Financial Expertise Initiative for Nonprofit Boards

NPCC's Financial Expertise Iniative is designed to help improve the .financial governance of nonprofit boards. Many nonprofits are aware of the increasing importance of financial oversight, and have been asking for more timely and detailed information about financial matters, and assistance in recruiting more people with financial expertise for their boards.

Our goals are to:

  • Help our member organizations assess their financial governance
  • Educate accounting and financial professionals about the financial oversight needs of nonprofits and the role of boards, and expand the pool of professionals willing to volunteer
  • Identify resources to help match the professionals with boards that need their expertise
  • Ensure that there is ongoing training and support for people in the accounting and financial community and for members of nonprofit boards about nonprofit financial management issues.
    •

    count me in

    Sign up for CPAs on Boards.  Let us know that you are interested in finding a CPA or other financial professional to serve on your board -- complete your board profile at www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=40176761348. Guidelines:  When signing up for CPAs on Boards, it is very important to read, and print out for reference, our Guidelines for Nonprofits Seeking New Board Members at www.npccny.org/info/epe9.htm.
     

    explore boardnet/USA

    BoardnetUSA is a website managed by the Volunteer Consulting Group dedicated to connecting nonprofit boards and new leaders. You can search according to geographic location, skills and nonprofit interests.


     

    take a look at• Internal Controls and Financial Accountability for Not-for-Profit Boards, a booklet from the New York State Attorney General's Office. It is available to download as a PDF at www.oag.state.ny.us/charities/internal_controls.pdf.

    • The BBB Wise Giving Alliance Standards for Charitable Accountability at www.newyork.bbb.org/nypas/newstands.html.

    • NPCC's Information Databank at www.npccny.org/databank.htm. Go to the articles under the Governance and the Financial sections.

    Many activities are in the works, including:

    • Collaborating with the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) and other nonprofit partners on the CPAs on Boards program, designed to enhance the financial expertise of nonprofit boards through the volunteer participation of NYSSCPA members in board training and service. (Click here to learn more and to fill out your “Board Profile” for consideration by potential CPA board candidates.  We will be sending updates to the list of nonprofits to the NYSSCPA on the first business day of each month.

    • Working with other financial organizations and individuals to spread the word about nonprofit board service

    • Enhancing coverage of financial governance matters in our newsletter, New York Nonprofits

    • Creating networking opportunities for nonprofits and financial professionals

    • Celebrating the good works done by accountants and financial professionals through their service on nonprofit boards.

    • NPCC's first executive financial summit, “Focus on Finance,” was held on March 1, 2005.  Teams of executive directors and board members attended to learn more about their organizations’ financial issues and their complementary duties of oversight

    If you have any questions or comments about the Financial Expertise Initiative, or would like to get involved, please contact Barbara Earnest at NPCC at 212-502-4191, extension 24 (Monday-Thursday) or at earnest@npccny.org.  Be sure to check back for announcements about seminars and workshops, and links to articles of interest.