COURSE NUMBER: MBA292F.11
This course
is dual-listed with Evening-Weekend MBA Program.
COURSE TITLE: Strategic
Financial Management of Nonprofit Organizations
UNITS OF CREDIT: 1
Unit
INSTRUCTOR: Brent
Copen
E-MAIL ADDRESS: bcopen@berkeley.edu
MEETING DAY(S)/TIME:
The course will meet over 2 Sundays, 2/25 & 3/11 from 9AM - 5PM.
Please note the unorthodox format of this course, which meets all day on
two Sundays. You must attend both sessions in their entirety in order to earn a
passing grade.
PREREQUISITE(S): A
course in finance or finance experience is required. If you have a question,
please check with the instructor.
CLASS FORMAT: This
one unit course will employ a seminar format combining lecture, discussion,
group and individual exercises, and case studies. Students should be prepared
to actively join in class discussion and to bring to class their own issues and
experience in nonprofit management. Students should also bring a pocket
calculator to class.
REQUIRED
READINGS:
Course Reader
BASIS FOR FINAL
GRADE: The final grade will be based on class participation and either a
final exam or a final project.
CAREER FIELD:
Nonprofit Leadership
ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S
CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:
In order to be an effective leader in the nonprofit field, one must be able to
analyze and act upon financial information as part of an overall approach to
strategic decision making. This course will focus on the financial management
issues faced by board members and by senior and executive managers in nonprofit
organizations.
Students
will learn the tools and techniques for effective financial management,
including pricing, program analyses, budgeting and overall business model
sustainability. The course will address current regulations and issues that
impact nonprofit financial management. The use and development of internal and
external financial reports will be studied with an emphasis on using financial
information in decision-making. Tools and techniques of financial statement
analysis, interpretation and presentation will be discussed and practiced.
The
course is designed to develop the core financial management skills needed by
board members and senior managers in large and small organizations. These
include the practice of critical and analytical thinking, the ability to
synthesize and plan, the knowledge of how to evaluate and respond quickly, and
the skills to communicate effectively. We will address the real challenges,
opportunities, and problems of financial management in nonprofit organizations.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:
Brent Copen is dedicated to strengthening the sector by helping nonprofits
develop more robust financial management practices. He has presented
hundreds of workshops and training nationally to CEO’s, board members, funders
and emerging leaders; and has consulted extensively to a wide variety of
nonprofits across sub-sectors. Copen currently holds four graduate
level teaching positions at U.C. Berkeley. He co-authored The Nonprofit
Business Plan, a practical guide to help nonprofit leaders
establish a sustainable, results-driven business plan. Copen is
currently the Chief Financial Officer at Tiburcio Vasquez Health
Center.
He
received a Master in Public Administration degree from Columbia University’s
School of International and Public Affairs.