Take the Role Well
Know what the treasurer does and does not do, your fiduciary duties, who holds financial authority, and how to take over the books in your first 90 days.
A course for nonprofit board treasurers
Nonprofit Board Treasurer Course
Read the numbers. Protect the cash. Help the board decide.
Thirty-six short video lessons for treasurers and incoming treasurers of U.S. nonprofits, with a tool for every step and a Certificate of Completion when you pass the final assessment.
For treasurers and incoming treasurers
Know the Numbers. Ask the Right Questions.
The Nonprofit Board Treasurer Course is a self-paced online course for treasurers and incoming treasurers of U.S. nonprofit boards. Learn to read the financial statements, report to the board, plan budgets and cash, oversee the Form 990 and set controls against fraud. Includes 36 lessons, 18 tools and a Certificate of Completion. $297.
You said yes to treasurer. Now the bank balance, the budget, the Form 990, the audit and the question "can we make payroll?" all seem to land on you.
The Nonprofit Board Treasurer Course shows you how to read a nonprofit's financial statements, report to the board in plain words, know how much cash is really available, and oversee tax, controls and fraud risk without doing the bookkeeper's job.
Every lesson works a real-world example and comes with a tool you can use at your own organization, so you leave with a working toolkit, not just notes.
The treasurer's whole year
Everything That Lands on the Treasurer.
- Fiduciary duties
- The four financial statements
- Restricted gifts
- Monthly review
- The board dashboard
- Budgets and forecasts
- Cash available
- Operating reserves
- Form 990
- Payroll and receipts
- Controls and fraud
- The audit
The course follows the order a treasurer meets the work, from the first 90 days to a full board meeting on the numbers.
What you will learn
Oversee the Money Your Mission Needs
Clear numbers, better questions and steadier decisions when cash gets tight.
Read and Report the Numbers
Read the four nonprofit financial statements, run a monthly review, explain variances and forecasts, and build a dashboard the board can act on.
Plan the Budget and the Cash
Test budget assumptions, know the full cost of programs, forecast cash, size operating reserves and protect the bank accounts.
Guard Against Risk
Oversee the Form 990, payroll and donor receipts, set controls that stop payment fraud, work with the auditor, and lead through financial distress.
How it works
From first lesson to Certificate of Completion.
Enroll online, study at your own pace and use the guides and template pack to build your treasurer toolkit. Complete the lessons and pass the final assessment: 20 scenario questions, with 16 correct answers required. Retakes are allowed. You then receive a Certificate of Completion from Board Director Institute.
- 01
Enroll and start learning
Pay $297 once and study online at your own pace. The course is built for people who serve, or are about to serve, as a nonprofit treasurer.
- 02
Watch and put the tools to work
Work through 36 short, captioned lessons. Use the guides, handbook and 18-tool template pack to apply each step at your organization.
- 03
Work the capstone case
Use the capstone workbook to prepare a full board meeting on the numbers, from the dashboard to the decision memo.
- 04
Pass the assessment and earn your certificate
Complete the lessons and answer at least 16 of 20 scenario questions correctly (80%). Retakes are allowed. Receive a Certificate of Completion from Board Director Institute.
Course outline
What the Nonprofit Board Treasurer Course Covers
- Modules 1–2 · The Role and Reliable Numbers: Lessons 1–10: legal scope, board and staff roles, financial authority and fiduciary duties, your first 90 days, the four financial statements, the monthly close, and gifts with conditions and restrictions.
- Module 3 · Reporting to the Board: Lessons 11–14: the monthly financial review, variances and forecasts, the board dashboard, and financial decisions and follow-up.
- Module 4 · Budget and Sustainability: Lessons 15–19: budget assumptions, program full cost, funding concentration, accepting grants and contracts, and capital projects, leases and debt.
- Module 5 · Cash and Treasury: Lessons 20–23: cash available for operations, cash forecasting, operating reserves, and banking and investments.
- Modules 6–8 · Tax, Controls and Distress: Lessons 24–36: filing calendar and Form 990, exemption and unrelated business income, payroll and donor receipts, controls and payment fraud, conflicts and executive pay, the audit, distress and closure, and the capstone board meeting.
- Final assessment: Twenty scenario questions, with 16 correct answers (80%) required to pass. Retakes are allowed. Complete the course and pass to earn your Certificate of Completion.
Included in your course
Leave with Tools, Not Just Notes.
Adapt the resources to your organization and keep using them through your term.
The Treasurer's Template Pack
A financial authority matrix, monthly review checklist, board dashboard, decision memo, budget and full-cost model, cash forecast, reserve policy and fraud response plan, among the tools included, plus a calculator workbook.
The Handbook and Lesson Guides
The Nonprofit Board Treasurer Handbook and a downloadable guide for every lesson, with questions to bring to your next finance committee meeting.
Cheat Sheets, Checklists and Slides
Seven cheat sheets, four checklists including a Treasurer's First 90 Days and a Form 990 review, a capstone workbook and a presentation deck for your board.
Frequently asked questions
Questions About the Nonprofit Board Treasurer Course
Ready to oversee the money with confidence? Start the course and build your toolkit.
Enroll today for $297Who is this course for?
Treasurers and incoming treasurers of U.S. nonprofit boards. It is also useful for finance committee members, board chairs, chief executives and volunteer bookkeepers who want to understand what a good treasurer does.
Do I need an accounting background?
No. The course defines every term in plain words and works each idea through a short example. If you already know accounting, it shows you how the nonprofit rules and the board's oversight role differ.
What is included in the $297 price?
A one-time payment includes 36 captioned video lessons, 36 lesson guides, the Nonprofit Board Treasurer Handbook, an 18-tool template pack with a calculator workbook, cheat sheets, checklists, a capstone workbook and presentation slides. You also get the final assessment and a Certificate of Completion after completing the lessons and passing.
How does the final assessment work?
The final assessment has 20 scenario questions. You need at least 16 correct answers (80%) to pass. Retakes are allowed, so you can review the lessons and try again.
What does the Certificate of Completion mean?
It records that you completed the Nonprofit Board Treasurer Course and passed the final assessment. It is issued by Board Director Institute. It is not accreditation, licensure, CPE credit, professional certification, a board appointment or a guarantee of an organizational result.
Is this legal, tax or accounting advice?
No. The course is general education about U.S. nonprofit finance and governance. State law, your bylaws and your own CPA or attorney can change the answer, so check important decisions with them.
Who created the course, and is the video AI-generated?
Michael Barrick, founder of Board Director Institute, created the course. The video and voice use an AI-generated version of Michael. Michael reviewed and approved the lesson content.
What if I change my mind?
You may request a full refund within 14 calendar days after purchase if no lesson in the course has been opened. Once a lesson is opened, there is no change-of-mind refund. See our Refund Policy for the full details.