When the leaders of nonprofits increase their financial expertise, the impact extends and expands throughout the community,” said Cristine Nardi, executive director of CNE. “The Finance Academy will help nonprofit executives and board members become better stewards of their current resources,
increasing available assets to invest, and generating greater levels of support from donors. Nonprofits are sound businesses with unique financial challenges, and the Finance Academy is designed to make these high-impact organizations even stronger.”
The five-year partnership leverages core strengths of both CFA Institute and CNE. CFA Institute brings deep financial knowledge, local staff expertise, a global reputation for corporate citizenship, and a capital commitment of more than $350,000 in the Finance Academy program. CNE, as the only nonprofit resource center in the region with more than 250 members, brings ten years of program design and delivery experience, established credibility in the community, and deep knowledge of the nonprofit sector.
“The Finance Academy represents a sustainable partnership that will directly contribute to the increasing financial health of our community,” said Kelli Palmer, director of corporate citizenship for CFA Institute. “The value of our five-year partnership with CNE will multiply over time, as the leaders who complete the Finance Academy become capable of sharing the knowledge base across their organizations. Mission-aligned partnerships designed to enhance the resiliency of our community are a central focus of CFA Institute corporate citizenship initiatives today and in the years ahead.”
In addition to the financial investment that will significantly offset the overall cost of the program, CFA Institute will contribute expertise toward curriculum development, tool and resource development, strategies for marketing, online platform development, community outreach, and skills-based volunteering. The five-year duration of the partnership will allow CNE to develop a fully tested program, which it will evolve in future years based on the needs of the nonprofits who participate. The Finance Academy will be consistently cobranded by both CNE and CFA Institute. “As a 2016 CNE Board Academy participant, I gained knowledge about nonprofit finance. I am especially excited about the new CNE Finance Academy which will bring into sharper focus and depth the finance segment of the Board Academy curriculum, and will undoubtedly be executed to the high standard of quality that I’ve come to expect from CNE programming,” said Carolyn Burnett, Senior Business Banking Relationship Manager and Vice President, Wells Fargo.
For further information about the Finance Academy, visit: https://www.thecne.org/learn/finance-academy/
ABOUT CENTER FOR NONPROFIT EXCELLENCE
Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) in Charlottesville, Va. is the region’s only nonprofit resource center. With 250 members, CNE has built a dynamic community of practice. We are an honest broker, a trusted guide, and a voice for and about the nonprofit sector. From governance, leadership and management, to robust programs, data-driven evaluation, and collaboration, CNE invests in nonprofits because strong nonprofits = strong community. For more information, visit www.thecne.org .
ABOUT CFA INSTITUTE
CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organization is a champion for ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. The end goal: to create an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. CFA Institute has over 145,000 members in 159 countries and territories, including 139,000 CFA charterholders, and 147 member societies. For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.org .
