Financial Fitness

  for Nonprofits 

Is your organization prepared to meet

new nonprofit audit standards and IRS requirements?

The FFNP program is designed to increase the accountability and efficiency of nonprofit organizations by helping them to establish good financial management processes and by providing them with access to financial expertise. FFNP services are delivered by CPAs, nonprofit financial managers, professional bookkeepers, and other members of the ESC volunteer corps who have financial expertise.

Financial Fitness Assessment

ESC's Financial Fitness evaluation tool measures your organization's current financial management processes in twenty-two critical areas. The assessment can be completed as a stand-alone service, and is included with most other FFNP services.

Financial Policies & Procedures

At the end of this two-hour training session, your organization will have a model set of policies and procedures that can be customized as needed; a glossary of key financial terms; and an understanding of the importance of establishing a management culture that supports good internal controls and financial practices. This service includes our Financial Fitness Assessment, the two-hour training session, sample policy and procedure manual, and up to two hours of consulting time.

Contracted Management Assistance

Need an expert for a more in-depth consultation? Examples of services ESC can provide include:

• Advising a new organization on how to set up financial operations
• Individualized training and coaching for leaders
• Review of financial statements and procedures in preparation for an audit or financial review
• Developing tools to monitor financial performance
• Financial turnaround plans
• Review of staffing plans for financial job functions
• Developing a program budget
• Determining indirect cost rates

Financial Fitness for Boards

This presentation, delivered at a board meeting or retreat, ensures that the full board has a solid understanding of its fiduciary role. Using your organization's own financial statements, the session focuses on the board's role in budgeting, financial reports, internal controls, audits/reviews, and financial policies.

Financial Fitness Information Sessions

These special topic workshops are customized for your organization. Current topics include:

• Introduction to Nonprofit Financial Management
• Applying for a Bank Loan of Line of Credit
• Assessing Readiness for a Capital Campaign (developed for ESC by The Collins Group)

Free Resources

Did you know that the new Form 990 asks if your organization has policies for conflicts of interest, document retention, private inurement, and whistleblowers? Click here to download sample policies and procedures that you can customize for your agency. For more information on the new Form 990, visit the IRS website and click on the "overview of changes to Form 990 and instructions" link.