Introduction

In today's complex and competitive landscape, Strategic Grants and Financial Management for NGOs is an indispensable core competency for non-governmental organizations seeking to achieve sustainable impact and navigate evolving donor expectations. Beyond traditional fundraising, this discipline encompasses the entire financial lifecycle, from proactively identifying funding opportunities and crafting compelling proposals to meticulously managing grant funds, ensuring stringent compliance, and strategically investing for long-term resilience. Modern donors demand unparalleled transparency, accountability, and demonstrable results, pushing NGOs to adopt sophisticated financial systems and practices. Without a holistic and strategic approach to grants and finance, organizations risk not only missed funding opportunities and audit findings but also operational inefficiencies that divert precious resources from their crucial mission. This essential training course focuses on equipping NGO professionals with the expertise to master Strategic Grants and Financial Management.

This intensive training course is meticulously designed to empower NGO leaders, finance professionals, program managers, and aspiring sector changemakers with the theoretical understanding and practical tools necessary to excel in strategic grants and financial management. Participants will gain a deep understanding of donor landscapes, explore advanced proposal development techniques, master robust financial controls, learn about optimizing cash flow and multi-country liquidity, and acquire skills in strategic investment for sustainable growth. The course will delve into topics such as donor compliance frameworks, budget vs. actual analysis, ethical investment policies, digital financial transformation, risk management, and the art of financial storytelling for impact. By mastering the principles and methodologies of Strategic Grants and Financial Management for NGOs, participants will be prepared to secure and manage funding more effectively, enhance financial resilience, and ultimately amplify their organization's capacity to deliver transformative programs globally.

Duration: 10 Days

Target Audience

• NGO Directors and Executive Leadership
• Finance Managers and Chief Financial Officers
• Grant Managers and Coordinators
• Program Managers and Project Leads
• Resource Mobilization and Fundraising Managers
• Board Members (especially those on finance committees)
• Accountants and Auditors working with NGOs
• Compliance and Risk Management Officers
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialists
• Aspiring Leaders within the non-profit sector

Objectives

• Understand the entire lifecycle of grant management, from identification to closeout.
• Learn to develop compelling, compliant, and results-oriented grant proposals.
• Acquire strategies for robust financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting for NGO operations.
• Comprehend techniques for optimizing cash flow and managing liquidity across diverse operational contexts.
• Explore methodologies for ensuring stringent donor compliance and mitigating financial risks.
• Understand the importance of strategic investment for long-term NGO financial sustainability.
• Gain insights into preparing accurate and transparent financial reports, including budget vs. actuals.
• Master the use of digital tools and data analytics for enhanced financial oversight.
• Develop a strategic framework for integrating financial management with programmatic impact.
• Formulate a personal action plan for enhancing grants and financial management practices in their organization.

Course Content

Module 1: Strategic Grant Landscape and Fund Acquisition

• Understanding the global donor ecosystem: institutional, corporate, foundations, private.
• Donor mapping: identifying suitable funding opportunities aligned with NGO mission.
• Cultivating donor relationships and intelligence gathering.
• Developing a diversified funding strategy beyond traditional grants.
• Ethical considerations in fundraising and donor engagement.

Module 2: Advanced Grant Proposal Development

• Crafting compelling problem statements and impactful theories of change.
• Designing logical frameworks (LogFrames) and results frameworks.
• Developing clear, measurable objectives and indicators.
• Writing persuasive narratives that align with donor priorities and evaluation criteria.
• Incorporating gender, inclusion, and sustainability perspectives into proposals.

Module 3: Grant Budgeting and Cost Recovery

• Principles of accurate and defensible grant budgeting.
• Direct vs. indirect costs: understanding and calculating overheads.
• Developing realistic cost allocation plans and shared cost methodologies.
• Negotiating indirect cost rates and recovering full project costs.
• Budget justification: linking expenses directly to proposed activities and outcomes.

Module 4: Grant Agreement Review and Compliance Frameworks

• Key clauses and terms in grant agreements: understanding legal obligations.
• Navigating specific donor compliance requirements (e.g., USAID 2 CFR 200, EU, UN, private foundations).
• Sub-grantee management: due diligence, agreements, and monitoring.
• Anti-terrorism financing, anti-corruption, and safeguarding compliance.
• Establishing internal policies and procedures for grants compliance.

Module 5: Financial Planning and Strategic Budgeting

• Developing comprehensive organizational and project budgets.
• Advanced forecasting techniques for revenue and expenditure.
• Zero-based budgeting and activity-based costing for efficiency.
• Linking financial plans to strategic organizational goals.
• Scenario planning and sensitivity analysis for financial resilience.

Module 6: Real-Time Cash Position Reporting (Weekly Focus)

• Designing systems and templates for accurate weekly cash position reports.
• Forecasting short-term cash inflows (donor disbursements, local revenue).
• Projecting short-term cash outflows (payroll, operational expenses, supplier payments).
• Identifying potential cash flow gaps or surpluses for immediate action.
• Using dashboards for visual tracking and quick decision-making.

Module 7: Multi-Country Liquidity Management (Monthly Focus)

• Optimizing cash pooling, inter-company transfers, and in-country treasury operations.
• Strategies for managing foreign exchange risks and currency fluctuations.
• Navigating diverse national banking regulations and financial transfer mechanisms.
• Centralized vs. decentralized models for global liquidity management.
• Monthly reconciliation and consolidated reporting of international cash and bank balances.

Module 8: Comprehensive Revenue Reporting for Grants (Monthly Focus)

• Designing and generating monthly revenue reports for all active grants.
• Accurate revenue recognition: distinguishing between earned and deferred revenue.
• Tracking multiple funding sources and revenue streams per grant.
• Developing templates for consolidated revenue performance across the organization.
• Communicating revenue status to internal teams and external donors.

Module 9: Budget vs. Actual Analysis and Variance Management

• Performing detailed monthly budget vs. actual variance analysis for all grants and projects.
• Identifying significant deviations and their root causes (e.g., operational, external factors).
• Developing actionable corrective measures for overspends or underspends.
• Reforecasting and budget revisions: processes and donor communication.
• Presenting variance reports effectively to project teams, leadership, and donors.

Module 10: Financial Controls, Risk Management, and Fraud Prevention

• Designing and implementing robust internal control systems for financial transactions.
• Identifying and assessing financial risks (e.g., fraud, corruption, compliance, reputational).
• Developing comprehensive risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
• Principles of fraud prevention and detection in NGO settings.
• Best practices for whistleblower policies and internal investigations.

Module 11: Strategic Investment for NGO Sustainability

• Understanding investment principles and fiduciary responsibilities for non-profits.
• Developing an ethical investment policy statement for reserves and endowments.
• Exploring investment options: ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing, impact investing.
• Balancing risk and return with mission alignment.
• Monitoring investment performance and reporting to the Board.

Module 12: Digital Transformation in NGO Financial Management

• Leveraging ERP systems and cloud-based accounting platforms (e.g., NetSuite, QuickBooks Online for NGOs).
• Automation of financial processes (e.g., expense reporting, invoice processing).
• Data analytics and business intelligence tools for enhanced financial insights.
• Cybersecurity best practices for protecting sensitive financial data.
• Implementing digital tools for remote financial collaboration and oversight.

Module 13: Audit Preparation and External Relations

• Understanding the purpose and types of audits relevant to NGOs (donor, statutory, internal).
• Best practices for preparing for internal and external audits.
• Responding to audit findings and implementing corrective action plans.
• Building strong relationships with auditors and financial stakeholders.
• Ensuring transparency and accountability in all financial disclosures.

Module 14: Financial Storytelling and Communicating Impact

• Transforming financial data into compelling narratives for various audiences.
• Linking financial performance to programmatic achievements and social impact.
• Using data visualization and dashboards to illustrate financial health and effectiveness.
• Tailoring financial reports for different donor requirements and communication styles.
• Building trust and demonstrating value for money to stakeholders.

Module 15: Leading Financial Resilience and Sustainable Growth

• Developing a long-term financial sustainability strategy for the NGO.
• Diversifying funding streams beyond traditional grants (e.g., social enterprise, individual giving).
• Building financial reserves and endowments for organizational resilience.
• Fostering a culture of financial literacy and responsibility across the NGO.
• Strategic financial decision-making for maximizing impact and growth.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.