Understanding Financials: Tutorial, Examples and Resources

Resources on Financial Ratios

This training guide on "How to Assess Nonprofit Financial Performance" (Elizabeth Keating & Peter Frumkin) may appear daunting in its 57-page length but provides a thorough and accessible introduction to understanding nonprofit finances, including the use of financial ratios (starting on page 49).

This collection of training materials from Woods Bowman on "Understanding & Promoting Nonprofit Financial Sustainability" includes a couple of useful case studies and lots of information on the use of financial ratios.

Tips on Creating a Report

  • Timeframe: Snapshot or Trends -- You can show either the change in, for example, Total Revenue over the past 20 years or show Total Revenue for just the most recent year or a year of your choice.