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Nonprofit Finance Certificate

Many nonprofit organizations struggle with some aspect of financial management, whether it is financial statements or reporting, policy, planning, analysis, strategy, or simply figuring out the roles and responsibilities of all the individuals who share fiscal responsibility for a nonprofit organization. This certificate program supports individuals who manage finances at nonprofit organizations and can be earned in five months.

Nonprofit Finance Certificate

The center engaged seven practicing nonprofit CFOs representing health and human services, arts and culture, education, and healthcare along with five tax and audit professionals and five nonprofit finance scholars from around the country to design this unique program. The program meets for six sessions during the semester, and you have an opportunity to interact with instructors who are actively working in the field. In addition to class meetings, two out-of-class assignments – a project to assess internal controls and a practicum that may directly benefit your organization – are required to earn this certificate. Applications are due Sept. 25, 2020 for the fall 2020 cohort.

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  • Aspiring nonprofit finance professionals
  • Current senior leaders including executive directors, CFOs or CDOs
  • Current staff members of nonprofits who aspire to become a senior leader
  • Current finance staff members in for-profit or corporate roles
Attention CPAs:

The Glasscock School of Continuing Studies is a Registered CPE Course Provider We have registered with the Texas State Board of Accountancy (Registration no. 600) to meet the requirements of the continuing professional education rules covering maintenance of attendance records, retention of program outlines, qualifications of instructors, program content, physical facilities and length of class hours. This registration agreement does not constitute an endorsement by the Board as to the quality of the program or its contribution to the professional competence of the licensee.

Rice University is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417. Website: http://www.nasba.org/

CPE credits: 50

Application Process

General application deadline: Sept. 25, 2020

To begin the application process, you must submit the following items: the program application form, résumé or curriculum vitae, a personal statement and one professional letter of recommendation. 

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For additional information regarding the application process, please contact our program coordinator at 713-348-6009 or via email at cpnl.rice.edu for further assistance.

Financial Information

Tuition: $3,195 (textbooks included)

Save $200 when you attend an information session, upon acceptance.

Note: Employees of 501c3 organizations in the greater Houston area may be eligible for financial aid of up to 50 percent of tuition.

Scholarship Options

Partial scholarships may be available to individuals currently employed by a nonprofit organization located in the greater Houston area. Please complete the appropriate section of the Nonprofit Finance application if you would like to be considered for program fees assistance. Scholarship decisions will be made by the admittance committee and awarded recipients will be notified at the same time of their admissions decision.

Alternative Payment Options

Payment plan options are available by request for those who do not qualify for the scholarship option and need additional assistance. Payment plans may also be requested to pay the remaining balance of the program fees after scholarship funds have been awarded. Payment plans will not be granted after the start of the program. Contact the program coordinator for the required forms needed to request this option.

Refund Policy

A 10 percent processing fee will be subtracted from all refunds. Due to the high demand for courses, registrations are considered final as of the dates listed by program area. No refunds will be issued after these dates and credits will not be given for future classes. No refunds will be granted for participants who miss a portion of a program. Refund requests before the deadline must be made in writing to gscs@rice.edu. Refunds for credit card payments will be processed as credits to the accounts from which they were paid and may not appear as a credit until the following statement. Refunds for enrollments paid by check take up to four weeks to be processed and mailed by the Rice University accounting office. There is a $30 charge for any check returned for insufficient funds.

The Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership issues refunds up to 10 working days before class starts. If books have been issued, the cost of the books and any shipping fees will be deducted.

Prerequisites

It is strongly recommended that applicants have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Formats

Online Format

This offering meets for 16, two-hour intensive sessions during the semester. There are two out-of-class assignments – a team project to assess internal controls and a practicum that may directly benefit your organization.

Classroom Format - meets on campus

This offering meets for six eight-hour intensive sessions during the semester. There are two out-of-class assignments – a team project to assess internal controls and a practicum that may directly benefit your organization.

The certificate program includes a total of forty-eight hours of classroom content and successful completion of an individual strategic practicum project. 

Blended Format – meets online and on campus

This offering meets for a total six sessions during the semester. For three sessions, the cohort meets online and three sessions are spent on-campus with fellow participants and instructors. The certificate program also includes an internal controls assignment and a successful completion of an individual strategic practicum project. 

Fall 2020 schedule

This program will take place in our online classroom environment.

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, 2-4 p.m.
Financial Roles and Policies, Practicum Introduction

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, 2-4 p.m.
Financial Terminology, and Theories

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, 2-4 p.m.
Internal Controls

Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, 1-5 p.m.
Financial Statements 1 & 2

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, 2-4 p.m.
Income/Expense Ratios

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, 2-4 p.m.
Statement of Financial Position Ratios

Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020 2-4 p.m. 
Investments

Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, 2-4 p.m.
Liabilities

Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, 2-4 p.m.
Form 990 Part 1

Tuesday, Jan.19, 2021, 2-4 p.m.
Form 990 Part 2

Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, 2-4 p.m.
Audit

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, 2-4 p.m.
Government Funding

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, 2-4 p.m.
Government Audit Part 1

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, 2-4 p.m.
Government Audit Part 2

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, 2-4 p.m.
Budgeting

Tuesday, March 2, 2021, 2-4 p.m.
Cash Flows and Cost Allocation Part 1

Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 2-4 p.m.
Cash Flows and Cost Allocation Part 2

Our high-quality instructors may be found on the Nonprofit Finance Certificate course page. 

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Secure your spot at a free upcoming information session by using the form below.

Save $200 when you attend an information session, upon acceptance.

Please email cpnl@rice.edu or call 713-348-6009 with any questions.