Turning the Page on a New Year

Ann Coffey • January 4, 2022

Our community’s nonprofits have weathered nearly two years of uncertainty and wrenching change that Covid brought our way. We’re certainly not out of the woods yet. But I have also been truly heartened by our sector’s ability to pivot, to meet human needs as they changed, to do more with less, and to act with genuine equity.

The CNPE team wishes you a year with fewer crises and more opportunities to reimagine and to accomplish your mission effectively. To help you do just that, we offer you the learning/professional development events described below.

CNPE School for Fundraising & Engagement: New semester starting in February

CNPE School for Fundraising & Engagement classes for the first semester of 2022 are open for enrollment. Learn more about the school.

See our new course list to get details and to register. Now is an excellent time to plan for your professional development in 2022. We urge you to check out these classes and sign up soon.

QuickBooks users: Learn how to get your 1099s out to contractors
You will need to issue Form 1099s by January 31, 2022, to any contractors you paid more than $600 to in 2021. If you use QuickBooks and could use a quick tutorial on just how to do that, our QuickBooks® Made Easy™ partner is offering 90-minute tutorials for both desktop users and online users in January. CNPE members get $40 off the $89 normal price.

Get details on the January 18 Desktop class.

Get details on the January 19 Online class.

New marketing class:
Your Dollars Are in the Details – Plan, Schedule, & Achieve Your Marketing Goals
Nonprofit organizations’ marketing plans often fail due to a lack of planning. This course, offered from 9:00 to 10:30 on Tuesday, January 25, will help you reduce your overwhelm, increase your productivity, and maximize your donors’ giving potential.
The instructor, Deon Stokes, will also offer two random registered nonprofits free exclusive consultations with her. Drawing will be held after the program. This course is $35 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Details and registration here.

Financial Empowerment course: Taxes + Tax Services
Next Tuesday, January 11, from 10:00 to noon, we present a Level 2 Financial Empowerment Certification Class on taxes and tax services for those with low to moderate income, provided by Louisville Metro Government. This event is free, but you must register. Details here.

Leadership training for board chairs and EDs: Two sessions
New and aspiring executive directors, board chairs, vice-chairs, board officers, and presidents-elect can get leadership training specific to the nonprofit world in two 90-minute sessions on Tuesday, January 25, and Tuesday, February 1. Our own expert and Director of Consulting Ed Cortas will lead these sessions. For decades, Ed has been helping board leaders and executive directors get better oriented to their roles and then excel in them.

We are pricing this training to encourage organizations to send both their board leaders and their CEOs/Executive Directors. CNPE members can get one ticket for a board member for $75 and add their CEO/ED for only $55. For nonmember organizations, one board member ticket is $150 and adding a CEO/ED costs $110. Get details and register.

First Community Activation Network (CAN) meeting for 2022: Now What?
Over the last year, CAN participants examined public safety through various lenses and from a number of vantage points. At the January meeting (Thursday, January 27, from 9:00 to 10:30), we will review a summary of what we heard and what we learned. We will explore the public safety ecosystem and identify the gaps in our community’s efforts to provide a safe, healthy environment where everyone flourishes. And we will discuss where we go from here. It will be an important conversation. Come ready to hear, share, and strategize. Sign up now!

CNPE inaugural member meeting January 18
We invite members to join us from 11:00 to 11:45 on Tuesday, January 18, to learn how CNPE is transforming to serve members even more effectively. And find out why our values are LOVE, EQUITY, LEARNING, and COURAGE. Let us know you’re coming.

2022 promises plenty of challenges and opportunities. CNPE can help you with planning, fundraising, board engagement, governance, and your efforts to advance racial equity. We’re here to help you achieve your mission effectively.

Wishing you a calmer year in 2022,

Ann L. Coffey, CEO

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Advice for Handling Financial Uncertainity

By CNPE Staff • February 21, 2025

Dear Friends, With continued changes in government funding, the financial outlook for nonprofits feels more stressful than ever. But there are steps we can take right now to help insulate our organizations from the severity of what may come. In the spirit of "preparing for a rainy day" now is the time to take practical steps to identify and manage financial vulnerabilities in our organizations. From business and banking perspectives, here are a few items and actions to consider: Information is power. Now is a good time to assess your business model for more efficiency, resilience, and adaptability. Scrutinize your budget – trim non-essential costs and consider delaying investment in discretionary items. Cash is king - know your cash position and how long can you operate if funding stops. Manage payables carefully and take advantage of the full time your organization has to pay expenses. Talk with your banker – discuss ways to improve cash flow and ask about a potential line of credit for that rainy day. Have your bank provide a wellness checkup – how do they view your organization’s financial health? In general, don't be afraid to ask for help in times of financial strain. Your accounting firm, associations, and peers are helpful resources too - you are not alone. Plan for possible cuts. Nobody wants to think about this, but the reality of the moment calls for it. Staffing is typically the largest category of expense, so the hard question to wrestle with is how would we trim staffing expenses if needed without impacting our mission. Running a non-profit organization is stressful work. Throw in the uncertainty of our current environment and the task becomes even harder. Call upon trusted partners to help you see through the haze of uncertainty and take actions now that will extend your financial runway. There are additional considerations related to grants, contracts, funders, and social capital. The following resources can help you strategize and manage the financial needs of your organization during these times of uncertainty: 12 Urgent Financial Action Steps for Nonprofits: A 2025 Checklist How do Nonprofits Manage Cash Deficits? The Essentials of Cash Management for Nonprofits Small Business Resource Center | Pinnacle Financial Partners CNPE is partnering with Pinnacle Bank for our next Power Hour that will focus on bringing nonprofits more helpful advice about banking solutions and managing financial uncertainty. The event will provide opportunities for Q&A and networking with peers to help find answers you may be looking for. The date and time in March for Power Hour will be announced soon. We are available to connect with you to help where we can. With gratitude and admiration for everything you do to serve our community,