and an increased demand on services, today's nonprofit are faced with unprecedented challenges.  Organizations must ensure accountability and performance alignment, be able to effectively communicate with both internal and external stakeholders, and purposefully and deliberately help to lead their organization to drive results and ensure sustainability.

For February, the Georgia Center for Nonprofits has focused our offerings and programming around the ins and outs of Finance in nonprofits.  By helping organizations build sustainable and creative ways to stay in the fiscally sound, GCN is promoting the health and wealth of Georgia’s nonprofit sector.

Be sure to check out MUSE, Mauldin & Jenkins’ monthly publication dedicated to providing ideas and education to tax exempt organizations.  Click here to see the latest edition.

CenterView Newsletter

Find the February copy of CenterView relating to Finance by CLICKING HERE.

InFocus - Interpreting the Tax Council's Recommendations - by Karen Beavor, President and CEO

Ask the Expert - What is an efficient way for small nonprofits to run financial operations? - by Shelley Parnes, CPA

Fundraising Spotlight – GCN speaks with David Begley, CFO of AID Atlanta, to bring you best practices for developing a successful finance-development relationship.  Click here to listen to the interview.  (7MB)

Upcoming Programs for Nonprofit University

CFO Central
Today's nonprofit financial executives are faced with unprecedented challenges. They must ensure accountability and performance alignment, be able to effectively communicate with both internal and external stakeholders, and purposefully and deliberately help to lead their organization to drive results and ensure sustainability. Nonprofit University’s CFO Central Program, beginning March 31, is designed to support, educate, and provide networking opportunities for our nonprofit CFOs. 

Click here for more information and to download the application.
 

Certificate of Nonprofit Finance and Accounting - Essentials
Earn your Certificate in Nonprofit Finance and Accounting Essentials and receive the kind of practical, accessible training to build your skills and growth opportunities within the sector. Our Certificate Program features five courses that delivering essential training for nonprofit financial managers, starting with a two-part program on financial reporting, followed by sessions on creating budgets, developing internal controls, and handling the audit process.

Click here for more information.

Upcoming Nonprofit University Courses

Community Foundation to Begin Providing Bridge Loans
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta is launching the new Nonprofit Loan Fund to help nonprofit organizations meet short-term funding needs by providing bridge loans. Building upon the success of the Arts Loan Fund, The Community Foundation is expanding loans to stabilize the cash flow of nonprofit organizations.

Known for providing grants to nonprofits, The Community Foundation has launched the Nonprofit Loan Fund to help nonprofits weather times of short-term cash crunches, seize immediate growth opportunities that require some investment, or maintain steady operations while waiting for pledged public or private grant funds or contracts.

Click here for more information.

Tools & Resources

Check out GCN’s Regional Manager, Sarah Todd monthly column in the Savannah Morning News:  The Business of Nonprofits: Finding Revenue Sources for Your Nonprofit

Recommended Reading list provided by our friends at Jossey Bass Publishing:

Nonprofit Sustainability: Making Strategic Decisions for Financial Viability, by Jeanne Bell, Jan Masaoka, Steve Zimmerman – Paperback, November 2010

The Budget-Building Book for Nonprofits: A Step-by-Step Guide for Managers and Boards (w/CD) , 2nd Edition, by Murray Dropkin, Jim Halpin, Bill La Touche – Paperback, November 2007

Balanced Scorecard: Step-by-Step for Government and Nonprofit Agencies, 2nd Edition, by Paul R. Niven- Hardcover, April 2008

The Cash Flow Solution: The Nonprofit Board Member's Guide to Financial Success by Richard S. Linzer, Anna O. Linzer - Paperback, November 2006

For even more tools, resources and information on finance topics, login or Become a Member!

Networking Opportunities and Events

Tax Exempt Association (TEA) Group
Join your peers to discuss accounting and finance for nonprofits with the accounting group Jones and Kolb.  The TEA Group meets monthly to discuss financial, tax and managerial issues.

Meetings are held 11:30 – 1:00 PM at Maggiano’s on Peachtree Road.  The cost is $25 per person. The next two meetings are:

• February 22, “2010 Fundraising Survey-What’s Working and What’s Not”
• March 29, “Functional Expenses Allocation-Are You Properly Allocating Costs?”

For more information contact Molly Gross at mcg@joneskolb.com or 404-262-7920 x237.

February Atlanta Nonprofit Professionals Networking Event

Atlanta Nonprofit Professionals cordially invites you to attend our Annual Wine Tasting.  Join ANP board members and other nonprofit professionals for a few hours of food, fun, spritis and networking.

When:  Thursday, February 17th from 6-8 pm
Where:  Atlantic Station’s Geisha House
1380 Atlantic Drive, Atlanta GA 30363
404-872-3365 http://www.dolcegroup.com/

$20 per person in advance - this includes your gracious donation to ANP, 2 wine tickets and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Click here to RSVP and purchase your advance ticket.

February CNP in Brunswick

Join your colleagues for “2011 Funding Trends and Opportunities” at the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce, Friday, February 25, from 11:30a.m.–1:00p.m.

Speakers will discuss state, federal, and private funding trends and opportunities for this year.  The program is free – boxed lunch is $8.

Please RSVP to (912) 262-6503.