Financial Management: Certificate in Nonprofit Management Series

Certificate in Nonprofit Management Program

Financial Management**

Dates: Thursdays, May 7, 14, 21 and 28

Location: Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence (NICNE) at NIU Rockford

Time: 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Facilitator: Beth Howard, BS Accounting, BS Business Administration

Cost: $225 NICNE Members | $250 General Admission

Course Details: Familiarity with nonprofit accounting procedures can strengthen your confidence as a nonprofit leader and financial acumen is essential to your work and the health and sustainability of your organization.

This course simplifies the nonprofit accounting process to help you to build your leadership capacity.

You will:

• Learn fundamental financial and budgeting terms and concepts
• Review key elements of financial statements
• Gain a strong understanding of the accounting cycle
• Learn how to assess financial risks
• Gain insights on the independent audit process
• Explore the budgeting process
• Understand the significance of the Form 990
• Examine key considerations of financial management and decision-making
• Identify where and how to implement internal controls
• Understand staff and board roles related to financial management and oversight

These are vital skills that any nonprofit leader will need to lead with confidence.

This class is geared towards working professionals. While attendees are expected to engage in activities during class, there is generally no homework required. Expect to spend no more than 30-60 minutes per week outside of class engaging in class activities. In-class activities, discussion, and engagement will enhance your learning and relevance of topics to your work. Resources will be shared on best practices, current laws and trends, and other topics to help you adhere to legal standards and position yourself as a top employer.

Facilitator: Beth Howard is a nonprofit executive and consultant with more than 25 years of leadership experience helping mission-driven organizations strengthen operations, stabilize finances, and build long-term sustainability. She works with nonprofit leaders and boards to improve financial management practices, strengthen organizational infrastructure, and align strategy with measurable community impact.

Beth served for 14 years as Executive Director of the Friends of the Coronado Foundation, where she oversaw operations, financial stewardship, fundraising, governance support, programming, and community partnerships. During her tenure, the organization expanded programming, strengthened financial performance, and deepened community engagement through strategic partnerships and disciplined financial management.

Beth has operated a nonprofit consulting practice since 2001 and continues to provide consulting and coaching support to organizations in areas including financial oversight, revenue development, operational stabilization, and leadership transition. Her approach emphasizes practical implementation, helping organizations translate financial information into confident decision-making and sustainable operations.

She holds degrees in Accounting and Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Kansas. Her academic background, combined with extensive executive leadership experience, informs her practical, real-world approach to nonprofit financial stewardship.

Certificate in Nonprofit Management Program Overview: Leading a high-impact mission-driven nonprofit requires more than goals and plans; it requires concrete knowledge and skills. NICNE’s five-course Certificate in Nonprofit Management program will teach you the skills needed to strengthen your organization and better achieve your mission.

Each course is led by an accomplished expert in their field. Facilitators include nonprofit executives, master-level leaders committed to collaboration as a tool to drive social change, and facilitatros and guest speakers with advanced certifications and decades of experience in nonprofit leadership.

This program is valuable for leaders seeking to broaden or refresh their skill set, aspirng leaders seeking senior leadership positions within their organizations, line staff seeking to improve leadership skills, board members seeking to serve in a more strategic advisory role, and people seeking to transfer from the for-profit to the nonprofit arena.

**This is one of the five courses in the Certificate in Nonprofit Management Program. Take any of the courses individually or complete the entire series. Courses may be taken in any order and attendance credit does not expire. Upon successful completion of all five courses (90% overall attendance) participants will receive a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from The Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Northern Illinois University. Full program details can be found by visiting our website at www.niu.edu/nicne/. Please call 815.753.8793 or email Billie Callahan at [email protected] with questions.

About NICNE: Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence (NICNE) has been providing capacity building, training, technical assistance and resource support to nonprofit organizations within our region since August 2004. We are celebrating the completion of our 20th year as the region's primary resource for nonprofit management, leadership development and community initiative leadership. NICNE strengthens nonprofits and encourages collaboration resulting in a strong, vibrant nonprofit sector critical to a healthy community.

NICNE's mission: Promote, model and grow innovation, excellence and social impact. NICNE is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization affiliated with Northern Illinois University, Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development. Learn more at www.niu.edu/nicne/

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Host or Publisher Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence (NICNE)