Strategic Financial Management for NGOs: Managing for Financial Sustainability

Purpose

The purpose of the Strategic Financial Management for NGOs course is to build the capacity of NGO staff to manage the financial sustainability of their organisations.
The course picks up on the more advanced aspects of financial management for NGOs, to further develop the skills and confidence of NGO staff to manage the strategic aspects of finance. This course is an ideal follow-up for the Practical Financial Management for NGOs: Getting the Basics Right (FM1) course.
Please note that this is not a fundraising skills development course.

Target audience
This workshop is aimed at senior managers and those responsible for the strategic management of programmes. It is also ideal for programme managers who advise local partners on strategic financial management.
Previous accounting experience is not a requirement for attending this course, although it is advantageous to complete the FM1 course first if completely new to finance.

Course content
The three-day workshop focuses on:
•What does strategic financial management involve?
•The key features of financial sustainability
•Financial risk analysis - knowing your ‘enemy'
•Building a financing strategy - planning for financial sustainability
•Donor dependency versus diversification of funds
•The challenge of financing and managing core costs
•Building and managing reserves - risks and rewards
•Planning for the unthinkable - using scenario planning techniques
•Managing donor relationships
•Integrating financial management into operational management

Learning Objectives

a. Values
At the end of the course participants will appreciate:
•the essential role of strategic financial management to organisational sustainability;
•that you do not have to be an accountant to understand and apply financial management concepts.

b. Core Skills
At the end of the course participants will be able to:
•describe the components and application of a financing strategy;
•assess the donor dependency and reserves base status of their organisations;
•outline options for financing and managing core costs;
•describe the advantages and challenges of building reserve funds;
•carry out a scenario planning and risk management exercise for their organisations;
•describe how to achieve successful donor relationships;
•outline ways to better integrate financial management into programme operations.

b. Additional Knowledge
At the end of the course participants will understand:
•what is meant by financial sustainability;
•why it is important to diversify sources of income;
•the application of project cost centres in strategic financial management.

Training approach
Mango's training is practical, participatory and personal. We focus on real issues and help participants to use the techniques covered, rather than just discuss them. Training is undertaken in small groups to meet the needs of individual participants.
A variety of learning methods are employed to stimulate interest and meet the differing needs of participants - including illustrated presentations, group exercises and discussions, case studies and practical problem solving exercises. Courses are supported by extensive materials for participants to take away and apply after the course.