Event Details
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
9:00AM – 11:00AM PT
Online via Zoom – This gathering will not be recorded
What Every Executive Director Needs to Understand About Finances: A Strategic Approach to Nonprofit Financial Leadership
As an Executive Director, you’re responsible for more than just reading financial reports — you’re expected to lead with them. Join us for this valuable training, led by certified public accountant Mike Travis, as he goes beyond the basics of balance sheets and income statements to equip nonprofit leaders with the strategic, high-level financial insights needed to make mission-aligned decisions, guide long-term planning, and lead with confidence.
Through real-world scenarios, interactive discussions, and practical tools, you’ll learn how to interpret key financial indicators, lead effective budgeting and forecasting processes, and engage both your board and staff in building a financially resilient organization. Whether you’re navigating growth, grappling with sustainability, or just want to feel more confident in financial conversations, this training is designed to help you lead from a position of clarity and strength. Join us and take your financial leadership to the next level.
The role of a nonprofit executive director is full of opportunities and challenges. All too often those holding this pivotal position may feel isolated or alone on their journey. The Executive Director Gathering provides a space to learn together, support each other, and share wisdom. We invite executive directors, and those serving in similar roles, to join us for an afternoon of shared learning and connection.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how to use financial data for strategic decision-making
- Learn key financial indicators and what they reveal about organizational health
- Know how to engage boards and staff in financial discussions
- Gain confidence in leading financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting
Cost
This gathering is free to attend.
Who Should Attend
All executive directors, and those serving in similar roles, are welcome.
Accessibility
Captioning: We will have automated captioning enabled.
Interpretation: Please indicate during registration if you have an interpretation request. Typically, we need at least two weeks in order to schedule an interpreter.
Visual Descriptions: Presenters will include visual descriptions of themselves and the slides to give a person who is low-vision, blind, or calling in without video a sense of space and place.
If you have additional accessibility requests, please let us know when you register.
About the Speakers
Michael Travis, Spokane Accounting Services
Michael Travis is a Spokane native with nearly 15 years of experience in audit and assurance, consulting, and controllership. He has worked with organizations ranging from grassroots nonprofits with annual revenues of $500,000 to publicly traded companies with multi-billion-dollar market capitalizations. His career has shaped a broad skill set and a process-driven approach to solving financial and operational challenges across sectors.
Michael is the founder of Spokane Accounting Services, a firm providing fractional financial leadership to nonprofits and small to mid-sized enterprises. He also serves as a member at large for the Boys and Girls Club of Spokane County and is involved with the Nonprofit Association of Washington.
A proud Inland Northwest native, Michael grew up in Coeur d’Alene and graduated cum laude from Gonzaga University.
Thanks to Our Partner
Presented by Nonprofit Association of Washington in partnership with the Washington Office of the Secretary of State.
Questions? Check out the event FAQ page or contact Nonprofit Association of Washington
Phone: (855) 299-2922 x108
Email: [email protected]