Are you asking your grantees the right financial questions? Do you know how to effectively analyze the information you receive? What are the implications of the questions you are asking?
Could you be doing more harm than good with your grants?
Join your fellow Maine funders for an in-depth, interactive workshop from the Nonprofit Finance Fund to learn to more effectively assess and support nonprofit financial health in your grantmaking.
The workshop will focus on collectively building the necessary skills to assess a nonprofit's financial condition and learning to use those skills to advance grantmaking that is more strategic and effective for both funders and nonprofits. How do you surface the right questions about a grantee's ability to take on an investment, navigate growth or change, and be adaptable, resilient, and durable into the future?
MPC Members can download the resources from this workshop here.
Through case studies and participatory exercises, participants will:
Know how to turn a deeper understanding of nonprofits' financial story into more strategic grantmaking
- Understand the difference between “buy” revenue and “build” capital and the importance of both.
- Understand how your grantmaking and financial assessment can help build a nonprofit’s financial responsibility and resiliency
Understand the operating environment of nonprofits: unique drivers of nonprofit finance, connecting the financial and mission stories, adjusting the orientation from financial compliance to financial strategy
Understand how to uncover the financial story: assessing and communicating a nonprofit’s financial condition; key metrics and indicators of financial health and performance.
Develop a shared vocabulary:
- Be better prepared to “speak with one voice” as Maine funders, developing a shared language consistent with the training and best practices nonprofits are receiving.
Leave with resources you can refer to and share with colleagues following the program.
The workshop will be led by staff with experience in funder training and grantmaking consultation, and knowledge of some of the issues facing Maine nonprofits specifically.
Registration Fee
The current fee for this workshop is $600.
The per person fee is based on a minimum number of attendees. If more attendees register, the per person fee will be reduced for all attendees. Participants will be billed for the registration fee once the final rate is determined. (Note: it will be no greater than $600 per person.)
About the Nonprofit Finance Fund
Leading nonprofits towards business health and effective capitalization has been at the heart of Nonprofit Finance Fund's mission for over 30 years. As a source of capital, financial advice, and accessible insights, we aim to unlock the potential of nonprofit organizaitons to build and sustain more just and vibrant communities. Our goal is a financially sound and thriving nonprofit sector in which organizations have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to provide vital programs and services.
Central to pursing this mission is working in partnership with private foundations, government, and corporate philanthropy to align grant dollars to achieve funder goals, support nonprofit financial sustainability, and innovate within the landscape of strategic philanthropy. Our extensive work as a trusted advisor to fundres across the country allows us to speak to the latest developments in philanthropy and bring learnings from our national practice to local communities of practice.
What others are saying:
“NFF delivered an invaluable workshop on financial frameworks which helped program officers become more astute about the kinds of grants they make and the consequences of them. There is no other way to learn this than to have NFF work it through with program officers. But once they get it – they are able to think on a much more sophisticated level about the way they support grantees. The cost saving in the long run is large.”
Patricia H. Brandes, Executive Director,
Barr Foundation
“Through its deep understanding of the issues facing nonprofits and a technical assistance program that offers results-oriented practices for the sector’s growth and development, Nonprofit Finance Fund is an invaluable partner to nonprofits and funders looking to build the capacity of nonprofits. We are proud to partner with NFF to continue to look at innovative and effective means to sustain and strengthen the nonprofit sector.”
Kerry H. Sullivan, President, Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Please contact us if you require special accommodations in order to fully participate in this program. Call or email Vrylena Olney at vrylena@mainephilanthropy.org or 207-780-5039 at least two weeks in advance of the program to discuss your specific needs.