By Nancy Bacon
This article draws from the Let’s Talk Money curriculum, a resource designed to help nonprofit leaders and board members have more confident, inclusive financial conversations.
Think about your board meetings. When money is on the agenda—that time when attention shifts to the organization’s finances—who typically talks?
We’ve noticed that it is common for the Executive Director and Treasurer to lead the conversation about finances. They’re the ones most familiar with the numbers, so naturally they take the lead. But often, other board members are quiet—listening, nodding, but not fully engaging.
This isn’t a failure. It’s a pattern that we can shift with a focus on roles and opportunities. It’s not that people don’t care. It’s that they don’t always know how to join in.
Let’s break that down.
Everyone has a role in nonprofit finance
Finance can feel intimidating—but when we clarify roles, we invite participation. Here’s one way to think about who does what:
| Role | Focus | What this looks like |
| Board Chair | Guides culture to ensure it supports inclusive financial conversations and decision-making. | Pro-actively creates a culture that supports inclusive conversations.Facilitates meetings in a way that involves everyone in decision-making. |
| Treasurer | Provides oversight on the financial systems. | Ensures that the organization is using the right tools (accounting software, bank accounts, bank relationships, credit cards, etc.) to support effective financial governance.Provides leadership on financial policies and procedures. Ensures that there is board learning and orientation in place to support participation. |
| Executive Director | Manages finances on a day-to-day basis. Provides feedback to the board on how financial systems are working. | Implements the financial tools in a way that is efficient and effective.Provides the board with the reports and information they need.Communicates key information to staff as a bridge between them and the board. |
| Board member | Ensures that the organization’s finances are achieving its mission. | Reviews financial reports (at least Balance Sheet and Income Statement) regularly.Participates actively in board discussions.Seeks out learning and support to fill knowledge gaps and build confidence. |
| Staff member | Follows the policies and financial systems set by the board and Executive Director. | Demonstrates compliance with policies.Asks questions when needed. |
Every role connects to your organization’s financial health. The key is to name these roles clearly, support people in growing into them, and recognize that financial engagement is a leadership practice—not just a numbers game.
Creating a culture where everyone talks money
Inclusive finance isn’t about turning everyone into a CPA. It’s about building a culture where questions are welcomed, learning is expected, and everyone feels a sense of ownership.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Financial reports that make sense. Avoid overly complex spreadsheets with no context. Add narratives or visual summaries to support understanding.
- Opportunities to learn. Build financial orientation into board onboarding. Make room for ongoing learning—especially when things change.
- Room for questions. Normalize asking things like, “What story does this income statement tell us?” or “What assumptions underlie this budget?”
A quick activity you can do now
Try this reflection with your team or board:
- Name your role in the chart above.
- Review the “what this looks like” column.
- Circle the one task you want to improve on.
- Describe what you’ll do about it in the next 30 days.
This simple step creates shared ownership of financial conversations—and that leads to better decisions, better oversight, and stronger alignment between money and mission.
Ultimately, the goal is not to turn every board member or staff person into a financial expert. It’s to build a community of shared stewardship, where everyone sees themselves as part of the financial conversation.
Because when more people talk about money, better decisions get made.
Come Learn With Us!
Money drives every mission forward. Learn the essentials of nonprofit finance at Let’s Talk Money: Nonprofit Finance Basics on October 8 (Online via Zoom). Only $30 — Save your spot today!
About the Author:
Nancy Bacon
Nancy Bacon is a teacher, instructional designer, and learning strategist who has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 25 years. She loves teaching nonprofit finance because a little knowledge goes a long way to making sure our nonprofits thrive. Nancy co-founded the Nonprofit Learning Center and co-hosts the Nonprofit Radio Show. Nancy designs tools and training that help nonprofit leaders and boards take action.