Product Description

Nonprofit Financial Planning Made Easy presents straightforward strategies to make financial management a more smooth and successful process. Filled with practical forms and checklists to aid you in planning and managing your organizations' financial resources, Nonprofit Financial Planning Made Easy equips your nonprofit with step-by-step solutions to the dilemmas involved in keeping financial resources and the mission in balance.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #454363 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 234 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780471715276
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
Jody Blazek, CPA, provides nonprofit board members and financial managers a valuable resource in Financial Planning for Nonprofit Organizations, published as part of John Wiley & Sons Inc.'s Nonprofit Series. -- Reviewed by The Exempt Organization Tax Review, Vol 15, Number 3

From the Publisher
Based on the author's firsthand experience advising nonprofits, this excellent, hands-on resource presents proven, easy-to-implement strategies to make financial management a more streamlined, effective process for nonprofits of all types and sizes. Blazek avoids technical financial language and trendy business terms in favor of simple, straightforward guidance. Supplies dozens of checklists, worksheets, and forms to guide readers step-by-step through the financial planning process.

From the Inside Flap

Nonprofit Financial Planning Made Easy

"Financial planning for nonprofits, like a nonprofit's very purpose for existence, is based upon the philosophical aspirations of persons joining together to accomplish mutual goals. The very purpose for existence of a nonprofit is based on hope, sometimes on prayer, and almost always on dreams...The challenge is to stretch and balance precious resources to best accomplish the dream. Together, the two functions—performing the mission and providing the requisite resources—work in tandem to sustain the nonprofit's existence."
—From Chapter 1 of Nonprofit Financial Planning Made Easy

Are charities wisely using resources to fulfill their missions? Or, are they more concerned about the end of this year, at the future's expense? Good financial planning has always been essential for nonprofits, and nonprofit managers are beginning to realize just how essential, as they face intense competition for a shrinking fund base.

Nonprofit Financial Planning Made Easy presents straightforward strategies to make financial management a more smooth and successful process. Including a glossary of tax and financial terms unique to nonprofits, this book explores:

• The process of preparing and monitoring budgets

• How to monitor cash flow to maximize the yield on cash and other invest-ment assets

• Financial records and the decisions an organization makes in establishing its accounting systems

• Ratio analysis techniques useful in pinpointing weaknesses and identifying hidden trends

• The criteria for, and the means ofobtaining and retaining, special tax treatment

Filled with practical forms and checklists to aid nonprofit managers in planning and managing their organizations' financial resources, Nonprofit Financial Planning Made Easy equips nonprofits with step-by-step solutions to the dilemmas involved in keeping financial resources and the mission in balance.

Customer Reviews

By getting a copy of this book the nonprofit executive can get a good handle on her organization's financial planning req'ts.

[This review is actually for the Second Edition of this book which I read at B&N on Saturday, February 09, 2008. See ISBN 0471715271.]

This is a gem of a book. I have a financial background, so it was a pretty easy read for me. Like the author I too hold the CPA designation. But unlike the author I don't use that designation professionally any longer. The book has the following 8 chapters:

1. Introductory concepts
2. Structuring the organization for fiscal strength
3. Financing the dream
4. Budgeting
5. Asset management
6. Nonprofit accounting
7. Special financial tools
8. Obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status

For two years not too long ago I worked as a consultant to nonprofits that needed help with multi-million-dollar capital campaigns. The nonprofit world was new to me then, except for the time I spent in Washington DC a number of years ago as a staff auditor auditing trade associations for E&Y. As a result of my fundraising experiences I found it necessary to read lots of books about aspects of nonprofits. I read books on nonprofit management, nonprofit fundraising, nonprofit capital campaigns, nonprofit endowment campaigns, major gifts, grant proposals and writing, and nonprofit strategic planning.

I didn't read nonprofit books on nonprofit accounting, bookkeeping, or financial planning since I basically knew that stuff. But some people who are not well versed in such subject matter would do themselves a favor to get a copy of Ms. Blazek's book on nonprofit financial planning if they want a well written and well outlined book on the subject. CEOs and CFOs of nonprofits should be adept at their organization's (1) operations, (2) financial planning, and (3) fundraising efforts and abilities. By getting a copy of this book the nonprofit executive can get a good handle on the second leg of the three-legged stool. 5 stars!

Pretty Basic
This book would be good for those wanting to start a non-profit and those new to the non-profit world. As someone who's been a non-profit accountant for several years, there wasn't much new to me.