Assessing Nonprofit Financial Health (Chicago)

Understanding the financial health of both current and prospective grantees is a critical part of the grantmaking process. Nonprofit organizations face increasing financial challenges in today’s operating environment and in order to make sound funding decisions, grantmakers must have a firm grasp of the story told by the numbers. Focusing on effective approaches to reading and interpreting audited financial statements and the IRS Form 990, this course will equip grantmakers to understand their grantees’ financial reality, with concepts and tools applicable to grantees across a range of mission areas and business models.

Key concepts covered in the workshop will include:

• Understanding audited financial statements


• Discussion of key indicators of financial health, including relevant


• Calculating financial metrics using an Excel-based “Nonprofit Financial Health Analysis” tool (provided as a takeaway for all participants)


• The differences between the Form 990 and audited financial statements and what you might be missing if you rely solely on one or the other


• Key information in the form 990 that provides insights into an organization’s capacity in the areas of governance, leadership, and fundraising

Participants will be asked to bring the audited financial statements and Form 990 for their “favorite grantee” with them to the workshop. Using these documents, participants will be able to immediately apply concepts discussed in the training and understand how their grantee’s financial health compares to industry benchmarks in the nonprofit sector.

Faculty: Rodney Christopher, FMA