The Role of the Board in Financial Oversight

About this event

Kay Sohl
National Nonprofit Trainer & Consultant
Kay Sohl Consulting

Pizza, Salad, No-host Bar & Networking at 5:00
Presentation at 5:30

Northwest nonprofits face daunting challenges in our lingering recession. Individual, business, and foundation giving are down, and state and local government budget crises will almost certainly reduce funding for nonprofit contracts. Now, more than ever before, nonprofit organizations need effective Board financial leadership.

But what is effective Board financial leadership? How can volunteer Board members provide meaningful oversight and strategic guidance for organizations strained by tumultuous change?

Effective Board decision making requires understanding the organization’s current financial health and evaluating realistic choices. For many board members, the spirit is willing, but the flesh, especially the eyelids, grow weak when confronted with lengthy financial statements prepared in the “special” format required for nonprofit accounting, and complex budgets with choices distorted by funder restrictions.

Explore strategies to help your Board:

• Understand your nonprofit’s financial health
• Focus attention on key financial choices
• Spot red flags in your financial reports
• Build an effective Board Finance Committee

About the Presenter

Kay Sohl has provided training and consultation for boards of directors, executive directors, and CFOs of over 5,000 not-for-profit organizations throughout the United States. Kay’s work is focused on redevelopment of nonprofit business models, compliance with federal funds requirements, financial management, and board governance issues. Kay is a frequent presenter for the AICPA national not-for-profit conferences, and has worked extensively with community action agencies, domestic violence programs, land trusts, affordable housing and a variety of state and local public and private funding agencies. She is co-author of the Oregon Nonprofit Corporation Handbook, a comprehensive guide to legal, financial, governance, and management issues for community-based nonprofits, now in its 4th edition.

About the Network

Nonprofit Board Network offers regular opportunities in a relaxed atmosphere for you to learn about nonprofit governance, network with board members from other organizations, and meet the experts. Nonprofit Board Network gives you a chance to interact with respected thinkers and practitioners in the nonprofit world and to share information and experience.