Nonprofit Business Analysis

The growth and survival of nonprofits often depend on the ability to assess and plan for the likely financial outcomes of program and management decisions.The Nonprofit Business Analysis (NBA) is an in-depth exploration, including a report and meeting, that analyzes an organization's financial health, strengths, and weaknesses over a multi-year period. It provides executives and board members with guidance on ways to balance financial management with mission-driven priorities, helping to connect financial decision-making with nonprofit success.

THE BENEFITS OF AN NBA:

Unlike many other analyses, the NBA reveals key trends and indicators that comprehensively reflect year-over-year financial performance and financial health. The NBA is ideal for organizations considering or experiencing significant change, such as a capital project, change in leadership, financial or fundraising challenges and program expansion.

An NBA can benefit your nonprofit in the following ways:

  • Improves your organization's understanding of its underlying business dynamics and financial condition
  • Teaches you to analyze and interpret your financial statements more thoroughly and accurately
  • Provides language and tools to articulate your organization's financial story and resource needs to staff, board members, potential funders, and other stakeholders
  • Equips you to plan for the future and make decisions that strengthen the financial health of your organization, thereby supporting more effective program delivery

HOW THE NBA WORKS:

The NBA provides an in-depth consultation and report on your organization's financial condition and story over a multi-year period. Our NBA team:

  • Analyzes five years of your audited financial statements and current budget
  • Meets with members of your nonprofit to discuss key financial trends, challenges and opportunities
  • Offers a fresh, objective perspective to help balance financial considerations with program goals
  • Creates a clear, comprehensive report that communicates underlying business dynamics
  • Offers recommendations and a continuum of financial services tailored to meet your needs

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT THE NBA:

"The NBA helped clarify the critical need to plan for capitalization and to analyze the true costs of our many programs. Since our NBA, we have allocated income and expense to specific programs and are seriously considering a capital campaign. The NBA will be one of our most valuable tools as it informs our future in a meaningful and pragmatic way."
- Susan Gogan, Executive Director
 Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center,
 Millville, NJ

 Glassmaking demonstration in the Glass
Studio at Wheaton Arts.
 

"The NBA gave us some large goals and some smaller, tangible goals... I don't think an auditor would be able to spend the time looking at the big picture like NFF can - trends, warning signs, benchmarks and goals. One of NFF's consultants might even join our finance committee. It's a wonderful marriage."
- Daniella Topol, Former Artist Program
 Director, Lark Theatre Company,New York

For more information, please contact your local NFF office.
NY  | Boston  | Newark, NJ  | Philadelphia  | Washington, DC-MD-VA  | Detroit  | San Francisco  | LA

 

Inquire about an NFF Loan

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