Self-Paced Nonprofit Program – Module 3

MODULE 3 – Nonprofit Finance Basics

This module introduces the financial fundamentals every nonprofit leader should understand. Participants learn how nonprofits use a universal chart of accounts to support consistency, transparency, and funder confidence.

You’ll explore how funders assess financial health, how to allocate administrative, program, and fundraising expenses for IRS Form 990 reporting, and how to use provided templates to build budget history, analyze trends, and project future revenue and expenses.

Includes: budgeting templates, financial analysis tools, and IRS reporting guidance.

My name is Nancy Heskin-Rakness, Director of Nonprofit Education for Strengthen ND. My background is 25 years with the Girl Scouts, two years as a troop leader and 23 years in the role of regional CEO. During that time, I gained national certification status by meeting the competencies of a nonprofit executive through application and testing. My career history also includes the following roles: district administrator, interim executive director, and human resources manager. Through the years, I attended well over one hundred educational conferences, and I kept track of what worked and made a positive impact. My aim is to share what I learned to support your efforts to increase the capacity and sustainability of your nonprofit.

Each module in Strengthen ND’s Nonprofit Certificate Program is designed to build practical leadership capacity through structured, self-paced online learning. Participants complete pre- and post-session confidence surveys, review curated resources, and download editable templates to apply directly within their organization. Course materials are accessible only through registration and cannot be edited online.