In this conversation, fractional CFO Stephen Newland joins to break down what financial leadership actually looks like inside a nonprofit—and why it doesn’t need to be complicated. Stephen explains that his core role is acting as a financial translator: turning dense, intimidating financial reports into meaningful insights that help leaders make informed decisions.

He emphasizes the critical role of forecasting, calling it one of the most underused yet most powerful tools available to nonprofits. While budgets are static snapshots, forecasts are “living, breathing documents” that give leaders visibility into the next 6–12 months. Without a forecast, executive directors are making decisions “in the dark,” relying on gut feelings instead of useful financial data.

The conversation also tackles the cultural components of financial leadership—modeling curiosity, encouraging teams and boards to engage with the numbers, and demystifying the jargon-heavy language of finance. When leaders show interest in numbers, the rest of the organization follows.

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