Financial Management

Instructor:

Jason Warr, DBA, CPA

Course Description:

Financial Management (IST 2087; 2 credits)

A brief examination of various financial management concepts relevant to church leaders, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and various social and community activist positions. The class will explore important debt, equity, and fundraising issues critical to success in these fields and introduce basic financial terms such as forecasting, budgeting, and cash flow.

Required Resources:

- Managing a Nonprofit Organization: Updated Twenty-First-Century Edition by Thomas Wolf (ISBN-10: 1451608462/ISBN-13: 978-1451608465)

- Other materials will be provided in Canvas, as needed

Grading Scale

Late Work Policy:

Unless coordinated with the professor in advance, all  assignments are due by 11:59PM MST on the week assigned.

Discussion posts and replies must be submitted during the relevant week.

Students will have a grace period of 1 full week to turn in assignments after the due date without penalty.

Any assignments turned in during the second week after the due date will have a 10% late penalty assessed.

No assignments will be accepted after the second week following the due date.

During the last week of class, all work must be turned in by Sunday (last day of class)  at 11:59PM MST to be graded.

Academic Integrity

Expectations about academic integrity are governed by the Academic Integrity Policy published in the Master's Student Handbook.

Course Overview

A brief examination of various financial management concepts relevant to church leaders, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and various social and community activist positions. The class will explore important debt, equity, and fundraising issues critical to success in these fields and introduce basic financial terms such as forecasting, budgeting, and cash flow.

Course Objectives

1)    Students will learn the basic principles and financial vocabulary applicable to a wide variety of non-profit organizations and churches. 

2)   Students will demonstrate basic budgeting concepts and how to apply these skills.

3)   Students will learn to effectively read and understand financial statements.

4)   Students will identify and reflect upon key issues concerning the role(s) of pastors of congregations and executive directors of other non-profit organizations with regard to the financial management effectiveness and the mission/vision of such congregations and other non-profit organizations.

5)   Students will use financial data to present relevant organizational financial data to a variety of stakeholders.

Weekly discussion participation will be graded using the following rubric:

 

Assignments will be graded using the following rubric: